throbber
DARYL SODERMAN
`
` UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
` BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
` 1
`
` 2
`
` 3
`
` 4 GENERATION BRANDS LLC
`
` 5
`
` 6
`
`-vs-
`
`Petitioner,
`
` 7 LIGHTING SCIENCE GROUP CORP.
`
` 8
`
` 9
`
`10
`
`Patent Owner.
`
`* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
`
`11 DEPOSITION OF DARYL SODERMAN
`
`12 DATE TAKEN: January 23, 2018
`
`13 TIME: 12:35 - 2:45 p.m.
`
`14 PLACE:6650 N. Andrews Avenue
`
`15 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33309
`
` TAKEN BEFORE: RICK E. LEVY, RPR, FPR
` AND NOTARY PUBLIC
`
`* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`1
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 1
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 APPEARANCES:
`
` 2 On behalf of the Petitioner, Technical Consumer
` Products:
` 3
` STACIE HARTMAN, ESQUIRE
` 4 THOMAS A. RAMMER, II, ESQUIRE
` SCHIFF HARDIN
` 5 233 S. WHACKER DRIVE
` SUITE 6600
` 6 Chicago, Illinois 60606
`
` 7
`
` 8 On behalf of the Respondent:
`
` 9 ERIC HAYES, ESQUIRE
` KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
`10 300 N. Lasalle Street
` Chicago, Illinois 60654
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`2
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 2
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1
`
` 2
` - - -
` 3 I N D E X
` - - -
` 4
` WITNESS: DIRECT CROSS REDIRECT RECROSS
` 5 DARYL SODERMAN
` BY MY. HAYES 4 60
` 6 BY MS. HARTMAN 51
`
` 7
`
` 8 - - -
` E X H I B I T S
` 9 - - -
`
`10
` NUMBER PAGE
`11 Respondent's Ex. 1 4
` Respondent's Ex. 2 5
`12 Respondent's Ex. 3 5
` Respondent's Ex. 4 21
`13 Respondent's Ex. 5 46
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`3
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 3
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 P R O C E E D I N G S
`
` 2 - - -
`
` 3 Deposition taken before Rick E. Levy,
`
` 4 Registered Professional Reporter and Notary Public
`
` 5 in and for the State of Florida at Large, in the
`
` 6 above cause.
`
` 7 - - -
`
` 8 Thereupon,
`
` 9 (Daryl Soderman)
`
`10 having been first duly sworn or affirmed,
`
`11 was examined and testified as follows:
`
`12 DIRECT EXAMINATION
`
`13 THE WITNESS: I do.
`
`14 MR. HAYES: Mr. Soderman, good afternoon.
`
`15 Just a couple preliminary things I'm working on
`
`16 here marking some exhibits. I'm going to mark for
`
`17 the record as Exhibit 1 the declaration of Daryl
`
`18 Soderman dated the 15th July 2016.
`
`19 (Respondent's Exhibit No. 1 was
`
`20 marked for identification.)
`
`21 MR. HAYES: Just so the record is clear I'm
`
`22 going to separately mark as exhibits the two
`
`23 documents that you attached as Exhibit 1 to your
`
`24 declaration and so for the record Exhibit 2 is
`
`25 going to be the Silescent S100 LP2 installation
`
`4
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 4
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 instructions.
`
` 2 (Respondent's Exhibit No. 2 was
`
` 3 marked for identification.)
`
` 4 MR. HAYES: Then as Exhibit 3 I'm going to
`
` 5 mark the Silescent SL100 LP2 I think you referred
`
` 6 to it as the product sheet.
`
` 7 (Respondent's Exhibit No. 3 was
`
` 8 marked for identification.)
`
` 9 MS. HARTMAN: Just before you begin your
`
`10 questioning Mr. Hayes and for the record I just
`
`11 wanted to note that we provided Mr. Hayes today
`
`12 copy of a Silescent invoice dated July 24th 2009
`
`13 for a sale of an LP2 product which Mr. Soderman
`
`14 provided to us during the preparation for his
`
`15 deposition.
`
`16 MR. HAYES: Thank you. Mark as Exhibit 4 --
`
`17 let's just start there.
`
`18 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`19 Q. So Mr. Soderman, good afternoon.
`
`20 A. Good afternoon.
`
`21 Q. Is there any reason, medication, illness or
`
`22 otherwise that you can't answer my questions fully and
`
`23 truthfully today?
`
`24 A. No.
`
`25 Q. Have you been deposed before?
`
`5
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 5
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 A. No, I have not.
`
` 2 Q. So I'm going to ask questions. You're going
`
` 3 to answer them. From time to time -- are you being
`
` 4 represented by counsel here today?
`
` 5 A. I am.
`
` 6 Q. Who is that?
`
` 7 A. Stacie.
`
` 8 Q. When did Stacie start representing you
`
` 9 generally?
`
`10 A. Generally mid December.
`
`11 Q. So from time to time your counsel may object
`
`12 to questions but unless she specifically instructs you
`
`13 not to answer my question you're to answer my question
`
`14 to the best of your ability. Do you understand that?
`
`15 A. Yes.
`
`16 Q. So you submitted a declaration. That's
`
`17 Exhibit 1. Let's start there. You originally submitted
`
`18 this declaration in the Generation Brands V. Lighting
`
`19 Science Group Corp IPR; is that right?
`
`20 A. Yes.
`
`21 Q. How did you come to be involved with
`
`22 Generation Brands?
`
`23 A. I was contacted by their counsel explaining to
`
`24 me about his involvement in the activities that his
`
`25 client was undergoing and through a few discussions that
`
`6
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 6
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 ended with this.
`
` 2 Q. Did Generation Brand or anyone else pay you to
`
` 3 put this declaration together?
`
` 4 A. No, sir.
`
` 5 Q. Have you been paid any money for your time or
`
` 6 in any way for any of the things you've done relating to
`
` 7 the Generation Brands or the TCP case?
`
` 8 A. No.
`
` 9 Q. Your declaration here says you're the
`
`10 co-founder and founder of the Silescent Corporation.
`
`11 Did I pronounce that correctly?
`
`12 A. Silescent, yes.
`
`13 Q. Who is your co-founder?
`
`14 A. Co-founder is Dale Stepps.
`
`15 Q. So the two of you and Mr. Dale Stepps founded
`
`16 Silescent?
`
`17 A. Yes.
`
`18 Q. When?
`
`19 A. It was originally -- the company was renamed
`
`20 in 2007. It was originally founded in 2002.
`
`21 Q. What was the original name?
`
`22 A. Inteltech.
`
`23 Q. Inteltech. In 2007 Inteltech just kind of
`
`24 corporate name changed from Inteltech to Silescent?
`
`25 A. Correct, I don't remember the exact date but
`
`7
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 7
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 it was that period.
`
` 2 Q. What was the business of Inteltech?
`
` 3 A. Same as Silescent, lighting. Lighting, design
`
` 4 and development. Largely development at the time.
`
` 5 Research.
`
` 6 Q. So is it fair to say that since the founding
`
` 7 of Inteltech until today which you now have the name
`
` 8 Silescent the business of Inteltech and then Silescent
`
` 9 was lighting, design and development?
`
`10 A. LED lighting, design and development, yes.
`
`11 Q. Does Silescent currently offer any commercial
`
`12 products?
`
`13 A. Yes, we do.
`
`14 Q. How many?
`
`15 A. It's a platform consisting of many SKUs but in
`
`16 the general sense down lighting and high bay lighting.
`
`17 Q. Have any of Inteltech or Silescent's LED lamp
`
`18 or lighting products ever been accused of infringing a
`
`19 patent?
`
`20 A. No.
`
`21 MS. HARTMAN: Objection, relevance.
`
`22 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`23 Q. Has Inteltech or Silescent ever been involved
`
`24 in patent litigation?
`
`25 MS. HARTMAN: Objection, relevance.
`
`8
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 8
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 THE WITNESS: No.
`
` 2 BY MR. HAYES:
`
` 3 Q. Does Inteltech and/or Silescent have -- you
`
` 4 have a number of patents; right?
`
` 5 A. Yes.
`
` 6 Q. Does Silescent have patent counsel?
`
` 7 MS. HARTMAN: Objection, relevance.
`
` 8 MR. HAYES: You can answer that yes or no.
`
` 9 THE WITNESS: Yes.
`
`10 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`11 Q. Since the beginning has Inteltech or Silescent
`
`12 always had patent counsel?
`
`13 MS. HARTMAN: Objection, relevance.
`
`14 THE WITNESS: For the most part.
`
`15 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`16 Q. So back to your declaration here you say in
`
`17 paragraph one that Silescent is a Florida based lighting
`
`18 company that designs, manufacturers and sells lighting
`
`19 fixtures including low profile luminaires. What's a low
`
`20 profile luminaire?
`
`21 A. Minimal dimensional thickness.
`
`22 Q. What do you mean by minimal dimensional
`
`23 thickness?
`
`24 A. Primarily the distance behind the ceiling
`
`25 plane to the back of the fixture.
`
`9
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 9
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 Q. So low profile is minimal dimensional
`
` 2 thickness of the distance behind the ceiling plane to
`
` 3 the back of the fixture?
`
` 4 A. Yes.
`
` 5 Q. When you say minimal dimensions is there an
`
` 6 absolute number quarter inch, half inch, two inches that
`
` 7 is in the ballpark of minimal dimensional thickness?
`
` 8 MS. HARTMAN: Objection, form.
`
` 9 THE WITNESS: No.
`
`10 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`11 Q. Four inches behind the -- a distance from
`
`12 the -- behind the ceiling plane to the back of the
`
`13 fixture of four inches would that be considered, in your
`
`14 opinion, a low profile luminaire?
`
`15 MS. HARTMAN: Objection, form.
`
`16 THE WITNESS: I wouldn't -- I wouldn't look at
`
`17 that as low profile.
`
`18 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`19 Q. How about three inches?
`
`20 A. I wouldn't look at that as low profile.
`
`21 Q. How about two inches?
`
`22 A. I wouldn't look at that as low profile.
`
`23 Q. One inch?
`
`24 A. Yes.
`
`25 Q. As the founder of Silescent Corporation
`
`10
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 10
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 Inteltech back in 2002 has your work for the most part
`
` 2 for the past 15 years or more been in the design,
`
` 3 development of LED lighting?
`
` 4 A. Yes.
`
` 5 Q. Any other work or business that you do?
`
` 6 A. Yes.
`
` 7 Q. What is that?
`
` 8 A. In the general sense product development.
`
` 9 Q. For the past 15 years what percentage of your
`
`10 work time or work life has been on developing, designing
`
`11 LED lights or luminaires?
`
`12 A. More than half.
`
`13 Q. This term you used low profile luminaire, does
`
`14 that have a well understood meaning to someone like you
`
`15 that designs LED lamps?
`
`16 MS. HARTMAN: Objection, form.
`
`17 THE WITNESS: I can't state to the industry
`
`18 understanding of the term or expression.
`
`19 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`20 Q. If you were talking to someone else in the
`
`21 industry and you used the term low profile luminaire
`
`22 would they have a general understanding of what you're
`
`23 talking about?
`
`24 MS. HARTMAN: Objection, speculation.
`
`25 THE WITNESS: Again I don't -- I couldn't say
`
`11
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 11
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 whether they would or wouldn't necessarily.
`
` 2 BY MR. HAYES:
`
` 3 Q. Platform of many SKUs of products that
`
` 4 Silescent offers is it more than 20?
`
` 5 A. In terms of SKUs?
`
` 6 Q. Yes.
`
` 7 A. Yes.
`
` 8 Q. More than 40?
`
` 9 A. Yes.
`
`10 Q. Now, difference between SKUs can be different
`
`11 versions of the same product; is that fair? Trying to
`
`12 get a sense of how many products like Silescent's
`
`13 product line, is it 15 LED lamps or luminaires or is it
`
`14 100?
`
`15 A. I don't know how to qualify the response in
`
`16 that there are a number of attributes and options and
`
`17 features that build out that product line.
`
`18 Q. Is your product line -- sorry, is Silescent
`
`19 Corporation's product line available online?
`
`20 A. Yes. I'm sorry, can you clarify the question?
`
`21 Q. Like if I wanted to determine or look at
`
`22 Silescent's product offerings could I find that --
`
`23 A. Could you view it online?
`
`24 Q. Could I view that on your Web site?
`
`25 MS. HARTMAN: I want to note Mr. Soderman you
`
`12
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 12
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 have to weight for Mr. Hayes to finish his question
`
` 2 fully before you start answering otherwise the
`
` 3 court reporter is going to have to transcribe two
`
` 4 people speaking at the same time. Make sure
`
` 5 Mr. Hayes is done before you begin your answer.
`
` 6 THE WITNESS: Understood and noted. Yes.
`
` 7 BY MR. HAYES:
`
` 8 Q. That's at Silescent.com or where would I find
`
` 9 that?
`
`10 A. Yes.
`
`11 Q. Turning to paragraph three of your declaration
`
`12 you talk about attached as Exhibit 1 is a true and
`
`13 accurate copy of the Silescent SL100 LP2 product sheet
`
`14 and installation guide. Both are made available to the
`
`15 public at least as early as June 2009.
`
`16 So to keep -- to make things a little bit
`
`17 easier for today I individually identified the
`
`18 installation guide as Exhibit 2 and the I think what you
`
`19 referred to as the product sheet as Exhibit 3. Do you
`
`20 see that?
`
`21 A. Yes.
`
`22 Q. Is Exhibit 2 and Exhibit 3, installation guide
`
`23 and product sheet, separate documents at Silescent?
`
`24 A. Yes.
`
`25 Q. You state here in your declaration that both
`
`13
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 13
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 of these were made available to the public at least as
`
` 2 early as June 2009. What's that statement based on?
`
` 3 A. The date of the installation instruction and
`
` 4 the -- and our practice was to typically on the
`
` 5 specification sheet, product spec sheet done prior to
`
` 6 the installation instructions.
`
` 7 Q. So Exhibit 2 the installation I think you
`
` 8 referred to it as installation guide. What do we want
`
` 9 to refer so we're on the same page what terminology
`
`10 Exhibit 2?
`
`11 A. Installation instructions.
`
`12 Q. Installation instructions.
`
`13 A. Same.
`
`14 Q. Exhibit 3 I think you referred to that in your
`
`15 declaration as product sheet. Could we use that term?
`
`16 A. Yes.
`
`17 Q. So the installation instruction Exhibit 2 has
`
`18 a date on it but the product sheet Exhibit 3 does not
`
`19 have a date on it; correct?
`
`20 A. Correct.
`
`21 Q. And you said it was -- your practice do you
`
`22 typically -- you said you typically included these with
`
`23 product; is that right?
`
`24 MS. HARTMAN: Object to form.
`
`25 THE WITNESS: I'm sorry, can you restate the
`
`14
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 14
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 question?
`
` 2 BY MR. HAYES:
`
` 3 Q. So you said here in paragraph four of your
`
` 4 declaration that you typically distributed the
`
` 5 installation guide and specification sheets along with
`
` 6 product or product samples; is that right?
`
` 7 MS. HARTMAN: Object to -- not strictly
`
` 8 reading what's in paragraph four.
`
` 9 THE WITNESS: Yes, among other means.
`
`10 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`11 Q. So can I take it from that that -- it was not
`
`12 Silescent's practice to always include the installation
`
`13 instruction or product sheet with the product?
`
`14 A. I'm not aware of our situation where we
`
`15 wouldn't have provided.
`
`16 Q. Then why did you say typically in your
`
`17 declaration?
`
`18 A. I can't recall as to exact derivation of the
`
`19 phrase.
`
`20 Q. Were you involved in drafting or writing the
`
`21 installation instruction Exhibit 2?
`
`22 A. I didn't draft it if that's what your question
`
`23 is.
`
`24 Q. Who drafted installation instruction Exhibit
`
`25 2?
`
`15
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 15
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 A. The counsel at the time that I was speaking
`
` 2 to.
`
` 3 MS. HARTMAN: I think you may have misheard
`
` 4 Mr. Hayes' question. I don't know if you want to
`
` 5 have it read back.
`
` 6 BY MR. HAYES:
`
` 7 Q. My question was who drafted installation
`
` 8 instruction, Exhibit 2?
`
` 9 A. I'm sorry. Please re-ask the question. I'm
`
`10 sorry, I thought we were talking about -- sorry. You
`
`11 shifted gears.
`
`12 Q. So Exhibit 2, maybe just pull out Exhibit 2,
`
`13 installation instruction. Who drafted this Silescent
`
`14 SL100 LP2 installation instruction?
`
`15 A. It would have been -- it would have been a few
`
`16 parties that would have had hands in this.
`
`17 Q. Who are those parties that had hands in
`
`18 drafting the installation instruction?
`
`19 A. Mechanical engineering -- excuse me, design
`
`20 engineering, myself and a graphic artist that we used at
`
`21 the time.
`
`22 Q. When you say design engineering is that a team
`
`23 at Silescent?
`
`24 A. Yes.
`
`25 Q. In other words, Silescent employees?
`
`16
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 16
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 A. Yes.
`
` 2 Q. And is it your testimony that your
`
` 3 installation instruction Exhibit 2 is accurate?
`
` 4 A. I don't -- it's been ten years since I've read
`
` 5 that release of that version but it was reflective of
`
` 6 our installation at the time.
`
` 7 Q. Is it fair to say that you or someone would
`
` 8 have reviewed the installation instruction to make sure
`
` 9 it was accurate before it went out?
`
`10 MS. HARTMAN: Object to the form.
`
`11 THE WITNESS: I don't recall the exact
`
`12 approvals process that it underwent but it would
`
`13 have -- but I would have reviewed it at the time of
`
`14 release or other.
`
`15 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`16 Q. I'm sure Silescent's practice to for the most
`
`17 part to ensure the documentation they sent with products
`
`18 was accurate and correct?
`
`19 A. Yes.
`
`20 Q. Kind of same line of questions with respect to
`
`21 the product sheet. Who drafted the product sheet?
`
`22 A. The same parties.
`
`23 Q. So that would be design engineering and
`
`24 Silescent, you Mr. Soderman and a graphic artist had
`
`25 input?
`
`17
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 17
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 A. Yes.
`
` 2 Q. And again was it the normal practice at
`
` 3 Silescent to ensure that product sheet contained
`
` 4 accurate information before it was distributed to
`
` 5 customers?
`
` 6 A. Yes. To the best of our ability at the time
`
` 7 of release.
`
` 8 Q. Paragraph three of your declaration you say
`
` 9 the last sentence says "both were made available to the
`
`10 public at least as early as June 2009." What do you
`
`11 mean by "made available to the public?"
`
`12 A. They would have been provided to a variety of
`
`13 different individuals in and out of the industry.
`
`14 Q. Besides your testimony your recollection of
`
`15 what happened and what you say in your declaration here
`
`16 do you have any other evidence, documented evidence or
`
`17 otherwise, that shows your product sheet and
`
`18 installation instruction being distributed beyond
`
`19 Silescent?
`
`20 A. It would have been our standard practice at
`
`21 the time that these are documents were being created
`
`22 they would be immediately being dispensed, distributed.
`
`23 Q. So the installation instruction has the
`
`24 June 2009 date on it. So it's your testimony that
`
`25 because it has the June 2009 date on it that's also the
`
`18
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 18
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 time in which it would have gone out the door?
`
` 2 MS. HARTMAN: Object to the form.
`
` 3 THE WITNESS: Yes, to the best of my
`
` 4 recollection because of the dates and the time at
`
` 5 which we operated. We also have an invoice that's
`
` 6 dated July of which our product is very much or is
`
` 7 a specification grade product that has very lengthy
`
` 8 sales cycles and so for that development to lead to
`
` 9 a sale would definitely have required many weeks of
`
`10 planning, preparation and communication.
`
`11 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`12 Q. You referred to an invoice. Are those the
`
`13 invoices that I was handed when I walked in today?
`
`14 A. Yes, as an example.
`
`15 Q. So these invoices I was handed today don't
`
`16 anywhere indicate that your installation instruction or
`
`17 product sheet was included with the product being sold;
`
`18 correct?
`
`19 A. No, but what it ties to again is our standard
`
`20 practice and efforts that lead up to that not only the
`
`21 distribution of the product but also the date of sale of
`
`22 it of which would take many months in the sales cycle to
`
`23 obtain coupled with the June date and again the release
`
`24 of demos. If we provide a sample or demo it would
`
`25 always go with the specification sheet because they
`
`19
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 19
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 would need to know what the options and features of the
`
` 2 product were.
`
` 3 Q. Who are your customers here on these invoices
`
` 4 that received this product?
`
` 5 A. That I would say is confidential.
`
` 6 Q. So you're not going to let me contact them and
`
` 7 ask them if they received the installation guide or
`
` 8 product sheet but you testified they did?
`
` 9 A. That was an example of its distribution.
`
`10 Q. That's fine.
`
`11 MS. HARTMAN: Mr. Hayes, since you've been
`
`12 questioning Mr. Soderman about that document I
`
`13 assume you're going to mark it as an exhibit?
`
`14 MR. HAYES: Sure.
`
`15 MS. HARTMAN: Is that Exhibit 4 then?
`
`16 MR. HAYES: Yes, I'll mark it eventually here.
`
`17 It's fine. We can mark it Exhibit 4, you want them
`
`18 all Exhibit 4? I'll state for the record I was
`
`19 handed what is Exhibit 4 when I walked in today, a
`
`20 redacted invoice to which the witness is refusing
`
`21 to identify who it was sent to and it doesn't
`
`22 anywhere indicate including product sheet
`
`23 installation instructions or anything else with the
`
`24 product.
`
`25 MS. HARTMAN: Well --
`
`20
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 20
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 MR. HAYES: Mark that as Exhibit 4.
`
` 2 MS. HARTMAN: I'll object to the various
`
` 3 characterizations but --
`
` 4 (Respondent's Exhibit No. 4 was
`
` 5 marked for identification.)
`
` 6 BY MR. HAYES:
`
` 7 Q. Keeping with your declaration here in
`
` 8 paragraph five you include some technical description or
`
` 9 some description of the features and functionality of
`
`10 the Silescent SL100 LP2. Do you see that?
`
`11 A. Yes.
`
`12 Q. I assume there's maybe more to the Silescent
`
`13 SL100 LP2 that you include in paragraph five; is that
`
`14 right?
`
`15 MS. HARTMAN: Object to the form.
`
`16 THE WITNESS: I don't recall offhand but I'm
`
`17 sure there was.
`
`18 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`19 Q. So why did you include this particular
`
`20 description in paragraph five and not some of the other
`
`21 information that could be found on the installation
`
`22 guide and product sheet?
`
`23 A. I don't recall particulars that lead me to
`
`24 identify those specific elements.
`
`25 Q. The last sentence there in paragraph five of
`
`21
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 21
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 your declaration says "per the documents the power
`
` 2 conditioner fit within any UL approved junction box,
`
` 3 including a standard four inch junction box or
`
` 4 equivalent (or four inch can)." Do you see that?
`
` 5 A. Yes.
`
` 6 Q. Does the installation instruction or product
`
` 7 sheet actually identify a four inch junction box?
`
` 8 A. I don't recall exactly the language used
`
` 9 specifically within the -- within either of the two
`
`10 documents.
`
`11 Q. Does the installation instruction or product
`
`12 sheet actually identify a four inch can?
`
`13 A. Again I don't recall specifically any language
`
`14 as it relates. Would you like me to review it?
`
`15 Q. Sure. I'm trying to understand why you
`
`16 decided to include the specificity with respect to the
`
`17 size of the junction box being four inch and the size of
`
`18 the can being four inches?
`
`19 MS. HARTMAN: Object to the form and asked and
`
`20 answered.
`
`21 THE WITNESS: Yes, again I don't remember the
`
`22 specifics as to why I would identify some of those
`
`23 attributes that were part of the product.
`
`24 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`25 Q. Did the lawyers for Generation Brands ask you
`
`22
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 22
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 to include the detail you included in paragraph five?
`
` 2 A. I don't recall if they asked me specifically.
`
` 3 Q. When you were working with the Generation
`
` 4 Brands folks were you represented by counsel at the
`
` 5 time? I want to make sure I don't ask any questions
`
` 6 that might be subject to some type of attorney-client
`
` 7 communication.
`
` 8 A. Through my counsel. I don't -- yes, I don't
`
` 9 know how to necessarily respond to the question.
`
`10 Q. So when you say your counsel like Silescent's
`
`11 counsel was giving you guidance with respect to drafting
`
`12 this declaration or Generation Brands' counsel or were
`
`13 they the same?
`
`14 A. Generation --
`
`15 MS. HARTMAN: Mr. Hayes?
`
`16 THE WITNESS: I don't know how to answer that.
`
`17 MS. HARTMAN: Why don't we just take 60
`
`18 seconds and maybe I can help Mr. Soderman answer
`
`19 your question.
`
`20 MR. HAYES: If you want to step outside that's
`
`21 fine.
`
`22 MS. HARTMAN: I think if you're going to be
`
`23 asking questions about his being represented by
`
`24 counsel it's difficult for him to maybe navigate
`
`25 that. If you need the information.
`
`23
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 23
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 MR. HAYES: This is awkward, this declaration
`
` 2 was prepared long before you were involved I think.
`
` 3 It's the Generation Brands' case declaration so I'm
`
` 4 going to ask questions about when it was prepared.
`
` 5 I just don't want to be breaching some type of -- I
`
` 6 have no idea if he was represented back then or
`
` 7 not. Maybe you represented him back then. I would
`
` 8 assume if you did you would tell me.
`
` 9 MS. HARTMAN: We appreciate that. Why don't I
`
`10 take a short break so I can understand the issue
`
`11 and then we'll come back and answer your question.
`
`12 MR. HAYES: Okay.
`
`13 (Thereupon, a brief recess was taken.)
`
`14 MS. HARTMAN: Why don't I explain it for ease
`
`15 of reference and if it's an issue you can let us
`
`16 know. Mr. Soderman was not represented by
`
`17 Generation Brands' counsel nor by me or Schiff
`
`18 Hardin at the time of his declaration. I don't
`
`19 know if you need more than that but I understood
`
`20 that to be the scope of your question; is that
`
`21 correct?
`
`22 MR. HAYES: Yes. So I don't want to ask
`
`23 questions that breach any type of attorney-client
`
`24 privilege.
`
`25 MS. HARTMAN: Understood.
`
`24
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 24
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 MR. HAYES: So I'm going to ask questions. If
`
` 2 you think -- I don't think they're going to get
`
` 3 into attorney-client communications but if they do
`
` 4 someone has to let me know.
`
` 5 MS. HARTMAN: I will do that. What I'm trying
`
` 6 to convey to you is that I think it's fair and not
`
` 7 invasive of the attorney-client privilege for you
`
` 8 to ask him questions about communications with
`
` 9 Generation Brands counsel.
`
`10 MR. HAYES: Fair enough.
`
`11 MS. HARTMAN: If you need to be asking other
`
`12 questions about other conversations then we may
`
`13 have an issue but I'm trying to give you the lane
`
`14 that I think is fair.
`
`15 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`16 Q. So with respect to this -- I was kind of
`
`17 asking you about the substance of paragraph five of your
`
`18 declaration, your description of some of the technical
`
`19 features of the Silescent SL100 LP2. In that context
`
`20 did you draft or prepare the language of paragraph five
`
`21 of your declaration?
`
`22 A. As I recall it was through a question and
`
`23 answer session.
`
`24 Q. With Generation Brand folks?
`
`25 A. Yes, sir.
`
`25
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 25
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 Q. Generally with respect to the information you
`
` 2 decided to include in your declaration, Exhibit 1, did
`
` 3 you kind of come up with the subject matter of these six
`
` 4 paragraphs or was that also through discussion or
`
` 5 questions with the Generation Brands folks?
`
` 6 A. Correct. It was through discussions and Q and
`
` 7 A with the representation.
`
` 8 Q. So let's move on to paragraph six. You state
`
` 9 there in paragraph six of your declaration "I am a joint
`
`10 inventor of U.S. patent number 7980736 filed
`
`11 November 13th 2007 and issued July 19th 2011" which you
`
`12 then refer to as the 736 patent. The Silescent SL100
`
`13 LP2 is a commercial embodiment of the '736 patent." So
`
`14 are you a named inventor on at least as a joint inventor
`
`15 on all Silescent's patents that cover this Silescent
`
`16 SL100 LP2?
`
`17 A. I don't recall and doubtful that I would be on
`
`18 all.
`
`19 Q. Okay. Do you know who all the inventors would
`
`20 be of the Silescent SL100 LP2?
`
`21 MS. HARTMAN: Objection, form.
`
`22 THE WITNESS: You're speaking all patents or
`
`23 the 736 as the paragraph implies?
`
`24 BY MR. HAYES:
`
`25 Q. So we can start -- I have a copy of the 736
`
`26
`
`PATENT OWNER EXHIBIT 2004
`Page 26
`
`

`

`DARYL SODERMAN
`
` 1 patent here in front of me and it lists you, Mr. Daryl
`
` 2 Soderman and Mr. Dale B. Stepps as inventors?
`
` 3 A. Yes, sir.
`
` 4 Q. So at least with respect to the 736 patent
`
` 5 that's related to this and it's your testimony here that
`
` 6 the Silescent SL100 LP2 is a commercial embodiment of
`
` 7 the 736 patent; is that right?
`
` 8 A. Yes.
`
` 9 Q. So at least with respect to the 736 patent you
`
`10 and Mr. Dale B. Stepps are the listed inventors; is that
`
`11 ri

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket