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Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 1 of 37 PageID 272
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`DALLAS DIVISION
`
`
`
`SECURUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
`
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`
`v.
`
`CIVIL ACTION NO.
`3:14-cv-04233-M
`
`(JURY DEMANDED)
`
`ECF
`
`REDACTED PUBLIC VERSION
`
`
`
`
`GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION,
`
`
`Defendant.
`
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`Defendant Global Tel*Link Corporation (“GTL”) hereby answers the Original Complaint
`
`
`
`for Patent Infringement brought by Securus Technologies, Inc. (“Securus”). Additionally, GTL
`
`hereby asserts counterclaims for declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity of U.S.
`
`Patent Nos. 7,899,167 (“the ’167 patent”); 7,860,222 (“the ’222 patent”); 8,031,850 (“the ’850
`
`patent”); and 7,805,457 (“the ’457 patent”) (collectively, “the Securus Patents”); for declaratory
`
`judgment of unenforceability of the ’167 patent; for breach of contract; and for patent
`
`infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 7,256,816 (“the’816 patent”) and 7,046,779 (“the ’779 patent”)
`
`(collectively, “the GTL Patents”). With respect to the allegations made in the Original
`
`Complaint, GTL states as follows:
`
`PARTIES
`
`Denied. GTL lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`1.
`
`truth of the allegations in paragraph 1 of the Original Complaint.
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
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`Page 1 of 37
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`SECURUS EXHIBIT 1009
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`

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`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 2 of 37 PageID 273
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`2.
`
`GTL admits that it is a Delaware corporation, that it has a place of business at
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`2609 Cameron Street, Mobile, Alabama 36607, that it has an executive corporate office at 12021
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`Sunset Hills Road, Suite 100, Reston, Virginia 20190, and that it has a registered agent in Texas
`
`named Incorp Services, whose mailing address is 815 Brazos Street, Suite 500, Austin, Texas
`
`78701. GTL denies the remaining allegations in paragraph 2 of the Original Complaint.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`3.
`
`GTL admits that this action purports to be based on the patent laws of the United
`
`States, 35 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., and that this Court has original and exclusive subject matter
`
`jurisdiction over actions for patent infringement under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).
`
`4.
`
`GTL admits that it maintains a place of business in the Northern District of Texas.
`
`GTL denies the remaining allegations in paragraph 4 of the Original Complaint. Securus’s
`
`statement regarding personal jurisdiction in paragraph 4 of the Original Complaint is a legal
`
`conclusion to which no response is required. To the extent a response is required, GTL admits
`
`that it is subject to the personal jurisdiction of this Court.
`
`5.
`
`Securus’s statement regarding venue in paragraph 5 of the Original Complaint is a
`
`legal conclusion to which no response is required. To the extent a response is required, GTL
`
`admits that venue is proper in this District.
`
`PATENT INFRINGEMENT
`
`6.
`
`GTL admits that the ’167 patent bears the title “Centralized Call Processing”; that
`
`the ’167 patent lists an issuance date of March 1, 2011; and that what appears to be a copy of the
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`’167 patent was attached to the Original Complaint as Exhibit A. GTL denies that the ’167
`
`patent was duly and legally issued after a full and fair examination. GTL denies the remaining
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 2
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`Page 2 of 37
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`

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`allegations in paragraph 6 of the Original Complaint because it lacks knowledge or information
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`sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of these allegations.
`
`7.
`
`GTL admits that the ’222 patent bears the title “Systems and Methods for
`
`Acquiring, Accessing, and Analyzing Investigative Information”; that the ’222 patent lists an
`
`issuance date of December 28, 2010; and that what appears to be a copy of the ’222 patent was
`
`attached to the Original Complaint as Exhibit B. GTL denies that the ’222 patent was duly and
`
`legally issued after a full and fair examination. GTL denies the remaining allegations in
`
`paragraph 7 of the Original Complaint because it lacks knowledge or information sufficient to
`
`form a belief as to the truth of these allegations.
`
`8.
`
`GTL admits that the ’850 patent bears the title “Systems and Methods for
`
`Visitation Terminal User Identification”; that the ’850 patent lists an issuance date of October 4,
`
`2011; and that what appears to be a copy of the ’850 patent was attached to the Original
`
`Complaint as Exhibit C. GTL denies that the ’850 patent was duly and legally issued after a full
`
`and fair examination. GTL denies the remaining allegations in paragraph 8 of the Original
`
`Complaint because it lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of
`
`these allegations.
`
`9.
`
`GTL admits that the ’457 patent bears the title “System and Method for
`
`Identifying Members of a Gang or Security Threat Group”; that the ’457 patent lists an issuance
`
`date of September 28, 2010; and that what appears to be a copy of the ’457 patent was attached
`
`to the Original Complaint as Exhibit D. GTL denies that the ’457 patent was duly and legally
`
`issued after a full and fair examination. GTL denies the remaining allegations in paragraph 9 of
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 3
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`Page 3 of 37
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`

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`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 4 of 37 PageID 275
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`the Original Complaint because it lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
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`to the truth of these allegations.
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`10.
`
`Denied. GTL lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations in paragraph 10 of the Original Complaint.
`
`11.
`
`GTL admits that it sells or offers to sell certain specialized products and services
`
`for correctional institutions in competition with Securus. GTL denies the remaining allegations
`
`in paragraph 11 of the Original Complaint.
`
`CAUSES OF ACTION
`
`Count One – Infringement of the ’167 Patent
`
`12.
`
`In response to paragraph 12 of the Original Complaint, GTL incorporates by
`
`
`
`reference paragraphs 1 through 11 of this Answer as if fully set forth here.
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`13.
`
` Denied. GTL lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations in paragraph 13 of the Original Complaint.
`
`14.
`
`15.
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`16.
`
`Admitted.
`
`Denied.
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`Denied.
`
`Count Two – Infringement of the ’222 Patent
`
`17.
`
`In response to paragraph 17 of the Original Complaint, GTL incorporates by
`
`reference paragraphs 1 through 11 of this Answer as if fully set forth here.
`
`18.
`
`Denied. GTL lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations in paragraph 18 of the Original Complaint.
`
`19.
`
`Admitted.
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 4
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`Page 4 of 37
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`20.
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`21.
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`Denied.
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`Denied.
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`Count Three – Infringement of the ’850 Patent
`
`22.
`
`In response to paragraph 22 of the Original Complaint, GTL incorporates by
`
`reference paragraphs 1 through 11 of this Answer as if fully set forth here.
`
`23.
`
`Denied. GTL lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations in paragraph 23 of the Original Complaint.
`
`24.
`
`25.
`
`26.
`
`Admitted.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Count Four – Infringement of the ’457 Patent
`
`27.
`
`In response to paragraph 27 of the Original Complaint, GTL incorporates by
`
`reference paragraphs 1 through 11 of this Answer as if fully set forth here.
`
`28.
`
`Denied. GTL lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations in paragraph 28 of the Original Complaint.
`
`29.
`
`30.
`
`31.
`
`32.
`
`33.
`
`Admitted.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`REMEDIES
`
`Securus’s request for a permanent injunction in paragraph 33 of the Original
`
`Complaint is not an allegation to which a response is required. To the extent a response is
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 5
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`Page 5 of 37
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`

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`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 6 of 37 PageID 277
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`required, GTL denies that Securus is entitled to any of the requested relief. GTL further denies
`
`the remaining allegations in paragraph 33 of the Original Complaint.
`
`34.
`
`Paragraph 34 of the Original Complaint does not contain allegations to which a
`
`response is required. To the extent a response is required, GTL denies the allegations in
`
`paragraph 34 of the Original Complaint.
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`COSTS, INTEREST AND ATTORNEY’S FEES
`
`35.
`
`Paragraph 35 of the Original Complaint does not contain allegations to which a
`
`response is required. To the extent a response is required, GTL denies the allegations in
`
`paragraph 35 of the Original Complaint.
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`JURY DEMAND
`
`36.
`
`Paragraph 36 of the Original Complaint does not contain allegations to which a
`
`response is required. To the extent a response is required, GTL denies the allegations in
`
`paragraph 36 of the Original Complaint. GTL demands a jury trial of all issues so triable.
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`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
`
`Securus’s requests following paragraph 36 of the Original Complaint (as set forth in a list
`
`of items numbered 1-10) do not contain allegations to which a response is required. To the
`
`extent a response is required, GTL denies that Securus is entitled to any of the requested relief.
`
`Each averment and/or allegation contained in Securus’s Original Complaint that is not
`
`specifically admitted herein is hereby denied.
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`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 6
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`Page 6 of 37
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`

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`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
`
`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE I
`(Invalidity)
`
`Each of the Securus Patents is invalid for failure to satisfy the conditions of
`
`
`37.
`
`patentability under the patent laws of the United States, including one or more of 35 U.S.C.
`
`§§ 101, 102, 103, and 112.
`
`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE II
`(No Infringement)
`
`GTL does not infringe any valid claim of any of the Securus Patents.
`
`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE III
`(Prosecution History Estoppel)
`
`Securus is estopped from construing or interpreting the claims of the Securus
`
`38.
`
`
`39.
`
`Patents to cover any acts of GTL by reason of proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark
`
`Office (“PTO”) during prosecution and/or review of the applications upon which the patents
`
`issued, and the admissions and representations made therein to the PTO on behalf of the
`
`applicants.
`
`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE IV
`(Failure To Provide Notice Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 287)
`
`Securus’s ability to recover for any alleged infringement is limited by the failure
`
`40.
`
`of Securus and/or its licensees to meet the requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 287.
`
`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE V
`(License/Patent Exhaustion)
`
`41.
`
`Securus’s claims for relief are barred in whole or in part by licenses granted by
`
`
`
`Securus or its predecessors in interest or by others with the authority to grant such licenses to
`
`GTL or its affiliates, or by the doctrine of patent exhaustion.
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 7
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`Page 7 of 37
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`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 8 of 37 PageID 279
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`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE VI
`(Inequitable Conduct in Prosecuting the ’167 Patent – Spadaro Reference)
`
`The ‘167 patent is unenforceable due to inequitable conduct before the PTO.
`
`42.
`
`43.
`
`On June 25, 2008, prosecuting attorney Dohyun Ahn submitted a statement under
`
`37 C.F.R. § 3.73(b) declaring Evercom Systems, Inc. (“Evercom”) as the assignee of the entire
`
`right, title, and interest of U.S. Patent Application No. 10/642,532 (“the ’532 application”). The
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`’532 application later issued as the ’167 patent on March 1, 2011.
`
`44.
`
`On information and belief, Securus was formerly known as Evercom and is the
`
`successor in interest to the ’167 patent.
`
`45.
`
`Each individual associated with the prosecution of the ’532 application, including
`
`but not limited to the named inventor, Robert Rae; the assignee, Evercom and its successor in
`
`interest Securus; and the prosecuting attorney, Mr. Ahn, had a duty of candor and good faith to
`
`the PTO under 37 C.F.R. § 1.56.
`
`46.
`
`In a Final Rejection dated July 21, 2010, Examiner Antim Shah, on behalf of the
`
`PTO, rejected independent claims 1 and 59 of the ’532 application under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) in
`
`light of U.S. Patent No. 7,505,406 (“Spadaro”), which lists Thomas S. Spadaro and others as the
`
`named inventors.
`
`47.
`
`In the Final Rejection dated July 21, 2010, Examiner Shah found claims 1 and 59
`
`of the ’532 application as being unpatentable over Spadaro. Examiner Shah found that Spadaro
`
`disclosed every element of independent claims 1 and 59 of the ’532 application, except that the
`
`centralized call processing system in Spadaro did not provide call processing services to a
`
`“plurality of prison facilities.” But Examiner Shah found that it would have been obvious to
`
`connect the centralized call processing system disclosed in Spadaro to more than one location,
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`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 8
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`Page 8 of 37
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`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 9 of 37 PageID 280
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`and that Spadaro disclosed that the centralized call processing system was connected to a Wide
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`Area Network (“WAN”) through which such connections could easily occur. Specifically,
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`Examiner Shah stated that “[i]t would have been obvious to the person of ordinary skill in the art
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`to have the [centralized call processing system] (which provides switching, accessing, routing,
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`timing, billing and control functions) connected to the WAN and provide[] the centralize[d] call
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`processing to the different sites. The suggestion motivation would have been to have a low cost
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`system that will have a centrally located call processing module. Also, it would be easy to
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`upgrade and maintain the system.”
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`48.
`
`In response to the Final Rejection, Mr. Ahn, on behalf of Mr. Rae and Evercom,
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`submitted a Request for Continued Examination on October 18, 2010, with accompanying
`
`amendments and remarks. That response did not dispute any of Examiner Shah’s findings made
`
`in support of his conclusion that claims 1 and 59 of the ’532 application were unpatentable over
`
`Spadaro. Instead, Mr. Ahn amended those claims to add an additional element. Claim 1 was
`
`amended to require “a billing system co-located with said call application management system
`
`and located remotely from the call processing gateways, the billing system connected to the call
`
`application management system for providing accounting of the calls.” Claim 59 was amended
`
`to require “the call processing system performing billing operations associated with the calls.”
`
`49. Mr. Ahn wrote the following in his remarks on October 18, 2010 (emphasis
`
`added):
`
`As set forth above, independent claim 1, as amended, recites the feature of “a
`billing system co-located with said call application management system and
`located remotely from the call processing gateways, the billing system connected
`to the call application management system for providing accounting of the calls . . . .”
`Spadaro, however, fails to disclose anything about billing. Therefore,
`claim 1, as amended, is patentably distinguishable over Spadaro.
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`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
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` PAGE 9
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`Page 9 of 37
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`Claim 59 also recites a similar feature as set forth above, and therefore, claim 59 is also
`patently distinguishable over Spadaro.
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`50. Mr. Ahn’s unqualified statement that Spadaro “fails to disclose anything about
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`billing” is false. In fact, Spadaro not only discloses information about “billing,” but addresses it
`
`in multiple places.
`
`51.
`
`First, Figure 1 of Spadaro – which also appears on the face of the patent –
`
`discloses a “billing” functionality located together with the centralized call processing system.
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`This figure is reproduced below:
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`
`
`52.
`
`Second, the specification explains that Figure 1 shows a “computer 12 [that]
`
`performs the function of switching, indicated at 20, routing, indicated at 22, and billing,
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`indicated at 24” for calls processed for a prison. Spadaro at 3:28-301 (emphasis added). As
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`shown in Figure 1, the computer houses both the billing function and call routing and switching
`
`functions in the same location. Accordingly, Spadaro discloses a billing system co-located with
`
`a call application management system.
`
`
`1 Citations to patents in this document are in the form “Name at column:lines.” Thus, “Spadaro
`at 3:28-30” refers to Column 3 of the Spadaro patent, lines 28-30.
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`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
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` PAGE 10
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`Page 10 of 37
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`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 11 of 37 PageID 282
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`53.
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`Third, the Abstract of Spadaro refers to “billing,” as shown on the face of the
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`patent and as reproduced below:
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`
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`54.
`
`Fourth, Figure 4 of Spadaro also discloses billing functionality, as shown below.
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`The specification explains that “FIG. 4 shows how the programming of control functions may be
`
`distributed to remote locations over the Ethernet network. In FIG. 4 the routing function 22, the
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`billing function 24 and the PIN Checking 28 are distributed to a remote location or locations by
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`the Ethernet network 50. As shown in FIG. 4, the network 50 is a local area network (LAN).
`
`However, these functions may also be distributed over a WAN. The distribution of these
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`functions to remote locations has the advantage that the functions can be centralized with the
`
`functions being performed at a central administration location.” Spadaro at 4:4-13. Thus,
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`Spadaro discloses billing functionality co-located with call processing functionality (e.g.,
`
`routing) that is located remotely (e.g., via a WAN) from the call processing gateways and is
`
`centralized so that it can serve multiple prison facilities.
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`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
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` PAGE 11
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`Page 11 of 37
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`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 12 of 37 PageID 283
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`55.
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`Fifth, claim 6 of Spadaro recites a “method for providing prison facility call
`
`processing” in which the “call processing system provid[es] billing with respect to [an]
`
`authorized call.” Spadaro at 5:35-36, 6:9-11. By way of comparison, claim 59 of the ’532
`
`application, which became claim 17 of the asserted ’167 patent, was amended in Mr. Ahn’s
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`October 18, 2010 remarks to add “the call processing system performing billing operations
`
`associated with the calls.”
`
`56.
`
`Sixth, Spadaro further describes a “billing” function in the “Background of the
`
`Invention” section (at 1:28-30), in the “Summary of the Invention” section (at 1:67), and in the
`
`“Description of the Preferred Embodiment” section (at, e.g., 3:28-30). In each case, Spadaro
`
`makes clear that “billing” refers to traditional telephony billing that involves accounting for
`
`telephone calls.
`
`57.
`
`Accordingly, Mr. Ahn’s statement that Spadaro “fails to disclose anything about
`
`billing” was false. Plaintiff Securus has admitted this. On November 7, 2011, Securus filed
`
`“Plaintiff’s Answer to Counterclaim” in T-Netix, Inc. v. Pinnacle Public Services, LLC, Civil
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
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` PAGE 12
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`Page 12 of 37
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`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 13 of 37 PageID 284
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`Action No. 2:09-CV-00333-TJW (E.D. Tex.). In paragraph 55 of that Answer, Securus stated
`
`that Mr. Ahn’s statement that Spadaro “fails to disclose anything about billing” was “not literally
`
`accurate.”
`
`58.
`
`On information and belief, Mr. Ahn’s statement that Spadaro “fails to disclose
`
`anything about billing” was a knowing and deliberate misrepresentation. Mr. Ahn plainly knew
`
`that Spadaro disclosed billing. On November 13, 2009, Mr. Ahn filed remarks stating that
`
`Spadaro disclosed “a programmable computer that provides switching, accessing, routing,
`
`timing, billing and control functions.” (Emphasis added.) Nevertheless, on information and
`
`belief, in order to traverse the rejection based on Spadaro, Mr. Ahn chose to convince the
`
`examiner that Spadaro did not disclose anything about billing. In the October 18, 2010, remarks,
`
`Mr. Ahn did not raise any issues with Examiner Shah’s prior findings that claims 1 and 59 of the
`
`’532 application were not patentable over Spadaro. On information and belief, Mr. Ahn was
`
`unable to distinguish Spadaro on any basis that he believed Examiner Shah would find
`
`persuasive.
`
`59. Mr. Ahn instead amended claims 1 and 59 in an attempt to overcome the rejection
`
`based on Spadaro. In order for this amendment to succeed in overcoming the rejection, Mr. Ahn
`
`needed to convince Examiner Shah that Spadaro did not disclose the substance of these new
`
`amendments. Mr. Ahn did not argue that the billing in claims 1 and 59, as amended, was
`
`somehow different from the billing disclosed by Spadaro. Instead, Mr. Ahn categorically stated
`
`that Spadaro did not “disclose anything about billing” (emphasis added). The only reasonable
`
`explanation for this statement is that Mr. Ahn hoped that Examiner Shah would rely on this
`
`misrepresentation and approve the claims based on the new amendments.
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`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 13
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`Page 13 of 37
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`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 14 of 37 PageID 285
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`60. Mr. Ahn’s misrepresentation of Spadaro was material to patentability. On
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`October 18, 2010, Mr. Ahn distinguished Spadaro from independent claims 1 and 59 of the ’532
`
`application solely on the ground that Spadaro did not disclose “anything about billing.” In the
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`next office action following Mr. Ahn’s statement that Spadaro “fails to disclose anything about
`
`billing,” Examiner Shah allowed the ’532 application without further comment or explanation.
`
`61.
`
`On information and belief, Messrs. Ahn and Rae, as well as Evercom and its
`
`successor in interest Securus, violated their duty of candor by knowingly and deliberately
`
`making a misrepresentation about this material element—the disclosure of “billing” in
`
`Spadaro—with the intent to deceive the PTO for the purpose of obtaining allowance of the ’532
`
`application.
`
`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE VII
`(Failure To Disclose Inventorship of the ’167 Patent Under 35 U.S.C. § 102(f) and/or § 101)
`
`In or about early 2003, Robert Rae, the named inventor of the ’167 patent, visited
`
`62.
`
`the offices of Science Dynamics Corporation (“SciDyn”) in New Jersey.
`
`63.
`
`64.
`
`During those visits, Rae heard descriptions of SciDyn’s technology.
`
`In or about early 2003, Rae solicited from SciDyn a proposal for a centralized call
`
`processing system using VoIP technology to be used by Rae’s employer Evercom.
`
`65.
`
`In connection with that proposal, Rae exchanged e-mail messages with certain
`
`SciDyn employees regarding SciDyn’s technology for centralized call processing using VoIP.
`
`66.
`
`On or about May 27, 2003, SciDyn sent to Rae a pricing proposal for a VOIP
`
`Enabled Commander Solution. At or around the same time, SciDyn sent to Rae a diagram for a
`
`centralized call processing system using VoIP (the “IP Commander Proposal Diagram”).
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 14
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 14 of 37
`
`

`
`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 15 of 37 PageID 286
`
`67.
`
`On information and belief, by August 15, 2003, Rae knew of SciDyn’s
`
`technology, knew of the pricing proposal for the VOIP Enabled Commander Solution, knew of
`
`the IP Commander Proposal Diagram, and claimed SciDyn’s technology as his own in certain
`
`claims of the application that later resulted in the ’167 patent.
`
`68.
`
`The failure of Rae or others involved in the prosecution of the ’167 patent to
`
`disclose to the PTO that Rae did not invent certain claims of the ’167 patent violated 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 102(f) and/or 35 U.S.C. § 101, thus rendering the patent invalid.
`
`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE VIII
`(Inequitable Conduct in Prosecuting the ’167 Patent – Inventorship)
`
`The ‘167 patent is unenforceable due to inequitable conduct before the PTO.
`
`On June 25, 2008, prosecuting attorney Dohyun Ahn submitted a statement under
`
`69.
`
`70.
`
`37 C.F.R. § 3.73(b) declaring Evercom Systems, Inc. (“Evercom”) as the assignee of the entire
`
`right, title, and interest of U.S. Patent Application No. 10/642,532 (“the ’532 application”). The
`
`’532 application later issued as the ’167 patent on March 1, 2011.
`
`71.
`
`On information and belief, Securus was formerly known as Evercom and is the
`
`successor in interest to the ’167 patent.
`
`72.
`
`Each individual associated with the prosecution of the ’532 application, including
`
`but not limited to the named inventor, Robert Rae; the assignee, Evercom, and its successor in
`
`interest, Securus; and the prosecuting attorney, Mr. Ahn, had a duty of candor and good faith to
`
`the PTO under 37 C.F.R. § 1.56.
`
`73.
`
`In or about early 2003, Robert Rae, the named inventor of the ’167 patent, visited
`
`the offices of Science Dynamics Corporation (“SciDyn”) in New Jersey.
`
`74.
`
`During those visits, Rae heard descriptions of SciDyn’s technology.
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 15
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 15 of 37
`
`

`
`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 16 of 37 PageID 287
`
`75.
`
`In or about early 2003, Rae solicited from SciDyn a proposal for a centralized call
`
`processing system using VoIP technology to be used by Rae’s employer Evercom.
`
`76.
`
`In connection with that proposal, Rae exchanged e-mail messages with certain
`
`SciDyn employees regarding SciDyn’s technology for centralized call processing using VoIP.
`
`77.
`
`On or about May 27, 2003, SciDyn sent to Rae a pricing proposal for a VOIP
`
`Enabled Commander Solution. At or around the same time, SciDyn sent to Rae a diagram for a
`
`centralized call processing system using VoIP (the “IP Commander Proposal Diagram”).
`
`78.
`
`On information and belief, by August 15, 2003, Rae knew of SciDyn’s
`
`technology, knew of the pricing proposal for the VOIP Enabled Commander Solution, knew of
`
`the IP Commander Proposal Diagram, and claimed SciDyn’s technology as his own in certain
`
`claims of the application that later resulted in the ’167 patent.
`
`79.
`
`On information and belief, the failure of Rae and others involved in the
`
`prosecution of the ’167 patent to disclose that others contributed as inventors to the claims in the
`
`’167 patent was done with deceptive intent and represents inequitable conduct that renders the
`
`’167 patent unenforceable.
`
`AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE IX
`(Estoppel by Contract/Quasi-Estoppel)
`
`On or about September 17, 2009, Securus and its subsidiary T-Netix, Inc. (“T-
`
`80.
`
`Netix”) (collectively, “Securus”) entered into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release
`
`(“Settlement Agreement”) with Public Communications Services, Inc. (“PCS”) and AGM
`
`Telecom Corporation (“AGM”) (collectively, “PCS”). The parties contemporaneously executed
`
`a Patent License Agreement (“License Agreement”), which was attached as Exhibit A to the
`
`Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement and License Agreement resolved claims of
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 16
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 16 of 37
`
`

`
`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 17 of 37 PageID 288
`
`patent infringement that T-Netix had asserted against PCS in July 2009. Copies of the
`
`Settlement Agreement and the License Agreement are attached hereto as sealed Exhibits A and
`
`B, respectively.
`
`81.
`
`Section 4.1(b) of the License Agreement states in full (emphasis added):
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`. The ’532 application
`
`
`
`
`82.
`
`was filed on August 15, 2003, and issued as the ’167 patent; U.S. Patent Application No.
`
`11/479,990 (“the ’990 application”) was filed on June 30, 2006, and issued as the ’222 patent;
`
`U.S. Patent Application No. 11/562,784 (“the ’784 application”) was filed on November 22,
`
`2006, and issued as the ’850 patent; and U.S. Patent Application No. 12/031,460 (“the ’460
`
`application”) was filed on February 14, 2008, and issued as the ’457 patent.
`
`83.
`
`On information and belief, all right, title, and interest in the ’532, ’990, ’784, and
`
`’460 applications were assigned to Evercom by September 17, 2009, and Evercom and Securus
`
`were aware of each of those applications as of that date.
`
`84.
`
`Securus has accepted royalty payments and other benefits derived from the
`
`License Agreement.
`
`85.
`
`In light of the facts in the foregoing paragraphs 80 to 84, GTL is entitled to a
`
`declaration by the Court that Securus is estopped from asserting that the Inmate Calling Manager
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 17
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 17 of 37
`
`

`
`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 18 of 37 PageID 289
`
`(“ICMv”) and any other “Licensed Products” or PCS services, as they existed on September 17,
`
`2009, infringed or continue to infringe the ’167, ’222, ’850, and ’457 patents.
`
`COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`Counterclaim Plaintiff Global Tel*Link Corporation (“GTL”) asserts the following
`
`Counterclaims against Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendant Securus Technologies, Inc.
`
`(“Securus”):
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`1.
`
`GTL is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 12021
`
`Sunset Hills Road, Suite 100, Reston, VA 20190.
`
`2.
`
`On information and belief, Securus is a Delaware corporation with its principal
`
`place of business located at 14651 Dallas Parkway, Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75254. Securus is the
`
`entity that filed the Original Complaint against GTL in this action on or about December 1, 2014.
`
`NATURE OF COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`3.
`
`These Counterclaims include claims for declaratory judgment that U.S. Patent
`
`Nos. 7,899,167 (“the ’167 patent”); 7,860,222 (“the ’222 patent”); 8,031,850 (“the ’850 patent”);
`
`and 7,805,457 (“the ’457 patent”) (collectively, “the Securus Patents”) are invalid and have not
`
`been infringed by GTL, and that the ’167 patent is unenforceable due to inequitable conduct
`
`committed before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) during the prosecution of U.S.
`
`Patent Application No. 10/642,532 (“the ’532 application”).
`
`4.
`
`These Counterclaims include a claim for breach of contract.
`
`
`DEFENDANT GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION’S
`ANSWER TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
` PAGE 18
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 18 of 37
`
`

`
`Case 3:14-cv-04233-K Document 21 Filed 01/12/15 Page 19 of 37 PageID 290
`
`5.
`
`These Counterclaims include claims of infringement of U.S. Patent Nos.
`
`7,256,816 (“the’816 patent”) and 7,046,779 (“the ’779 patent”) (collectively, “the GTL
`
`Patents”).
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`6.
`
`These Counterclaims arise under the patent laws of the United States of America,
`
`35 U.S.C. § 100 et seq., and the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201-2202.
`
`7.
`
`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over these Counterclaims pursuant to 28
`
`U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a), 1367, and 2201.
`
`8.
`
`Securus has availed itself of this forum and is therefore subject to personal
`
`juri

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