`(EXCERPTED)
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`Protective Order Material – Subject to Protective Order
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`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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`FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`HOUSTON DIVISION
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`WESTERNGECO L.L.C.,
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`Plaintifl;
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`v.
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`ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION,
`FUGRO-GEOTEAM, INC., FUGRO—GEOTEAM AS,
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`FUGRO NORWAY MARINE SERVICES AS,
`FUGRO, INC., FUGRO (USA), INC.
`and FUGRO GEOSERVICES, 1NC.,
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`Defendants.
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`%\/\./\_/\}\}\}\é\./\./\./\./\./\_/\}
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`Civil Action No. 4:09-CV—01827
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`Judge Keith P. Ellison
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`Jury Trial Demanded
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`CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
`FILED UNDER SEAL
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`WESTERNGECO’S OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR
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`SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY OF THE BITTLESTON PATENTS
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`Lee L. Kaplan
`lkaplan@skv.com
`SMYSER KAPLAN
`& VESELKA, L.L.P.
`Bank of America Center
`
`700 Louisiana, Suite 2300
`Houston, TX 77002
`Tel: (713) 221-2323
`Fax: (713) 221-2320
`
`Attorneys for Plairztiff/Counterclaim Defendant
`WesternGec0 L. L. C.
`
`Of Counsel:
`
`Gregg F. LoCascio, P.C.
`gregg.locascio@kirkland.com
`KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
`
`655 Fifteenth Street, N.W.
`Washington, D.C. 20005-5793
`Te1.: (202) 879-5000
`Fax: (202) 879-5200
`
`Timothy K. Gilman
`timothy. gilman@kirkland.com
`Ryan Kane
`ryan.kane@kirkland.corn
`KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
`
`601 Lexington Avenue
`New York, New York 10022
`
`Tel.: (212) 446-4800
`Fax: (212)446-4900
`
`Dated: April 20, 2012
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`ACCESS RESTRICTED - ATTORNEYS ONLY - usnc SDTX
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`Ex. PGS 1020
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`WG-PGS00090414
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`Ex. PGS 1020
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`
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`The specification also teaches additional aspects of streamer positioning devices that
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`might be useful with specific types of streamer positioning devices, such as an inline two-winged
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`bird. For example, streamer twisting—and ways to avoid twisting-are discussed in the ’0l7
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`Patent’s specification.3
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`(See, e.g., Ex. 15, ’017 Patent at 7:5-8:55) The specification also
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`explains that the wings can change orientation using electric motors, hydraulic actuators, or a
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`local control system.
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`(Id. at 5:28-37) The specification also notes that motor drivers can be
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`connected to and can actuate the wing and provides a diagram of a local control system that
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`includes such a motor driver. (Id. at 7:41-53, Fig. 4)
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`2.
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`The Bittleston Patents Teach Control Systems
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`The specification of the Bittleston Patents—in-suit also teaches control systems for using
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`streamer positioning devices to steer streamers laterally.
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`For example,
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`the specification
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`describes how to divide the control system into local and global control systems, with various
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`apportionments based on the needs of the system.
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`(Ex. 15, ’017 Patent at 3:36-5:3, 5:54-7:5,
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`7:28-35, 8:39-10:23, Fig. 4) The specification includes references to WesternGeco U.S. Patent
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`4,992,990 and PCT International Publication No. WO 96/21163.4 (Id. at 3:65-4:2) The ’990 is
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`a patent titled “Method for Determining the Position of Seismic Streamers in a Reflection
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`Seismic Measuring System” that
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`teaches the implementation of a global controller
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`for
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`determining the position of seismic streamers.
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`(Ex. 19, ’99O Patent at Abstract) Such a system
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`was given as an example of position prediction software by Dr. Bittleston in his deposition.
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`(Ex.
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`6, Bittleston 2010 Dep. Tr. at 155:3-156:2)
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`3 Dr. Bittleston has a separate patent for this anti-twisting function, which also claims priority to
`the ’895 Application, that is not asserted in this matter. (Ex. 20, U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,579)
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`4 The patent lists this application as W0 98/21163. This is a typographical error.
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`ACCESS RESTRICTED - ATTORNEYS ONLY - usnc SDTX
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`Ex. PGS 1020
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`WG-PGS00090426
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`Ex. PGS 1020
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`"‘l
`3.
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`The Bittleston Patents Tcach Acuustic Positionillg Systrelns
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`The Bittleston Patents’ specification ’[t'3£tChf3S that krmwn ways to cteterlnine bird Iocatimn
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`amid he used such as sumustitz pQSit.it31”1it1g systems or GPS systems.
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`(EX. 15, V317 Patent at
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`3:f>5—4:6; Ex. 1. Triantafyllou Deal. at ‘J1 29)
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`It specifically teaches that “[t]he h{)l‘iz(Z!I1té1I
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`positions 0f the: birds 18 can be derive.d, for instance, using the types at acoustic positioning
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`systems described in cxur US. Pat. No. 4,992,990. F
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`(Ex. 15, ‘D17 Patent at 3:6.‘§——~67) As Show
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`in the “Q98 Patent:
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`
`
`EM
`
`Y»?
`
`msraam
`{avg
`Aawtbadlficficuamtuiastiea-unuiinnafuiusitwn
`s1immiwntrummsfSh$3}iu::e§!n¢t‘31qsaimni:tmmma:—
`in mam. whzrzin hycirmcowszic diszam.-: measme-
`mum are used whiah are taken by m-sans of acausxir:
`trancsmrivers pmvidmi in vessels (1). buoys (B3. Finals (5).
`misrnic acumen £3} and in thc acismic streamwt {Sn $.27
`J3Lh50111t\! referancc posinans -Eh‘: sial-errnimzd by pcusition
`-ntetcxminixxg equipmaht pnwided in at mass twu Inca-
`tiom for irrsunce. cm a vusstal (1) :17 a that (5), The
`acoustic wmsaeivm and th: positim: d-munixxizsg
`equipment. fan» .3
`three-dimensional stmctuns. The
`position dsmminaiinn tab.-x piazza by Exitamratinn txr-
`zwean this aciaussiz: Irsnsueiwrx and the rmcrmimtiuu
`at’ at Inst. Wm refezwo: pmirticns so that there :5 no
`ukzrlanrbtsnczy on tumpass bcsémss :3-r ngszicai visibility,
`and high xtduncisncy is -attained. ‘fits: sxgatbnd is panigv
`uhdynliud fir
`ix I‘.'x:m:fiita: withihm:-diw
`iflmiwiei iufllatat liilalif: mvm "I'M ilishmi my ht
`imugxa-:1 with stlftqliiu minus uwriuatiaus tysmuax in
`min In flu} fit: mum: paaimus anti wwidx: am-
`ma 3.
`iii.
`mcgdfianuzargatntwflahtzuaigimlmmnfs
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`(Ex. 19,
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`‘£790 Patent at Fig. 7', Abstrztct) Defendants’ expert, Mr. Brune, agreed that the ‘Q90
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`Pate:nt—is;su:~;-it February 12, 199]~—-di$4:tT0$ed and enabled an dC0uS1iC pmsitioning sysztttm that
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`cnutd he use-.t:1 with streamer steering:
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`Q. Have you reviewed that ’99() patent?
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`A.
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`‘Yeah, the Creco acaustics pattant.
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`Q. Does that disclose and sizable an acoustic positiurzing Systern for srreurnsar
`systems?
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`A. Tfwtiv the general concept of it.
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`(Ex. 16, Brunrzt Dep. Tr. at 2051:1642 (abjectiuns DHTTTYEEU)
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`ACCESS RESTRICTED - ATTORNEYS ONLY - USDC SDTX
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`EX. PGS 1020
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`WG-PGS00090427
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`Ex. PGS 1020