throbber

`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`__________________________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`____________________
`
`LKQ Corporation and Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc.,
`
`Petitioners,
`
`v.
`
`GM Global Technology Operations LLC,
`
`Patent Owner.
`
`_________________
`
`U.S. Design Patent No. D797,625
`
`Filed: August 24, 2016
`
`Issued: September 19, 2017
`
`Title: Vehicle Front Fender
`
`__________________________
`
`Inter Partes Review No.: To Be Assigned
`
`
`
`DECLARATION OF JAMES M. GANDY, IN SUPPORT OF LKQ
`CORPORATION’S AND KEYSTONE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES,
`INC.’S PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF
`U.S. PATENT NO. D797,625
`
`1
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 1
`
`

`

`
`
`I, James M. Gandy, submit this declaration in support of a Petition for Inter
`
`Partes Review of U.S. Design Patent No. D797,625 (the ’625 Patent”). In
`
`accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1746, I declare under penalty of perjury that the
`
`statements herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, belief,
`
`recollection, and understanding. All statements made on information and belief are
`
`believed to be true. I am over the age of eighteen, and, if asked to do so, I could
`
`competently testify to the matters set forth herein.
`
`I. INTRODUCTION
`
`1.
`
`I have been retained by LKQ Corporation and Keystone Automotive
`
`Industries, Inc. (together “LKQ” or “Petitioner”), as an expert witness in the
`
`above-captioned proceeding. Based on my education and my experience in
`
`transportation design, I have been asked to render an opinion regarding the
`
`patentability of the sole claim of the ’625 Patent.
`
`2.
`
`As discussed in further detail in this Declaration and any supplemental
`
`reports, testimony, or declarations that I may provide, it is my opinion that the sole
`
`claim of the ’625 Patent is unpatentable based on the grounds set forth herein.
`
`3.
`
`The following is my report and it and the exhibits hereto contain my
`
`opinions and the support therefore. In connection with rendering my opinion I
`
`have reviewed and relied upon the following materials:
`
`2
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 2
`
`

`

`
`
`a.
`
`U.S. Design Patent No. D797,625 (“the ’625 Patent”) (Ex.
`
`1001);
`
`b.
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`e.
`
`File History for U.S. Design Patent No. D797,625 (Ex. 1002);
`
`2018 Chevrolet Equinox Brochure, http://www.auto-
`
`brochures.com/makes/Chevrolet/Equinox/Chevrolet_US%20Eq
`
`uinox_2018.pdf (Ex. 1005);
`
`U.S. Design Patent No. D773,340 (“Lian”) (Ex. 1006);
`
`2010 Hyundai Tucson Brochure, http://www.auto-
`
`brochures.com/makes/Hyundai/Tucson/Hyundai_US%20Tucso
`
`n_2010.pdf, archived on April 2, 2014 by Internet Archive
`
`organization’s “Wayback Machine” at
`
`https://web.archive.org/web/20140402003154/http://www.auto-
`
`brochures.com/makes/Hyundai/Tucson/Hyundai_US%20Tucso
`
`n_2010.pdf (Ex. 1007);
`
`f.
`
`Exemplary images of the 2010 Hyundai Tucson Brochure,
`
`http://www.auto-
`
`brochures.com/makes/Hyundai/Tucson/Hyundai_US%20Tucso
`
`n_2010.pdf, archived on April 2, 2014 by Internet Archive
`
`organization’s “Wayback Machine” at
`
`https://web.archive.org/web/20140402003154/http://www.auto-
`
`3
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 3
`
`

`

`
`
`brochures.com/makes/Hyundai/Tucson/Hyundai_US%20Tucso
`
`n_2010.pdf (Ex. 1008);
`
`g.
`
`h.
`
`File History of U.S. Design Patent No. D773,340 (Ex. 1009);
`
`File History of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 29/516,319
`
`(Ex. 1010); and
`
`i.
`
`The documents and materials listed in my other declarations.
`
`4.
`
`In addition to the above-stated materials provided, I have also relied
`
`on my own education, training, experience and knowledge in the field of
`
`transportation or automotive design and design patents.
`
`5.
`
`It is worth noting that, in my experience, the best prior art is typically
`
`found in non-patent publications, such as brochures and automotive magazines. A
`
`frequently fertile source of prior art when examining vehicle designs is the
`
`applicant’s own prior art publications disclosing past model years of the vehicle
`
`embodying the design for which protection is sought and other vehicles from the
`
`applicant automaker having a similar design aesthetic. General Motors—as is true
`
`with all automobile manufacturers—would certainly be aware of the existence and
`
`content of its own prior-published promotional brochures and popular trade
`
`magazines featuring its vehicles. Notably, not a single non-patent publication was
`
`cited on the face of the patent or in the file history, and none was disclosed by GM
`
`to the examiner. Further, General Motors was certainly aware of its own
`
`4
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 4
`
`

`

`
`
`embodying vehicle and the existence and content of published depictions of that
`
`vehicle in its own promotional brochures. Reviewing other GM design patents and
`
`file histories, it appears this type of disclosure deficiency is the norm for GM, not
`
`the exception. It is difficult to explain the rationale behind General Motors’
`
`decision to consistently and repeatedly omit from its prior art disclosure statements
`
`the myriad prior art publications and references that are unmistakably in their
`
`possession (e.g., their own marketing and promotional materials) and that are
`
`undeniably relevant prior art (e.g., prior model years of the embodying vehicle).
`
`6.
`
`I may also consider additional documents and information that have
`
`not yet been provided to or discovered by me should such documents and
`
`information be brought to my attention after the date I submit this Declaration, and
`
`I reserve the right to add to or amend my opinions in connection with the same.
`
`7.
`
`The analysis in this Declaration is exemplary. Additional reasons may
`
`support my conclusions, but they do not form my current analysis. The fact that I
`
`do not address a particular reason does not imply that I would agree or disagree
`
`with such additional reason.
`
`8.
`
`I receive compensation at a rate of $350 per hour for my time spent on
`
`this matter, except for any travel time, which is billed at one-half of my hourly
`
`rate. I am also being reimbursed for reasonable and customary expenses associated
`
`with my work on this matter. I have no financial interests in the patents involved
`
`5
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 5
`
`

`

`
`
`in this proceeding, and my compensation is not dependent on the outcome of this
`
`proceeding. The conclusions I present are based on my own judgment. I am not an
`
`employee of LKQ Corporation, Irwin IP LLC, or any affiliated companies.
`
`II. QUALIFICATIONS
`
`9. My current curriculum vitae is Exhibit 1014 in the proceeding.
`
`10.
`
`I hold a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Design Technology from
`
`Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where I graduated in 1972.
`
`11. Upon graduation, I worked as a Design Patent Examiner in Art Unit
`
`2911 for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). While in Art
`
`Unit 2911, I primarily worked in class D12 “Transportation.” My responsibilities
`
`included examining design patent applications, examining reexamination and
`
`reissue applications, issuing determinations on examined applications, initiating
`
`interference proceedings, and preparing examiner’s answers for applications on
`
`appeal to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.
`
`12.
`
`In 1979, I was promoted to Primary Examiner and continued to work
`
`as a Design Patent Examiner in Art Unit 2911 for the USPTO. With this
`
`promotion, I gained full signatory authority and trained new examiners while
`
`occasionally fulfilling supervisory patent examiner duties when the art unit
`
`supervisor was absent.
`
`6
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 6
`
`

`

`
`
`13.
`
`In my 24 years of work as a Design Patent Examiner at the USPTO, I
`
`made patentability determinations
`
`in approximately 10,000 design patent
`
`applications that I examined. I have examined design patent applications in every
`
`design class, and approximately three-quarters of my examinations related to Class
`
`D12 (Land Transportation).
`
`14.
`
`In 1996, I became a Supervisory Patent Examiner for the USPTO and
`
`transitioned to Art Unit 2913, which also reviews designs for Transportation
`
`among other classes of art. As supervisor, I managed the work flow, quality, and
`
`timeliness of examiners in my art unit. I also trained junior examiners and
`
`provided additional training to primary examiners to maintain consistency in work
`
`product. I evaluated the performance of all examiners in the art unit. Finally, I
`
`also developed the Design Examiner Supplemental Training Guide and led the
`
`program for uniformity of examination practice for the entire Design Patent
`
`Technology Center.
`
`15.
`
`In 1998, I became the Design Patent Practice Specialist for
`
`Technology Center 2900 at the USPTO. I continued to train all new examiners,
`
`junior examiners when they joined the USPTO and trained all examiners at
`
`Technology Center 2900 through continuing education programs. I was in charge
`
`of updating the Design Examiner Supplemental Training Guide and Chapter 1500
`
`Design Patents in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. I responded to
`
`7
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 7
`
`

`

`
`
`inquiries from external customers about design patent practice and procedure on a
`
`daily basis. I continuously reviewed cases, decisions, and reports coming from the
`
`courts, the Board, and the Office of Patent Quality Review to train examiners and
`
`update the previously mentioned documents. Finally, I also made presentations to
`
`attorneys and inventor groups on behalf of the USPTO.
`
`16. During my career at the USPTO, I received an outstanding rating
`
`under performance appraisal plan for 32 consecutive years. I also received various
`
`accolades including the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award in 1983;
`
`the USPTO’s Distinguished Career Award in 2000 in recognition of consistent
`
`superior performance in design patent application examination and in art unit
`
`leadership; and the Norman P. Morgenstern Award in 2004 for the leadership and
`
`innovation contributions made by Supervisory Patent Examiners.
`
`17. Currently, and since my retirement from the USPTO in 2005, I have
`
`occasionally counseled patent attorneys and agents who file design patents
`
`applications.
`
`18. Due to my approximately 33 years of design-patent-examination
`
`experience with the USPTO in the field of transportation design, I consider myself
`
`to be a designer of at least ordinary skill in the field of transportation design.
`
`19.
`
`In the past I have served as in expert in Complaint of Ford Global
`
`Technologies, LLC under Section 337 of The Tariff Act of 1930, As Amended, on
`
`8
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 8
`
`

`

`
`
`behalf of Ford Global Technologies; Magnadyne Corp. vs. Best Buy Co., Inc., on
`
`behalf of Magnadyne; Weber-Stephen Products LLC v. Sears Holdings
`
`Corporation, on behalf of Sears; Trinity Manufacturing, L.L.C.; Campbell Soup
`
`Company; and Campbell Sales Company v. Gamon Plus, Inc. on behalf of
`
`Campbell Soup Company; Nite Glow Industries, Inc., I Did It, Inc., and Marni
`
`Markell Hurwitz v. Central Garden & Pet Company and Four Paws Pet Company,
`
`d/b/a Four Paws Products, LTD on behalf of Nite Glow and Marni Markell
`
`Hurwitz.
`
`20.
`
`I am currently serving as an expert in each of the Petitions for Inter
`
`Partes or Post Grant Review filed by LKQ against design patents owned by the
`
`Patent Owner General Motors Global Corporation (“GM”). Those case numbers
`
`are IPR2020-00062, IPR2020-00063, IPR2020-00064, IPR2020-00065, PGR2020-
`
`00002, PGR2020-00003, PGR2020-00004, PGR2020-00005. I am also serving as
`
`an expert for the concurrently filed Petitions for Inter Partes or Post Grant Review
`
`to be filed along with this Petition.
`
`III. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE APPLICABLE LEGAL PRINCIPLES
`
`21. As a design patent expert, I am not an attorney and, therefore, nothing
`
`in this report should be construed as me offering any legal opinions. Rather, I am
`
`offering design assessments and opinions. In rendering my analysis, I have been
`
`9
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 9
`
`

`

`
`
`informed by counsel regarding the legal standards for determining patentability. I
`
`have applied those standards in forming the opinions expressed in this report.
`
`22. Based on my conversations with counsel for LKQ and my review of
`
`administrative decisions and articles discussing design patent law principals, I have
`
`the following understanding of patents generally, and design patents specifically. I
`
`understand that a “utility patent” protects the way something works, but a “design
`
`patent” protects the way something looks.
`
`23.
`
`It is my understanding that to be patentable, a design must be new and
`
`original, and non-obvious. To be new (or have “novelty”), a design must differ
`
`from all previous designs (known as the “prior art”). A design must also be
`
`original, which means that it has to do more than simply imitate what already
`
`exists. I further understand that a design patent does not cover “functional” aspects
`
`of the design, that is to say, aspects that are present as part of the design because
`
`they have to be there for the article to function.
`
`24.
`
`It is my understanding that, for design patents, there is only one claim
`
`that identifies the patented design and that single claim is shown or described in
`
`the “figures” of the patent.
`
`25.
`
`I understand that a design patent can be invalidated on the basis that
`
`the claimed invention was “anticipated” (that is, that the claimed invention was not
`
`novel) over a disclosure in the prior art. It is my understanding that a claimed
`
`10
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 10
`
`

`

`
`
`design is anticipated if it substantially the same as a disclosure in the prior art. I
`
`further understand that the claimed design is substantially the same as the prior art
`
`design if, from the perspective of an ordinary observer, giving such attention as a
`
`purchaser usually gives to the design, the resemblance between the designs is such
`
`as to deceive the ordinary observer into purchasing one supposing it to be the
`
`other. It is further my understanding that an ordinary observer would consider the
`
`similarity between the designs as a whole rather than elements of the design in
`
`isolation, and, as such, a design may be anticipated despite minor or trivial
`
`differences for a prior art reference. However, I also understand that when the
`
`claimed design is close to the prior art designs, small differences could appear
`
`important to the ordinary observer.
`
`26.
`
`I understand that a design patent can also be invalidated on the basis
`
`that the claimed invention was obvious. Regarding obviousness, I understand that
`
`the ultimate question is whether the claimed design would have been obvious to an
`
`ordinary designer who designs the type of articles involved. More specifically, the
`
`inquiry is whether one of ordinary skill would have found it obvious to modify or
`
`combine prior art designs to create the claimed design. It is also my understanding
`
`that obviousness is based on the scope and content of the prior art, the differences
`
`between the prior art and the claim, and the level of ordinary skill in the art. I
`
`11
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 11
`
`

`

`
`
`further understand that one must not use hindsight to compare prior art to the
`
`claimed design.
`
`27.
`
`I further understand that determining whether a design patent claim is
`
`obvious involves a two-step process. First, for a claimed design to have been
`
`obvious as of a certain date, a “primary reference” must have existed as of that
`
`date, which is a single thing that, from the perspective of a designer having
`
`ordinary skill in the art, had design characteristics that were basically the same as
`
`the challenged design. I further understand that the determination of whether a
`
`prior art design was “basically the same” as the claimed design is based upon
`
`comparison of the overall visual impressions created as a whole by the prior art
`
`design and the claimed design; further, a “primary reference” need not contain
`
`every ornamental feature present in the claimed design for it to be “basically the
`
`same” as the claimed design.
`
`28. Second, I understand that there must be some suggestion or
`
`motivation for that designer to modify the “primary reference” such as to arrive at
`
`the claimed design—i.e., arrive at the same overall visual appearance as the
`
`claimed design; certain other prior art designs having those design elements,
`
`“secondary references,” might teach the requisite modifications. And in order to
`
`teach such modifications, I understand that the “secondary references” must be so
`
`related to the primary reference that the appearance of relevant ornamental features
`
`12
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 12
`
`

`

`
`
`in the “secondary reference” would suggest the application of those features to the
`
`“primary reference.” I also understand that a secondary reference is sometimes
`
`unnecessary, and that the suggestion to modify the primary reference to arrive at
`
`the claimed invention could come from the skill, knowledge, and creativity of an
`
`ordinary designer.
`
`29.
`
`I understand that a designer of ordinary skill determines the
`
`appropriate primary and secondary references for an obviousness analysis and that,
`
`as explained above, the ultimate question is based on the perspective of a designer
`
`of ordinary skill. However, I also understand that some courts have resolved
`
`obviousness based on the perspective of the ordinary observer. I understand that in
`
`such applications of the test, a hypothetical reference formed by the combination of
`
`the design characteristics of the primary reference and any secondary references is
`
`compared with the claimed design, and is deemed invalidating if they would have
`
`been substantially the same from the perspective of an ordinary observer (i.e., that
`
`giving such time as a purchaser normally gives the ordinary observer would have
`
`been deceived by the similarity of the two designs into purchasing one design
`
`believing it to be the other).
`
`30.
`
`I further understand that a design is obvious if it would have been
`
`obvious to a designer of ordinary skill who designs articles of the type involved,
`
`13
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 13
`
`

`

`
`
`such as vehicle front fenders, here, and that de minimis changes are well within the
`
`skill of an ordinary designer in the art.
`
`IV. THE ’625 PATENT
`
`31.
`
`I understand that the ’625 Patent was filed on August 24, 2016 and
`
`granted on September 19, 2017. I understand that the inventors of the ’625 Patent
`
`was Jeffrey W. Perkins, who assigned it to GM Global Technology Operations
`
`LLC (“GM”).
`
`32.
`
`I have reviewed the ’625 Patent and its file history. It has one claim
`
`for the ornamental design for a vehicle front fender, as shown and described in the
`
`four figures. I understand that in a design patent, only the solid lines are claimed,
`
`not the dashed lines. The four figures of the ’625 Patent are reproduced below:
`
`
`
`
`
`“FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the
`vehicle front fender.” Id. at 1.
`
`“FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.”
`Id. at 1.
`
`14
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 14
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`“FIG. 3 is a front view thereof.”
`Id. at 1.
`
`“FIG. 4 is a top view thereof.”
`Id. at 1.
`
`33. My understanding is that the specification of the ’625 Patent disclaims
`
`any broken lines in the figures. Id. at 1 (“In the drawings, the portions shown by
`
`broken lines form no part of the claimed design.”).
`
`34.
`
`I understand that the embodiment of the ’625 Patent is the 2018
`
`Chevrolet Equinox, depicted here:
`
`
`
`15
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 15
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1005, at 3, 20 (cropped).
`EX. 1005, at 3, 20 (cropped).
`
`16
`16
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 16
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 16
`
`

`

`
`
`35. The solid lines of the ’625 Patent show a vehicle fender comprising:
`
`•
`
`A top protrusion extending rearwardly and upwardly from an upper portion
`
`of the fender and having an intermittent u-shaped notch;
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 2 (annotated);
`
`
`
`17
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 17
`
`

`

`
`
`•
`
`a first crease and a second crease extending forwards from a rear edge of the
`
`fender, a concavity line disposed between the first crease and the second crease,
`
`and an inflection line below the second crease; and
`
`
`
`
`
`18
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 18
`
`

`

`
`
`Id., FIG. 1 (annotated);
`
`•
`
`an angular front elevation profile.
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 3.
`
`
`
`36. The claimed design is disclosed through several figures that show the
`
`design from different perspectives. While I understand that a verbal description of
`
`the design is required, a design is best represented by images rather than words and
`
`it is impractical to attempt to verbally describe every element of the claimed
`
`design. It is my opinion that the above description identifies all features of the
`
`19
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 19
`
`

`

`
`
`claimed design that materially contribute to the overall visual impression it creates;
`
`however, for the avoidance of doubt, my analysis below is based upon comparison
`
`of the asserted prior art with the claimed design in its entirety as depicted in each
`
`of the disclosed figures.
`
`37. The concavity line is depicted on the claimed design using a
`
`discontinuous line segment that neither contacts the rear edge of the fender, nor the
`
`second crease. A designer of ordinary skill in the art would have understood from
`
`this depiction that the concavity line is not a crease or other clearly demarcated
`
`feature in and of itself, but rather a depiction of the line of inflection between the
`
`surface extending downwards beneath the first crease and the surface approaching
`
`the second crease, and thus is formed as a result of the interplay between those two
`
`creases and the confluence of their respective sloping planes.
`
`38. As to the third line depicted on the claimed design, identified above as
`
`the “Inflection Line,” the virtually identical contour lines converging upon the
`
`third line from both above and below the third line do not appear to denote any
`
`particular difference or discontinuity in curvature at or around that line. Likewise,
`
`this inflection line has no perceptible effect on the curvature of the rear edge of the
`
`fender. This is evident from the below-reproduced figures:
`
`20
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 20
`
`

`

`
`
`’625 PATENT
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG.1 (detail)
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 2 (detail)
`
`A designer of ordinary skill in the art would have expected a crease extending to
`
`the rear of the fender panel (or any other feature perceptibly affecting the contour
`
`or curvature of the fender and abutting an edge of the fender) to have some effect
`
`on the contour of fender’s rear edge, as is evident in the ’625 Patent around both
`
`the first crease and the second crease. A designer of ordinary skill in the art,
`
`considering the disclosure set forth in the ’625 Patent, could only reasonably have
`
`understood this third line to denote the inflection point, that is, a local maximum of
`
`21
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 21
`
`

`

`
`
`the convex surface of the fender panel in its transition from sloping away from the
`
`vehicle through the vertical plane to slope towards the vehicle.
`
`V. ORDINARY OBSERVER
`
`39.
`
`I have been informed that the identification of the ordinary observer is
`
`made by focusing on the actual product that is presented for purchase and the
`
`ordinary purchaser of the product.
`
`40.
`
`In this instance, I believe that an ordinary observer would be the retail
`
`purchaser of an automobile because that is the individual who compares the
`
`claimed design to other automobile designs and makes the decision to purchase a
`
`vehicle comprising the embodying design; although there are other potential
`
`observers of an automobile or its constituent parts during the lifetime of a vehicle
`
`(e.g., a repair shop mechanic working on the owner’s vehicle, or an auto parts store
`
`employee helping the owner to order replacements), all are consequent to and flow
`
`from this original vehicle purchase and the actions of those other potential
`
`observers depend exclusively on the views of and decisions made by the vehicle
`
`purchaser and owner.
`
`VI. DESIGNER OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART
`
`41.
`
`I have been informed that an “ordinary designer” or “designer of
`
`ordinary skill in the art” is one who designs articles of the type involved in the
`
`relevant art of the ’625 Patent.
`
`22
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 22
`
`

`

`
`
`42.
`
`In this instance, an ordinary designer or designer of ordinary skill in
`
`the art would be an individual who has at least an undergraduate degree in
`
`transportation or automotive design and has work experience in transportation or
`
`automotive design, or someone who has several years’ work experience in
`
`transportation or automotive design.
`
`43. From a design examination standpoint, the examiner would identify
`
`key elements that define the overall visual appearance of the design. Once that is
`
`established, the examiner identifies various secondary elements that may be
`
`relevant to the ornamentality of the claimed design.
`
`44. Examiners can and should consider many sources for already existing
`
`similar designs, especially in relation to the global automotive market. This would
`
`include already published patents and publications, such as coverage of auto shows
`
`from inside and outside the United States, concept cars, auto industry blogs, auto
`
`industry print and online publications such as Motor Trend or Car and Driver, cars
`
`that are currently on the market, prior model years of cars, Pinterest, google image
`
`search results, third party websites such as netcarshow.com, motorologist.com,
`
`after-market design trends, and others.
`
`45.
`
`I further understand that the ordinary designer is presumed to have
`
`knowledge of the prior art.
`
`23
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 23
`
`

`

`
`
`VII. PRIOR ART REFERENCES
`
`46.
`
`In connection with this matter, I have searched for and located various
`
`pieces of prior art. I have also been provided certain pieces of prior art by counsel
`
`for LKQ.
`
`47.
`
`I have relied on the following pieces of prior art to inform my opinion
`
`as to the invalidity of the ’625 Patent in view of anticipation:
`
`Exhibit
`
`Description
`
`Filing Date
`
`1006
`
`U.S. Design Patent No.
`
`03/17/2016
`
`D773,340 (“Lian”)
`
`Eff. 07/30/2014
`
`Publication
`Date
`
`12/06/2016
`
`48.
`
`I have relied on the following pieces of prior art to inform my opinion
`
`as to the invalidity of the ’625 Patent in view of obviousness:
`
`Exhibit
`
`1006
`
`Primary/
`Secondary
`Primary
`
`Description
`
`Filing Date
`
`U.S. Design Patent
`
`03/17/2016
`
`Publication
`Date
`12/06/2016
`
`No. D773,340
`
`Eff. 07/30/2014
`
`(“Lian”)
`
`1007–
`
`Secondary
`
`2010 Hyundai
`
`N/A
`
`04/02/2014
`
`08
`
`Tucson
`
`24
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 24
`
`

`

`
`
`A. U.S. Design Patent No. D773,340 (Primary Reference)
`
`49.
`
`I have relied upon U.S. Design Patent No. D773,340 (“Lian”) as prior
`
`art to the ’625 Patent to invalidate the claimed design as anticipated or obvious. I
`
`understand that this Patent names Yubo Lian, Jihan Fan, Bo Bi, and Yue Li as
`
`inventors and BYD Company Ltd. as its assignee. I understand that Lian was filed
`
`with the U.S. Patent Office on March 17, 2016, is a divisional of and claims
`
`priority to U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 29/516,319 (“the ’319 Application”), which was
`
`filed on January 30, 2015. I further understand that Lian claims priority to a
`
`foreign patent application, No. 2014 3 026395, filed with the Chinese Patent Office
`
`on July 30, 2014. As a Patent Examiner I would have relied upon this patent as
`
`prior art.
`
`B.
`
`2010 Hyundai Tucson (Secondary Reference)
`
`50.
`
`I have further relied upon certain images depicting the 2010 Hyundai
`
`Tucson (the “Hyundai Tucson”) as a printed publication which I understand was
`
`prior art to the ’625 Patent on the basis that the images were published together by
`
`Hyundai in a single brochure, a digital copy of which was made publicly available
`
`on auto-brochures.com, a website dedicated to compiling and making available for
`
`download automakers’ promotional brochures. I understand that this brochure, as
`
`it appeared on auto-brochures.com, was archived on April 2, 2014, which predates
`
`the priority date of the ’625 Patent by more than one year. Ex. 1007. This
`
`25
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 25
`
`

`

`
`
`brochure and its included images are appropriate for consideration as a printed
`
`publication because a designer of ordinary skill, aware of this article on or after at
`
`least that date, would have understood all of the images to depict the same vehicle
`
`design, and because designers of ordinary skill in the art regularly consult the
`
`promotional materials, including brochures, of automakers in order to maintain
`
`awareness of developments and new vehicle designs in the automotive design
`
`industry, and to see how those designs are being presented and marketed by
`
`automakers. As such, this is a type of publication that a Patent Examiner would
`
`deem a designer of ordinary skill in the art to be familiar with and evaluate. The
`
`relied-upon depictions of the Hyundai Tucson are set forth below:
`
`
`
`26
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 26
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`27
`27
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 27
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 27
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1007 at 1–3, 10, 12, 14, 19 (note: the image spanning pages 2 and 3 was
`
`merged to form a single complete image).
`
`28
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 28
`
`

`

`
`
`51.
`
`I understand that a designer of ordinary skill in the art is presumed to
`
`have knowledge of the prior art.
`
`VIII. MY OPINIONS REGARDING THE ’625 PATENT
`
`A. The ’625 Patent is Anticipated by Lian.
`
`52.
`
`It is my opinion that the ’625 Patent is anticipated by Lian. The
`
`fender designs create substantially the same overall impression which would cause
`
`an ordinary observer to be deceived into purchasing one supposing it to be the
`
`other. Lian’s fender panel design is substantially the same from the point of view
`
`of an ordinary observer as the design of the ’625 Patent. The resemblance between
`
`Lian and the claimed design is such as to deceive the ordinary observer, deceiving
`
`him to purchase one supposing it to be the other.
`
`53.
`
`Images set forth in Lian are reproduced below:
`
`
`
`29
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 29
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`30
`30
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p.30
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 30
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`31
`31
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 31
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 31
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1006, FIGS. 1–7.
`
`54. The similarity between the overall visual impression created by Lian
`
`and the ’625 Patent is apparent from the below visual comparison:
`
`32
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 32
`
`

`

`
`
`’625 PATENT
`
`LIAN
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 1
`
`Ex. 1006, FIG. 6 (cropped, annotated)
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 2
`
`Ex. 1006, FIG. 4 (cropped, annotated)
`
`33
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 33
`
`

`

`
`
`’625 PATENT
`
`LIAN
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 3
`
`Ex. 1006, FIG. 1 (cropped, annotated)
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 4
`
`Ex. 1006, FIG. 5 (cropped, annotated)
`
`55. Lian shares numerous specific design elements with the ’625 Patent,
`
`and these similarities further show that the front fender of Lian has an overall
`
`visual appearance that is substantially the same as the claimed design. First, the
`
`design of the ’625 Patent and Lian feature a top protrusion extending upwardly and
`
`rearwardly and having an intermittent u-shaped notch:
`
`34
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 34
`
`

`

`
`
`’625 PATENT
`
`LIAN
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 2 (annotated)
`
`Ex. 1006, FIG. 4 (cropped)
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 4
`
`Ex. 1006, FIG. 5 (cropped, annotated)
`
`56. Second, both designs comprise two creases extending from a rear
`
`edge of the fender towards the front of the fender, with the first crease extending to
`
`a crescent-shaped opening at a front portion, the second crease approaching the top
`
`of the wheel arch of the fender, and the interplay between the contours formed by
`
`these creases creates a curved concavity line:
`
`35
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 35
`
`

`

`
`
`’625 PATENT
`
`LIAN
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 2 (annotated)
`
`Ex. 1006, FIG. 4 (cropped)
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG.1 (annotated)
`
`Ex. 1006, FIG. 6 (cropped)
`
`36
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 36
`
`

`

`
`
`57. Third, as to the remaining feature line on the ’625 Patent denoting the
`
`inflection of the curvature of the fender, Lian exhibits an identical inflection:
`
`’625 PATENT
`
`LIAN
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 2 (cropped, annotated) Ex. 1006, FIG. 4 (cropped, annotated)
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG. 2 (cropped, annotated) Ex. 1006, FIG. 4 (cropped, annotated)
`
`37
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 37
`
`

`

`
`
`’625 PATENT
`
`LIAN
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG.1 (cropped, annotated)
`
`Ex. 1006, FIG. 6 (cropped, annotated)
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1001, FIG.1 (cropped, annotated)
`
`Ex. 1006, FIG. 6 (cropped, annotated)
`
`38
`
`LKQ - Ex. 1003 p. 38
`
`

`

`
`
`58. As shown above, the design of the fender of Lian curves convexly to a
`
`maximum a

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