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`'I subririH:his .deClaration in supportofD~ntsply's MotionforaP'i.-¢1~W.~
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`fujurt<;tion,. All ·sijtt~m.e.n.ts~ contained h~eih a~fto DentspJ:tare :based' upon m.y:p.etsonal
`Imowl~!ige, iJJ.cJ11tling tl1qs~:.1:¢lating·~; th~ 9t:~f!,ti;o~;t'l:~Jl(! Qpera,tion. or both .tt>S and Dentsp}y·
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`GOLD STANDARD EXHIBIT 2006
`US ENDODONTICS v. GOLD STANDARD
`CASE PGR2015-00019
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`Case 2:14-cv-00196-JRG-DHI Document 27-19 Filed 07/09/14 Page 1 of 5 PageiD #: 409
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`3.
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`Dentsply is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in York,
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`Pennsylvania.
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`4.
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`Dentsply has been in the business of selling high quality dental products since
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`1899, making it one of the world's oldest and largest designer, developer, manufacturer, and
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`marketer of a broad range of consumable dental products for the professional dental market.
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`Dentsply's principal product categories include dental consumable products, dental laboratory
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`products, dental specialty products, and consumable medical device products.
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`5.
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`Dentsply began selling nickel-titanium endodontic dental files for use in rotating
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`drills in 1994. Since that time, Dentsply has continued to expand and improve its product
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`offerings by introducing additional nickel-titanium endodontic files. Dentsply sells several
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`different nickel-titanium rotary and reciprocating endodontic dental files including the ProFile®,
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`ProTaper®, GT-Series®, Vortex® and WaveOne® products.
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`6.
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`In December 2011, Dentsply first offered its innovative post-machined, heat-
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`treated ("post-heat-treated") nickel-titanium endodontic file, the Vortex Blue® for sale, and the
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`official product launch occurred in February 2012. Dentsply also sells other post-heat-treated,
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`nickel-titanium endodontic files, such as the ProTaper Gold® which was introduced in February
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`2014. Because it is post-heat-treated, the Vortex Blue® file, when bent retains a significantly
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`greater retained, bent shape than non-post-heat-treated files. This allows the dentist to pre-shape
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`the file to follow the natural curved passage of the tooth when performing a root canal procedure,
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`thus yielding better canal shaping and a safer experience for the patient.
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`7.
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`Dentsply has priced its files in accordance with their premium quality, and at
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`aprice necessary to account for the research and development required to achieve such quality
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`and innovation, and the clinical and educational support provided to the market
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`2
`Case 2:14-cv-00196-JRG-DHI Document 27-19 Filed 07/09/14 Page 2 of 5 PageID #: 410
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`8.
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`The high-quality standard that Dentsply established resulted in a loyal customer
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`base among dentists and endodontists across the country. The results of a customer satisfaction
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`survey completed by almost 1500 dentists and endodontists, Dentsply's customers indicated
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`general customer service/support satisfaction levels are high across all dentists (78% - 80% are
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`extremely/very satisfied with D/TDS' customer service/support). Dentsply also has among the
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`highest, or the highest, rated endodontic products across dentists of every type (low GP, med GP,
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`high GP, Endodontist).
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`9.
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`Dentsply's Vortex Blue® file is manufactured using a process that falls within the
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`scope of the claims ofthe '773 patent.
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`10.
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`In August 2013, Dentsply obtained an option to license several patents, including
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`United States Patent No. 8,562,341 (the "'341 Patent") and United States Patent No. 8,727,773
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`(the "'773 Patent") from Gold Standard Instruments, LLC.
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`11.
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`In April 2014, Dentsply executed its option and acquired an exclusive license for
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`the '341 and '773 patents from Gold Standard Instruments, LLC including the right to sue for
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`current, past and future damages.
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`12.
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`Edge Endo sells nickel-titanium endodontic dental files for use in rotating drills
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`under the name EdgeFile™. Edge Endo commercially introduced the EdgeFile X3, the EdgeFile
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`X5 and the EdgeFile X3 in November 2012. Edge Endo introduced the EdgeFile X l in June
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`2013.
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`13.
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`Edge Endo is a direct competitor ofDentsply.
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`14.
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`Edge Endo sells, markets, and distributes the files manufactured by US
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`Endodontics directly to retail dentists and endodontists under the trade name EdgeFile™. See
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`Gifford Decl. Ex. D through H. Edge Endo specifically targets Dentsply's customers and seeks
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`Case 2:14-cv-00196-JRG-DHI Document 27-19 Filed 07/09/14 Page 3 of 5 PageID #: 411
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`to benefit from Dentsply's superior reputation for quality products by providing a compatibility
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`chart instructing dentists and endodontists who use Dentsply's WaveOne® to use EdgeFile X1,
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`those who use Dentsply's Protaper® to use EdgeFile X3, those who use Dentsply's GT® and
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`GT®X to use EdgeFile X5, and those who use Dentsply's Vortex® or Profile® to use
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`EdgeFile X7 on its product website (shown below).
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`lfYou Use ...
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`Use This File
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`X3
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`xs
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`Xl
`v
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`W AV EON EQ:I
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`P ROTAPER~
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`GTCI> OR GT SERIES X I>
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`V ORTEXCI>
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`PROfi L E~
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`K3~
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`SEQU ENCE®
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`15.
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`In an effort to lure customers away fi:om Dentsply, Edge Endo sells its EdgeFiles
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`at a retail price that is less than half of the price of Dentsply's competing files. More specifically,
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`Dentsply's WaveOne® files have an average selling price of$52.53 (for a package of3)
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`compared to $ 19.95 for the same number of EdgeFile X1 files. Dentsply's Profile® GT files
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`have an average selling price of$49.63 (for a package of 6) compared to $19.95 for the same
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`number ofEdgeFile X5 files. Dentsply's Vortex® and Vortex Blue® files have an average
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`selling price of$43.71 and $47.33 (for a package of 6) respectively, compared to $19.95 for the
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`same number of EdgeFile X7 files.
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`16.
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`According to infmmation submitted by US Endodontics to the United States Food
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`and Drug Administration ("FDA"), US Endodontics is the "contract manufacturer" of the
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`EdgeFile™ line of products that are sold and marketed by Edge Endo. See Gifford Decl. Ex. C.
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`17.
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`US Endodontics is a New Mexico limited liability company. See Gifford Decl.
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`Case 2:14-cv-00196-JRG-DHI Document 27-19 Filed 07/09/14 Page 4 of 5 PageID #: 412
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`. .
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`l:x. \1. l pon inl"ormation and b~lid". l 'S .l:.ndodl)ntics has a manul~tctur in g racilit~ located in
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`I g_
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`pon inl(mnation and heli~L l 1S Endodontics is O\\ ned h~ \klissa lknnctt nnJ
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`IJobb' Lknnrtt. \ lr. 13l·nnctt ''as employed b) TDS from September 27. 1988 until Jul~ -L 2008.
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`I d~:clar~ under penalty or petjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
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`hccutcd this I 9 da; or .lun~. 20 I-I
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`- ~---....--
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`Case 2:14-cv-00196-JRG-DHI Document 27-19 Filed 07/09/14 Page 5 of 5 PageID #: 413
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`5