Case 2:15-cv-01274-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 07/16/15 Page 1 of 9 PageID #: 1
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`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`MARSHALL DIVISION
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`Case No.
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`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
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`BLITZSAFE TEXAS, LLC,
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`Plaintiff,
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`v.
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`HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.;
`AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.,
`INC.; HONDA OF AMERICA
`MANUFACTURING, INC.; HONDA
`MANUFACTURING OF ALABAMA,
`LLC; and HONDA MANUFACTURING
`OF INDIANA, LLC,
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` Defendants.
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`PLAINTIFF’S ORIGINAL COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
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`Plaintiff, Blitzsafe Texas, LLC, files this Original Complaint against Defendants, Honda
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`Motor Co., Ltd., American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc.,
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`Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, and Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC
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`(“Defendants”), for patent infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271 and alleges as follows:
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`THE PARTIES
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`1.
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`Plaintiff, Blitzsafe Texas, LLC (“Blitzsafe”), is a limited liability company
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`organized and existing under the laws of the State of Texas, and maintains its principal place of
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`business at 100 W. Houston Street, Marshall, Texas 75670. Blitzsafe sells automotive interface
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`products that allow the end user to connect a third-party external audio device or multimedia
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`device to a car stereo in order to play the content on the device through the car stereo system and
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`speakers. Blitzsafe sells its products throughout the United States including in this judicial
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`Case 2:15-cv-01274-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 07/16/15 Page 2 of 9 PageID #: 2
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`district. Blitzsafe is the owner of all right title and interest in and to U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`and U.S. Patent No. 8,155,342.
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`2.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendant Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese
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`corporation with its principal place of business at 1-1, Minami-Aoyama 2-chome, Minato-ku,
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`Tokyo, 107-8556, Japan.
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`3.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendant American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is a
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`California corporation with a place of business at 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, California
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`90501.
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`4.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendant Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. is
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`an Ohio corporation with a place of business at 24000 Honda Pkwy, Marysville, Ohio 43040.
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`5.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendant Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC
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`is an Alabama limited liability company with a place of business at 1800 Honda Drive, Lincoln,
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`Alabama 35096.
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`6.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendant Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC is
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`an Indiana limited liability company with a place of business at 2755 N. Michigan Ave.,
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`Greensburg, Indiana 47240.
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`JURISDICTION
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`7.
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`This is an action for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of the
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`United States, 35 U.S.C. §§ 1, et seq. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28
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`U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).
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`8.
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`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants. Defendants conduct
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`business and have committed acts of patent infringement and/or have induced acts of patent
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`2
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`infringement by others in this district and/or have contributed to patent infringement by others in
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`this judicial district, the State of Texas, and elsewhere in the United States.
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`9.
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`Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b), 1391(c) and
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`1400(b) because, among other things, Defendants are subject to personal jurisdiction in this
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`district, Defendants have regularly conducted business in this judicial district, and certain of the
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`acts complained of herein occurred in this judicial district.
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`PATENTS-IN-SUIT
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`10.
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`On February 10, 2009, the United States Patent and Trademark Office duly and
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`legally issued U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786 (the “’786 Patent”) entitled “Audio Device Integration
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`System.” A true and correct copy of the ’786 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
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`11.
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`On April 10, 2012, the United States Patent and Trademark Office duly and
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`legally issued U.S. Patent No. 8,155,342 (the “’342 Patent”) entitled “Multimedia Device
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`Integration System.” A true and correct copy of the ’342 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
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`FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
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`12.
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`The patents-in-suit generally cover systems for integrating third-party audio
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`devices and multimedia devices with a car stereo.
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`13.
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`Defendants manufacture, import and/or sell an audio and multimedia integration
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`system, called HondaLink™, that has been installed in Honda-branded vehicles made in or
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`imported into the United States since at least approximately 2013.
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`14.
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`Defendant manufacture, import and/or sell an audio and multimedia integration
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`system, called AcuraLink™, that has been installed in Acura-branded vehicles made in or
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`imported into the United States since at least approximately 2013.
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`3
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`15.
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`HondaLink and AcuraLink support the integration of third-party external audio
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`devices, such as MP3 players, with the car radio. HondaLink and AcuraLink permit an end user
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`to connect a third-party external audio or multimedia device to the car radio by wire, such as
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`through a USB port or auxiliary port, or wirelessly, such as through Bluetooth. Once connected,
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`the end user may control the third-party external audio device using the car radio’s controls, and
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`the audio from the external audio device may be played through the car radio and speakers.
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`COUNT I
`(Infringement of the ’786 Patent)
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`16.
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`17.
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`Paragraphs 1 through 15 are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
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`Blitzsafe has not licensed or otherwise authorized Defendants to make, use, offer
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`for sale, sell, or import any products that embody the inventions of the ’786 Patent.
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`18.
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`Defendants have and continue to directly infringe one or more claims of the ’786
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`patent, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, by making, using, offering to sell,
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`selling and/or importing into the United States infringing products, including the HondaLink and
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`AcuraLink audio and media integration systems, without authority and in violation of 35 U.S.C.
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`§ 271.
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`19.
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`Defendants have and continue to indirectly infringe one or more claims of the
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`’786 Patent by knowingly and intentionally inducing others to directly infringe, either literally or
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`under the doctrine of equivalents, by making, using, offering to sell, selling and/or importing into
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`the United States infringing products, including the HondaLink and AcuraLink audio and media
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`integration systems. For example, Defendants, with knowledge that HondaLink and AcuraLink
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`infringe the ’786 Patent at least as of the date of this Complaint, knowingly and intentionally
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`induced, and continue to knowingly and intentionally induce, direct infringement of the ’786
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`patent by providing HondaLink and AcuraLink product manuals that instruct end users how to
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`4
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`Case 2:15-cv-01274-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 07/16/15 Page 5 of 9 PageID #: 5
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`use HondaLink and AcuraLink, including specifically how to connect their external third-party
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`audio and multimedia devices to the car stereo. Defendants induced infringement by others,
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`including end users, with the intent to cause infringing acts by others or, in the alternative, with
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`the belief that there was a high probability that others, including end users, infringe the ’786
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`Patent, but while remaining willfully blind to the infringement.
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`20.
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`Defendants have and continue to indirectly infringe one or more claims of the
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`’786 Patent by contributing to the direct infringement, either literally or under the doctrine of
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`equivalents, by others, including end users, by offering to sell, selling and/or importing into the
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`United States the HondaLink and AcuraLink audio and media integration systems, with the
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`knowledge, at least as of the date of this Complaint, that HondaLink and AcuraLink contain
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`components that constitute a material part of the inventions claimed in the ’786 Patent. Such
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`components include, for example, interfaces that permit an end user to use a car radio’s controls
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`to control an external third party audio device. Defendants know that these components are
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`especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of the ’786 Patent and that these
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`components are not a staple article or commodity of commerce suitable for substantial non-
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`infringing use. Alternatively, Defendants believed there was a high probability that others would
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`infringe the ’786 Patent but remained willfully blind to the infringing nature of others’ actions.
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`21.
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`Blitzsafe has suffered damages as a result of Defendants’ direct and indirect
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`infringement of the ’786 patent in an amount to be proved at trial.
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`22.
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`Blitzsafe has suffered, and will continue to suffer, irreparable harm as a result of
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`Defendants’ infringement of the ’786 patent, for which there is no adequate remedy at law,
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`unless Defendants’ infringement is enjoined by this Court.
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`23.
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`Defendants have committed and continue to commit acts of infringement despite
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`an objectively high likelihood that its actions constituted infringement of at least one valid and
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`enforceable claim of the ’786 patent, and Defendants actually knew or should have known that
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`their actions constituted an unjustifiably high risk of infringement of at least one valid and
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`enforceable claim of the ’786 Patent. Defendants’ infringement of the ’786 Patent has been and
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`continues to be willful, entitling Blitzsafe to an award of treble damages, reasonable attorney
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`fees, and costs in bringing this action.
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`COUNT II
`(Infringement of the ’342 Patent)
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`24.
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`25.
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`Paragraphs 1 through 15 are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
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`Blitzsafe has not licensed or otherwise authorized Defendants to make, use, offer
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`for sale, sell, or import any products that embody the inventions of the ’342 Patent.
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`26.
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`Defendants have and continue to directly infringe one or more claims of the ’342
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`patent, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, by making, using, offering to sell,
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`selling and/or importing into the United States infringing products, including the HondaLink and
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`AcuraLink audio and media integration system, without authority and in violation of 35 U.S.C.
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`§ 271.
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`27.
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`Defendants have and continue to indirectly infringe one or more claims of the
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`’342 Patent by knowingly and intentionally inducing others to directly infringe, either literally or
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`under the doctrine of equivalents, by making, using, offering to sell, selling and/or importing into
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`the United States infringing products, including the HondaLink and AcuraLink audio and media
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`integration systems. For example, Defendants, with knowledge that HondaLink and AcuraLink
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`infringe the ’342 Patent at least as of the date of this Complaint, knowingly and intentionally
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`induced, and continue to knowingly and intentionally induce, direct infringement of the ’342
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`6
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`Case 2:15-cv-01274-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 07/16/15 Page 7 of 9 PageID #: 7
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`patent by providing HondaLink and AcuraLink product manuals that instruct end users how to
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`use HondaLink and AcuraLink, including specifically how to connect their external third-party
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`audio and multimedia devices to the car stereo. Defendants induced infringement by others,
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`including end users, with the intent to cause infringing acts by others or, in the alternative, with
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`the belief that there was a high probability that others, including end users, infringe the ’342
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`Patent, but while remaining willfully blind to the infringement.
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`28.
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`Defendants have and continue to indirectly infringe one or more claims of the
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`’342 Patent by contributing to the direct infringement, either literally or under the doctrine of
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`equivalents, by others, including end users, by offering to sell, selling and/or importing into the
`
`United States the HondaLink and AcuraLink audio and media integration systems, with the
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`knowledge, at least as of the date of this Complaint, that HondaLink and AcuraLink contain
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`components that constitute a material part of the inventions claimed in the ’342 Patent. Such
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`components include, for example, interfaces that permit an end user to use a car radio’s controls
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`to control an external third-party audio device. Defendants know that these components are
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`especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of the ’342 Patent and that these
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`components are not a staple article or commodity of commerce suitable for substantial non-
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`infringing use. Alternatively, Defendants believed there was a high probability that others would
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`infringe the ’342 Patent but remained willfully blind to the infringing nature of others’ actions.
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`29.
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`Blitzsafe has suffered damages as a result of Defendants’ direct and indirect
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`infringement of the ’342 patent in an amount to be proved at trial.
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`30.
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`Blitzsafe has suffered, and will continue to suffer, irreparable harm as a result of
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`Defendants’ infringement of the ’342 patent, for which there is no adequate remedy at law,
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`unless Defendants’ infringement is enjoined by this Court.
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`7
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`Case 2:15-cv-01274-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 07/16/15 Page 8 of 9 PageID #: 8
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`31.
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`Defendants have committed and continue to commit acts of infringement despite
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`an objectively high likelihood that its actions constituted infringement of at least one valid and
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`enforceable claim of the ’342 Patent, and Defendants actually knew or should have known that
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`their actions constituted an unjustifiably high risk of infringement of at least one valid and
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`enforceable claim of the ’342 Patent. Defendants’ infringement of the ’342 Patent has been and
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`continues to be willful, entitling Blitzsafe to an award of treble damages, reasonable attorney
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`fees, and costs in bringing this action.
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`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
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`Plaintiff hereby demands a jury for all issues so triable.
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`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
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`WHEREFORE, Blitzsafe prays for relief against Defendants as follows:
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`a.
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`Entry of judgment declaring that Defendants have directly and/or indirectly
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`infringed one or more claims of each of the patents-in-suit;
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`b.
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`Entry of judgment declaring that Defendants’ infringement of the patents-in-suit
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`has been willful and deliberate;
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`c.
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`An order pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 283 permanently enjoining Defendants, their
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`officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and those persons in active concert or
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`participation with them, from further acts of infringement of the patents-in-suit;
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`d.
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`An order awarding damages sufficient to compensate Blitzsafe for Defendants’
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`infringement of the patents-in-suit, but in no event less than a reasonable royalty, together with
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`interest and costs;
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`e.
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`An order awarding Blitzsafe treble damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284 as a result of
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`Defendants’ willful and deliberate infringement of the patents-in-suit;
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`8
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`Case 2:15-cv-01274-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 07/16/15 Page 9 of 9 PageID #: 9
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`f.
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`Entry of judgment declaring that this case is exceptional and awarding Blitzsafe
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`its costs and reasonable attorney fees under 35 U.S.C. § 285; and
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`g.
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`Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
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`Dated: July 16, 2015
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`Respectfully submitted,
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`BROWN RUDNICK LLP
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`_/s/ Alfred R. Fabricant________
`Alfred R. Fabricant
`Texas Bar No. 2219392
`Email: afabricant@brownrudnick.com
`Peter Lambrianakos
`Texas Bar No. 2894392
`Email: plambrianakos@brownrudnick.com
`Lawrence C. Drucker
`Email: ldrucker@brownrudnick.com
`Bryan N. DeMatteo
`Email: bdematteo@brownrudnick.com
`BROWN RUDNICK LLP
`7 Times Square
`New York, NY 10036
`Telephone: (212) 209-4800
`
`Samuel F. Baxter
`Texas State Bar No. 01938000
`sbaxter@mckoolsmith.com
`MCKOOL SMITH, P.C.
`104 E. Houston Street, Suite 300
`Marshall, Texas 75670
`Telephone: (903) 923-9000
`Facsimile: (903) 923-9099
`
`ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF,
`BLITZSAFE TEXAS, LLC
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