`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`____________
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`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
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`____________
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`APPLE INC.,
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`Petitioner,
`
`v.
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`SMARTFLASH LLC,
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`Patent Owner.
`
`____________
`
`Case CBM2014-001081
`
`Patent 8,061,598
`
`____________
`
`PATENT OWNER’S RESPONSE TO PETITION
`
`
`1 Case CBM2014-00109 has been consolidated with the instant proceeding.
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`
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`
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`I.
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`
`
`INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1
`
`II.
`
` STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS ........................................................ 3
`
`III. THE 00108 AND 00109 WECHSELBERGER DECLARATIONS
`SHOULD BE GIVEN LITTLE OR NO WEIGHT ......................................... 4
`
`IV. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................ 8
`
`V.
`
` OBVIOUSNESS GROUNDS AGAINST CLAIM 26 OF THE ‘598
`PATENT .......................................................................................................... 8
`
`A. Obviousness in Light of Stefik ‘235 and Stefik ‘980 ............................ 8
`
`B.
`
`Obviousness in Light of Ginter ........................................................... 12
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`VI. CONCLUSION .................................................................................................. 16
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`I.
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`
`
`INTRODUCTION
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`The present proceeding is a consolidated proceeding for Cases CBM2014-
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`00108 and CBM2014-00109. The only granted ground for unpatentability raised
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`in the Petition in CBM2014-00108 (hereinafter “the 00108 Petition”) was for claim
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`26 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 over U.S. Patent No. 5,530,235 (“Stefik ‘235”) and U.S.
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`Patent No. 5,629,980 (“Stefik ‘980”). The PTAB denied the remaining grounds.
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`Decision at 24.
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`The only granted ground for unpatentability raised in the Petition in
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`CBM2014-00109 (hereinafter “the 00109 Petition”) was for claim 26 under 35
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`U.S.C. § 103 over U.S. Patent No. 5,915,019 (“Ginter”). The PTAB denied the
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`remaining grounds. Decision at 24.
`
`In support of this Patent Owner’s Response, reference will be made to
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`concurrently filed Exhibit 2030, Declaration of Jonathan Katz, Ph.D. (hereinafter
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`“the Katz Declaration”). Reference will also be made herein to (1) Exhibit 1021,
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`DECLARATION OF ANTHONY J. WECHSELBERGER IN SUPPORT OF
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`APPLE INC.’S PETITION FOR COVERED BUSINESS METHOD PATENT
`
`REVIEW OF UNITED STATES PATENT NO. 8,061,598 PURSUANT TO 35
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`U.S.C. § 321, 37 C.F.R. § 42.304, filed in CBM2014-00108 (hereinafter “the
`
`00108 Wechselberger Declaration”), and (2) Exhibit 1121, DECLARATION OF
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`ANTHONY J. WECHSELBERGER IN SUPPORT OF APPLE INC.’S PETITION
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`FOR COVERED BUSINESS METHOD PATENT REVIEW OF UNITED
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`STATES PATENT NO. 8,061,598 PURSUANT TO 35 U.S.C. § 321, 37 C.F.R. §
`
`42.304, filed in CBM2014-00109 (hereinafter “the 00109 Wechselberger
`
`Declaration”).
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`Reference will also be made herein to Exhibit 2025 which is a concatenation
`
`of Mr. Wechselberger’s Deposition transcript beginning on December 10, 2014
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`and continuing to December 11, 2014. Pages 1-236 of Exhibit 2025 are for
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`December 10, 2014, the first day of his two-day deposition for the combined
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`proceedings of CBM2014-00102, -00106, -00108 and -00112. Pages 239-403 of
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`Exhibit 2025 are for December 11, 2014. On December 11, 2014, a conference
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`call was held with the PTAB to resolve an issue relating to testimony sought by
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`Patent Owner’s counsel, and pages 339-356 are a transcription of the conference
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`call. Because of the possibility of needing to redact a portion of the transcript in
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`light of the conference call, transcript pages 358-378 are found on pages 364-384
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`of Exhibit 2025, starting with their own caption pages. However, ultimately,
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`Petitioner did not request that any part of the transcript be redacted. See Paper 20,
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`page 2, footnote 2. The remaining portion of Mr. Wechselberger’s transcript is
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`pages 379-396 found on pages 386-403 of Exhibit 2025. For consistency, all
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`references to Exhibit 2025 are made with respect to the page numbers at the
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`bottom of the exhibit which are Preceded by the word “Page,” not the transcript
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`page numbers in the upper-right corner of the page. References herein may be
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`made in the form of (1) “nnn:xx-yy” which is intended to mean page “nnn”, lines
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`“xx” to “yy” or (2) “mmm:xx - nnn:yy” which is intended to mean page “mmm”,
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`line “xx” to page “nnn”, line “yy”.
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`
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`II.
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`STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS
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`1.
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`The 00108 Wechselberger Declaration does not state that Mr.
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`Wechselberger’s opinions presented therein were based on a “preponderance of the
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`evidence” standard.
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`2.
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`The 00109 Wechselberger Declaration does not state that Mr.
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`Wechselberger’s opinions presented therein were based on a “preponderance of the
`
`evidence” standard.
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`3.
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`Exhibit 2007 is a document from Apple Inc. dated September 19,
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`2012 entitled In-App Purchase Programming Guide (to which its Exhibit label has
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`been added).
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`4.
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`Exhibit 2008 is a document from Apple Inc. dated September 18,
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`2013 entitled In-App Purchase Programming Guide (to which its Exhibit label has
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`been added).
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`5.
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`Exhibit 2013 is a document from Apple Inc. dated September 18,
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`2013 entitled Receipt Validation Programming Guide (to which its Exhibit label
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`has been added).
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`
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`III. THE 00108 AND 00109 WECHSELBERGER DECLARATIONS
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`SHOULD BE GIVEN LITTLE OR NO WEIGHT
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`The 00108 and 00109 Wechselberger Declarations do not disclose the
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`underlying facts on which the opinions are based and are, therefore, entitled to
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`little or no weight. 37 CFR 42.65 (“Expert testimony that does not disclose the
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`underlying facts or data on which the opinion is based is entitled to little or no
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`weight.”).
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`More specifically, the 00108 and 00109 Wechselberger Declarations do not
`
`state the evidentiary weight standard (e.g., substantial evidence versus
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`preponderance of the evidence) that Mr. Wechselberger used in arriving at his
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`conclusions. Footnote 5 on page 16 of the Decision states “On this record, we are
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`not persuaded by Smartflash’s argument that the Declaration of Mr. Wechselberger
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`is entitled to little or no weight because it does not disclose the underlying facts on
`
`which the opinion is based. ... Smartflash identifies purported omissions from the
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`Declaration, but offers no evidence that Mr. Wechselberger used incorrect criteria,
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`failed to consider evidence, or is not an expert in the appropriate field.” However,
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`establishing that Mr. Wechselberger failed to state the evidentiary standard that he
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`used, Patent Owner has shown that Mr. Wechselberger “used incorrect criteria”
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`(i.e., the incorrect evidentiary standard) because he used none.
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`When questioned about what evidentiary standards are and which he used,
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`Mr. Wechselberger could neither articulate what the difference was between
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`“substantial evidence” and “prepondereance of the evidence”, nor could he
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`articulate which standard he was supposed to use when alleging invalidity of
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`claims in a patent. Exhibit 2025, 388:13-389:6. More specifically, Mr.
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`Wechselberger testified:
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`388: 13
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`Q. If I could ask you, do you have an understanding of
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`what substantial evidence is as it relates to relative burdens of proof?
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`MS. ROBINSON: Objection to form.
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`A. I don't think that I have used that term in any of my reports
`
`or declarations in conjunction with this case.
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`Q. Do you have an understanding of what the standard
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`"preponderance of the evidence" is?
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`MS. ROBINSON: Objection to form.
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`A. I don't think I've used that in any of my reports or
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`declarations.
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`BY MR. CASEY:
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`389:2
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`Q. Do you have an understanding as to what the standard
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`called "clear and convincing evidence" is?
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`MS. ROBINSON: Objection to form.
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`A. Well, I understand these are all legal terms, and to the extent
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`that I need to have a firm grip on their legal meaning, that is -- always
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`ends up in one of my expert reports or a declaration. And, again, I
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`don't know if that term has been so written out in any of my written
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`materials.
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`Q. Do you have an understanding that one has to show
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`invalidity of a patent based on the legal standard of substantial
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`evidence?
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`MS. ROBINSON: Objection to form.
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`A. Well, since I have just testified that I don't recall if the term
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`"substantial evidence" appears in any of my reports, then I wouldn't
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`have an understanding here today without having my report where
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`that is explained.
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`Q. So then it's also fair to say you don't have an understanding
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`as to whether or not one has to show invalidity of a patent based on
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`preponderance of the evidence?
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`MS. ROBINSON: Objection to form.
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`390:2
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`A. Again, without the guidance of my report where that's
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`been written out, I can look at it and read it, I'm not going to pretend
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`that from a legal standpoint I have a firm grasp on all the four corners
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`of the implications of those statements.
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`
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`No standard of evidence is disclosed in the 00108 and 00109 Wechselberger
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`Declarations for the amount of evidence that he used in arriving at his allegations
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`of unpatentability. Thus, based on the fact that Mr. Wechselberger testified that he
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`did not know the difference between the standards or what standard to use, the
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`PTAB can only afford little or no weight to the testimony therein. To do otherwise
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`would be to accept his opinions without knowing “the underlying facts ... on which
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`the opinion is based” (i.e., how much evidence he thinks shows any of his opinions
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`discussed therein).
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`For example, when Mr. Wechselberger opines that he believes a statement to
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`be true (e.g., there is a motivation to modify a reference), is that belief based on
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`less than a preponderance of the evidence, or more? Without his having disclosed
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`what level of evidence he used, and given that he did not even know what level he
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`was supposed to be using, the PTAB cannot rely on his statements. Thus, the
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`PTAB should find that his declaration is entitled to little or no weight.
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`IV. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
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`Petitioner has alleged that “payment data” should be construed to mean
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`“data representing payment made for requested content data” and is distinct from
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`“access control data.” See, for example, 00109 Petition at 25. However, no claim
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`currently being challenged recites “payment data,” so the issue is moot in this
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`proceeding.
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`
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`V. OBVIOUSNESS GROUNDS AGAINST CLAIM 26 OF THE ‘598
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`PATENT
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`
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`A. Obviousness in Light of Stefik ‘235 and Stefik ‘980
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`The Decision held that “we are not persuaded that Apple has established that
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`it is more likely than not that claims 1, 2, 7, 13, 15, and 31 are unpatentable as
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`anticipated by Stefik ’235 and Stefik ’980.” Decision at 15.
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`However, the Decision further held “Apple has established that it is more
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`likely than not that claim 26 is unpatentable as obvious over the combination of
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`Stefik ’235 and Stefik ’980, but has not established that is more likely than not that
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`claims 1, 2, 7, 13, 15, and 31 are unpatentable as obvious over Stefik ’235 and
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`Stefik ’980.” Decision at 15. For the reasons set forth below, the 00108 Petition
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`has not shown that it is more likely than not that the Stefik ‘235 and Stefik ‘980,
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`either alone or in combination, renders obvious claim 26.
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`Claim 26 recites “A portable data carrier comprising: ... a subscriber identity
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`module (SIM) portion storing identification data to identify a user of said portable
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`data carrier to a network operator.” At page 15, the Decision held:
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`with respect to claim 26, Apple argues that “[a] POSITA would have
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`been motivated and found it obvious to employ a memory card for a
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`mobile or cellular device that included a SIM portion that identifies a
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`subscriber to a network operator, such as a mobile phone, as a
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`repository in Stefik’s content distribution and access network.”
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`
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`However, the 00108 Petition has not shown that it is more likely than not that one
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`of ordinary skill in the art would “have been motivated and found it obvious to
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`employ a memory card for a mobile or cellular device that included a SIM portion
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`that identifies a subscriber to a network operator, such as a mobile phone, as a
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`repository in Stefik’s content distribution and access network.” Exhibit 2030, ¶ 13.
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`Neither the 00108 Petition nor Mr. Wechselberger’s declaration cited therein
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`explains why one of ordinary skill in the art, looking at Stefik ‘235 and Stefik ‘980,
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`would have been motivated to “employ a memory card for a mobile or cellular
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`device that included a SIM portion that identifies a subscriber to a network
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`operator.” Neither patent identifies anything that indicates that a DocuCard or a
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`repository could be a mobile or cellular phone in which such a memory card would
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`be used. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 14.
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`Given that there is no disclosure of using a mobile or cellular phone as the
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`repository or DocuCard of Stefik ‘235 or Stefik ‘980, there is no reason to change
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`from the “unique number assigned to the DocuCard upon manufacture” to some
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`other identifying information. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 14. Neither the 00108 Petition nor
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`Mr. Wechselberger’s declaration cited therein addresses why such a change would
`
`be necessary. They also do not disclose whether the “unique number assigned to
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`the DocuCard upon manufacture” has characteristics that would make it
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`compatible with the SIM portion of a mobile phone, for example, whether the
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`number of bits required by the “unique number assigned to the DocuCard upon
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`manufacture” is greater than the number of bits that a SIM portion would utilize to
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`identify a subscriber to a network operator. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 14. Thus, the 00108
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`Petition does not show that it is more likely than not that one skilled in the art
`
`would have found it obvious to use a SIM portion that identifies a subscriber to a
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`network operator as the “unique number assigned to the DocuCard upon
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`manufacture” in Stefik ‘235. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 14.
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`Further, the 00108 Petition has not shown that one of ordinary skill in the art
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`“would have been motivated and found it obvious to employ a memory card for a
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`mobile or cellular device that included a SIM portion … as a repository in Stefik’s
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`content distribution and access network,” since the structure and function of the
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`alleged memory card has not been disclosed by the 00108 Petition as meeting the
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`requirements of a repository according to Stefik ‘235 and Stefik ‘980. Exhibit
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`2030, ¶ 16. For example, there is no discussion in the 00108 Petition that shows
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`that the alleged memory card for a mobile or cellular device that included a SIM
`
`portion would be able to perform the registration process described with respect to
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`Figure 3 of Stefik ‘235. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 16. Col. 6, lines 47-56, discloses:
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`Referring to FIG. 3, the DocuCard and repository initiate
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`registration transactions, step 301. Registration is a process by which
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`two repositories establish a secure and trusted session. By secure and
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`trusted it is meant that the session is reasonably safe from intrusion
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`and that the respective repositories have established themselves as
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`bona fide (i.e. not an intruder). The registration process is automatic
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`and is triggered by the establishment of the electrical connection
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`between the DocuCard and repository.
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`If the alleged memory card cannot act as a repository, this further indicates
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`that there is no motivation to employ a mobile or cellular device that included a
`
`SIM portion as a repository in Stefik’s content distribution and access network.
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`Exhibit 2030, ¶ 17.
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`Thus, the 00108 Petition has not shown that it is more likely than not that
`
`Stefik ‘235 and Stefik ‘980, either alone or in combination, renders claim 26 of the
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`‘598 patent obvious. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 18.
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`
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`B. Obviousness in Light of Ginter
`
`Claim 26 recites “A portable data carrier comprising: ... a subscriber identity
`
`module (SIM) portion storing identification data to identify a user of said portable
`
`data carrier to a network operator.” Just as the SIM portion limitation is not
`
`rendered obvious by Stefik ‘235 and Stefik ‘980, it is also not rendered obvious by
`
`Ginter. At page 20 the Decision held:
`
`With respect to the “subscriber identity module (SIM)” recited
`
`in claim 26, Apple argues that “a POSITA would have considered it at
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`minimum obvious for the portable data carrier (e.g. electronic
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`appliance) to communicate with Ginter’s network using a cellular
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`connection and therefore to include a subscriber identity module
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`(SIM) portion.” ... On this record, we are persuaded that a SIM would
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`have been obvious in view of Ginter.
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`The 00109 Petition, however, does not show that it is more likely than not
`
`that one of ordinary skill in the art would have considered it obvious for the
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`portable data carrier (e.g. electronic appliance) to communicate with Ginter’s
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`- 12 -
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`network using a cellular connection, or to include a subscriber identity module
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`(SIM) portion. The 00109 Petition also does not show that it is more likely than
`
`not that one of ordinary skill in the art would have considered it obvious to include
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`a SIM portion in Ginter’s PEA. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 20.
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`In support of its obviousness allegation, the 00109 Petition (pages 72-73)
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`cites col. 161, lines 5-11, which states that communications with a clearinghouse
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`“may be initiated across the electronic highway 108, or across other
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`communications networks such as a LAN, WAN, two-way cable or using portable
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`media exchange between electronic appliances.” However, the citation of wired
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`networks for transmission in the environment of Ginter is not sufficient to show
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`that communications with Ginter’s network using cellular communications is
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`obvious, especially in light of the fact that Ginter repeatedly stresses the
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`importance of secure communications and physical-security mechanisms. See
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`Ginter, col. 63, lines 42-67. The transmission of information using wired
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`transmissions is more secure against eavesdropping than wireless transmissions, a
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`point that is ignored by the 00109 Petition. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 21. Given that Ginter
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`limited its disclosure in col. 161, lines 5-11, to wired transmissions, the 00109
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`Petition has not shown that it is more likely than not that one of ordinary skill in
`
`the art would have believed that cellular transmissions were obvious. Exhibit
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`2030, ¶ 21.
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`Page 73 of the 00109 Petition also cites to col. 233, lines 53-57 which states
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`“The portable device auxiliary terminal might be ‘on-line,’ that is electronically
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`communicating back to a commercial establishment and/or third party information
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`collection point through the use of cellular, satellite, radio frequency, or other
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`communications means.” However, such a discussion is not describing cellular
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`communication by the electronic appliance or PEA, but rather communication by
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`an “auxiliary terminal” to see if the appliance is trustworthy. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 22.
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`Ginter states, in the paragraph crossing cols. 233 and 234:
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`The auxiliary terminal might, after a check by a commercial
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`party in response to receipt of certain identification information at the
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`collection point, communicate back to the auxiliary terminal whether
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`or not to accept the portable appliance 2600 based on other
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`information, such as a bad credit record or a stolen portable appliance
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`2600. Such a portable auxiliary terminal would also be very useful at
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`other commercial establishments, for example at gasoline stations,
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`rental car return areas, street and stadium vendors, bars, and other
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`commercial establishments where efficiency would be optimized by
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`allowing clerks and other personnel to consummate transactions at
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`points other than traditional cash register locations.
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`- 14 -
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`Further, as even admitted on page 68 of the 00109 Petition, Ginter 229:13-
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`18 already discloses that “[p]ortable appliance 2600 RAM 534 may contain, for
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`example, information which can be used to uniquely identify each instance of the
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`portable appliance.” Thus, there is no reason to change from the “information
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`which can be used to uniquely identify each instance of the portable appliance” to
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`some other identifying information. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 23. Neither the 00109
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`Petition nor Mr. Wechselberger’s declaration cited therein addresses why such a
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`change would be necessary. They also do not disclose whether the “information
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`which can be used to uniquely identify each instance of the portable appliance” has
`
`characteristics that would make it compatible with the SIM portion of a mobile
`
`phone, for example, whether the number of bits required by the “information
`
`which can be used to uniquely identify each instance of the portable appliance” is
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`greater than the number of bits that a SIM portion would utilize to identify a
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`subscriber to a network operator. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 23. The length of this
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`information can directly affect the security of the system as Ginter discloses that
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`the “information may be employed (e.g. as at least a portion of key or password
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`information) in authentication, verification, decryption, and/or encryption
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`processes.” Col. 229, lines 14-17. Thus, the 00109 Petition does not show that it
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`is more likely than not that one skilled in the art would have found it obvious to
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`use a SIM portion as the identifier in Ginter. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 23. The 00109
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`- 15 -
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`Petition therefore also has not shown that it is more likely than not that Ginter
`
`renders claim 26 of the ‘598 patent obvious. Exhibit 2030, ¶ 24.
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`VI. CONCLUSION
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`
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`Thus, claim 26 of the ‘598 patent should be found to be VALID.
`
` /
`
` Michael R. Casey /
`
`
`Michael R. Casey
`Registration No. 40,294
`Davidson Berquist Jackson &
`
`Gowdey, LLP
`4300 Wilson Blvd, Suite 700
`Arlington, VA 22203
`Telephone: (703) 894-6406
`Fax: (703) 894-6430
`Email: mcasey@dbjg.com
`
`
`
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`Dated: February 27, 2015
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`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`
`The undersigned hereby certifies that this PATENT OWNER’S RESPONSE
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`TO PETITION (including Patent Owner’s List of Exhibits and Exhibits 2006,
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`2007, 2008, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025, and 2030) in CBM2014-00108 was
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`served, by agreement of the parties, February 27, 2015 by emailing copies to
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`counsel for the Petitioner as follows:
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`Steven.Baughman@ropesgray.com
`Ching-Lee.Fukuda@ropesgray.com
`ApplePTABService-SmartFlash@ropesgray.com
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`
`
`
`
` /
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` Michael R. Casey /
`
`
`Michael R. Casey
`Registration No. 40,294
`Davidson Berquist Jackson &
`
`Gowdey, LLP
`4300 Wilson Blvd, Suite 700
`Arlington, VA 22203
`Telephone: (703) 894-6406
`Fax: (703) 894-6430
`Email: mcasey@dbjg.com
`Attorney for Patent Owner
`
`
`
`Dated: February 27, 2015
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