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Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 1 of 10 PageID #: 8516
`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 1 of 10 PageID #: 8516
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`
`TEXARKANA DIVISION
`
`MAXELL, LTD.,
`
`v.
`
`APPLE INC .,
`
`Plaintljf
`
`Defendants.
`
`
`
`Case No. 5:19-cv-00036—RWS
`
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`JOINT NOTICE
`
`Pursuant to the Court’s Order dated January 16, 2020 (Dkt. 186), Plaintiff Maxell, Ltd.
`
`(“Plaintiff’ or “Maxell”) and Defendant Apple Inc., (“Defendant” or “Apple”) hereby file this
`
`Joint Notice regarding the status of Apple’s source code production. The parties conducted a
`
`meet and confer call on January 23, 2020 on which source code issues were discussed. Lead and
`
`local counsel were present on the call for both parties. The parties’ positions are stated herein:
`
`I.
`
`Production Of Source Code And Supplemental Infringement Contentions
`
`Maxell’s Position: Maxell informed Apple that it will supplement its infringement
`
`contentions within 30 days of Apple representing and Maxell verifying that all the relevant
`
`source code has been made available for inspection. During the meet and confer call and in
`
`subsequent correspondence (including in Apple’s portion of this Notice below), Apple has
`
`confmned that its source code production was and continues to be incomplete, including with
`
`respect to core accused functionalities. For example, Apple still has n_ot produced source code
`
`for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max. Further, Apple still has not produced
`
`

`

`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 2 of 10 PageID #: 8517
`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 2 of 10 PageID #: 8517
`
`_ for watchOS 5.0 and 6.0. See Apple’s Interrogat01y Response to Interrogatory
`
`No. 14.1 Similarly, Apple has still not produced— for iOS 13.0, watchOS
`
`5.0, and 6.0. See id. This despite the fact that Apple has represented in this case that “the most
`
`accurate and complete information about how Apple products produce ringtones, VoiceOver,
`
`and Siri notifications is source code, including, for example,—
`
`Despite the clear relevance of these fimctionalities to Maxell’s infringement contentions
`
`and Maxell raising these deficiencies with Apple on multiple occasions, the deficiencies remain.
`
`Thus, Apple’s continued representation that it complied with P.R. 3-4 by “produc[ing] technical
`
`documents and source code sufficient to determine the operation of the accused fimctionalities. ..
`
`in August 2019” is simply a fallacy. By its own admission, Apple has yet to fully comply with
`
`P.R. 3-4 and is hiding behind the “sufficient to determine the operation” language. Further, in
`
`August 2019, Apple did not make available for inspection source code for- for any of
`
`the watch products,2_for any of the accused products, 3 and- for various
`
`models.4 As these examples show (and there are many more) Apple failed miserably to comply
`
`with P.R. 3-4,5 in some instances completely failing to produce source code or relevant versions
`
`of the accused operating system. For this reason alone, Apple’s motion to compel was premature
`
`and is moot.
`
`watchOS 5.0 and 6.0 is executed on Apple Watch model nos. A1803. A1802 A1817. A1816 A1758.
`1
`A1757 A1859. A1858. A1861. A1860. A1978. A1977. A1976. A1975. A2095. A2094. A2093. A2092.
`
`2
`
`d—was not produced for watchOS 1.0. watchOS 2.0. watchOS 3.0. and watchOS 4.0. which15
`
`execute on at east Apple Watch model nos. A1554. A1553. A1803. A1802. A1817. A1816. A1758. A1757.
`A1859. A1858. A1861. and A1860
`3 —was not produced for any of iOS 7-12 or watchOS 1-4
`4
`108 7.0-9 lS executed on iPhone 68 Plus. iPhone 68. iPhone 6 Plus. iPhone 6. iPhone SE. iPhone 55. iPhone
`5C. and additional accused modes of iPads.
`
`Indeed. Apple still has not even produced schematics for all of the Accused Products. which would be
`5
`necessary to comply with the requirements of PR. 3-4.
`
`

`

`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 3 of 10 PageID #: 8518
`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 3 of 10 PageID #: 8518
`
`Regardless of the number of files produced (an issue Apple has focused on instead of
`
`substance), Apple has failed to produce relevant code related to accused products and
`
`functionalities. Although such source code should have been produced at the outset of this
`
`litigation in accordance with the Local Patent Rules, Apple continuously refused to produce
`
`specific code until Maxell identified it with what Apple deemed to be adequate specificity (a
`
`difficult undertaking for Maxell not knowing what source code might exist). Even after Maxell
`
`identified specific source code that should exist but that had not been produced, Apple’s
`
`production has taken months and then was produced in a manner in which Maxell could not
`
`determine which source code files related to which products.6 Further, the source code for the
`
`“recently released products,” which code Maxell requested in September, ahnost 5 months ago,
`
`still hasn’t been provided. Apple now states its source code production will be completed by
`
`February 12, 2020, which is 6 months after Apple’s source code production should have been
`
`complete. 7 Further, Apple has previously represented that its source code production was
`
`complete only for Maxell to inspect the code at significant cost8 and find continuing deficiencies
`
`related to the accused fimctionality.9
`
`After expending significant time and resources to conduct a review of this incomplete source code. Apple
`6
`required Maxell to propound an additional interrogatory to obtain information necessary to understand Apple‘s
`source code production. Apple then waited the full response period prior to responding to the interrogatory with the
`necessary information.
`7
`Instead of cherry-picking source code files to produce. Apple should have just produced the full source
`code for each accused product as Maxell originally requested. This would have clearly been the least burdensome
`approach for Apple and the most efficient with respect to getting the source code timely produced. Instead, Apple
`has chosen a course which has hampered a meaningful review by Maxell and caused both parties to needlessly incur
`substantial costs not just reviewing source code but also addressing deficiencies between counsel and with the Court.
`8
`Notably. Maxell had discussions with Apple’s counsel before beginning its source code review regarding
`the substantial cost associated with source code review. Maxell requested that Apple confirm its source code
`production was complete so that Maxell would not needlessly incur substantial cost associated with source code
`review only to determine that it could not meaningfully review the code made available or need to return to
`complete its review. Apple’s misconduct has therefore caused Maxell to needlessly incur substantial costs that
`could have been easily avoided.
`9
`Apple states that Maxell has identified “certain source code files" as missin when they had been
`previously produced. This was the case for two instances. -
`. Apple fails to mention
`
`

`

`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 4 of 10 PageID #: 8519
`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 4 of 10 PageID #: 8519
`
`Maxell is hopeful, though not confident based on the history of this case, that Apple’s
`
`source code production will in fact be completed by February 12 and no motion to compel will
`
`be necessary. Maxell, however, reserves the right to bring such a motion if its review of Apple’s
`
`source code after February 12 reveals such production to remain deficient. Such reservation is
`
`particularly warranted in View of Apple’s representations of completeness in the past, which
`
`Maxell has found to be inaccurate, and Apple’s ongoing position that it will only produce
`
`additional code if identified with specificity by Maxell. We trust that Apple’s most recent
`
`representation is accurate and that Apple has (or will by February 12) finally produced all
`
`relevant code (and not just those gaps in the code that Maxell has been able to identify as
`
`examples with specificity). Apple is obviously best positioned to identify relevant source code,
`
`and that it has placed the burden on Maxell (who is not familiar with what code even exists) to
`
`identify missing code with specificity is nonsensical and contrary to the Local Rules. Maxell’s
`
`ability in this regard is obviously limited. Maxell can only make such identifications based on its
`
`review of the source code that is produced, including the code that remains to be produced by
`
`February 12.
`
`In addition to Apple’s continuing source code deficiencies, there are numerous other
`
`discovery deficiencies that Apple has not cured, which directly impact Maxell’s ability to
`
`meaningfully review Apple’s source code production as also touched upon during the last
`
`hearing before the Court. These obviously also impact Maxell’s ability to determine which
`
`source code is ultimately to be included within its infringement contentions. Such deficiencies,
`
`that Maxell had previously identified these files as missing. Then in a subsequent serial production. Apple made
`these files available amongst additional newly produced source code files without identifying or explaining what
`“new" files have been produced. where they have been produced. and/or without supplementing their interrogatory
`responses. Each time. however. Apple has made a serial production Maxell has incurred costs to review this code
`and identified additional deficiencies to Apple. For these two files. Maxell thought they continued to be missing but
`withdrew its request when Apple identified the locations where Apple made the files available.
`
`

`

`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 5 of 10 PageID #: 8520
`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 5 of 10 PageID #: 8520
`
`including Apple’s production of technical documents, license agreements, and non-source code
`
`technical documents Apple improperly produced on the source code computer, were also
`
`discussed on the parties’ most recent meet and confer and are likely to be the subject of an
`
`unfortunate but necessary motion to compel. 1°
`
`Apple’s Position: Pursuant to PR. 3-4, Apple produced technical documents and source code
`
`sufficient to determine the operation ofthe accused fiJnctionalities, including-
`
`— in August 2019 after a reasonable investigation based on Maxell’s initial
`
`infringement contentions. That this production did not include every possible source code file
`
`and every possible technical document that pertains to every unobvious facet of Maxell’s
`
`infringement contentions is not a surprise; Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 and PR. 3-4 do not require such a
`
`scorched-earth investigation—overturning every rock and interviewing every engineer in the
`
`company, to collect, review, and produce every bit of source code and every document that
`
`Maxell decides is “relevant” and calls for Apple to produce. Indeed, this Court rejected such a
`
`View when it denied Maxell’s motion to compel Apple to produce this information with its July
`
`Initial Disclosures. That Apple has asked Maxell for clarification as to some of its requests is
`
`eminently reasonable. Indeed, many of Maxell’s requests have been for source code that Apple
`
`has already produced, doesn’t exist, or have been so vague that Apple cannot understand the
`
`specific source code that Maxell actually seeks or its relevance to Maxell’s infringement
`
`Apple takes issue with Maxell’s request of seeking inspection of each of the accused products “regardless
`1°
`of whether there are any differences relevant to Maxell’s infringement allegations.“ But Apple created this problem.
`Maxell remains open to the parties agreeing on a representative product and has served discovery requests to
`confirm that certain accused products frmction the same way relative to the infiinging frmctionality. Yet. Apple
`denied all these discovery requests. Further. Apple identified hundreds of versions of operating systems in its
`interrogatory response. while producing source code for fewer versions. To the extent that Apple agrees that there
`are no meaningful diflermces relevant to the infringing functionality for certain accused products and supplements
`its discovery responses to reflect this. Maxell is willing to narrow its request for inspection to only such products.
`
`

`

`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 6 of 10 PageID #: 8521
`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 6 of 10 PageID #: 8521
`
`contentions. Maxell has also sought source code for claim limitations for which it did not rely on
`
`PR. 3-1(g) and did not label as a “software” limitation, giving Apple no prior signal whatsoever
`
`that Maxell sought source code for it. Moreover, Maxell’s citation to thousands of source code
`
`files, including directories containin-, in its October 15, 2019 “supplemental
`
`infringement contentions” belies any claim from Maxell that the state of Apple’s source code
`
`production was so insufficient as of the PR. 3—4 compliance date that Maxell could not abide by
`
`its obligations lmder P.R. 3-1(g) in any respect.
`
`Notwithstanding that Maxell’s post-PR. 3-4 requests for source code are neither relevant
`
`nor proportional to the needs of the case, Apple has satisfied the vast majority of those requests
`
`at great burden and expense by producing— As a result, as of
`
`the date of this Notice, Apple has produced— in this case.
`
`The only requests that Apple has yet to satisfy include those for recently released—products
`
`(which weren’t formally added to this case until November) and for which Maxell had not
`
`sufficiently identified the specific code it was seeking. Maxell has now clarified those requests
`
`at Apple’s urging, Apple is investigating those clarified requests and, to the extent code is
`
`located, Apple aims to make such code available for Maxell’s review by no later than February
`
`12, 2020.
`
`In its continuing effort to use discovery as a litigation weapon and to hide the ball
`
`regarding its true infringement contentions, Maxell has adopted a typical plaintiff’s tactic of
`
`making serial claims that Apple’s source code production is “deficient,” thereby delaying its P.R.
`
`3—1(g) compliance. The true goal of Maxell’s serial requests is made most clear by its conduct in
`
`this case and its recent discovery demands. For example, Maxell has made repeated claims that
`
`certain source code files were “missing” when, in fact, they had been produce long ago and
`
`

`

`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 7 of 10 PageID #: 8522
`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 7 of 10 PageID #: 8522
`
`would have been readily identified had Maxell taken the time necessary to review the enormous
`
`volume of code that it has demanded be produced. Similarly, tacitly acknowledging that Apple
`
`will have satisfied by February 12 all of the source code “deficiencies” that Maxell has alleged,
`
`Maxell now claims as of February 1 that its “ability to meaningfully review Apple’s source code
`
`production” is “directly impacted” by Apple’s alleged failure to produce certain patent licenses
`
`that Maxell believes exist regarding settlements of other, unrelated patent disputes. (See
`
`Maxell’s Position, above.)
`
`Maxell also refers to so—called “non-source code” technical documents that it
`
`mischaracterized as “improperly produced on the source code computer.” In fact, these files
`
`were maintained in Apple’s source code repositories in the ordinary course of business and,
`
`therefore, properly made available on the source code computer exactly “as they are kept in the
`
`usual course of business.” See, e.g., Rapp v. Maxim Healthcare Servs., Inc., No. 4:13-CV-51,
`
`2014 WL 5341872, at *2 (ED. Tex. Sept. 30, 2014). Moreover, many of these so-called “non-
`
`source code” docrunents actually contain or refer to source code and their production in the
`
`ordinary course, outside the source code computer, would be contrary to the requirements of the
`
`protective order in this case. Notwithstanding the above, and as an accommodation to Maxell,
`
`Apple agreed to investigate what Maxell has referred to as “non-source code” documents and
`
`produce those documents outside the source code computer to the extent they do not, in fact,
`
`include any references to code. In an effort to expedite this very labor intensive process, Apple
`
`asked that Maxell identify any documents or class of documents that Maxell considered high
`
`priority. Most telling of Maxell’s true intentions, Maxell declined to do so. This belies any
`
`claim that Maxell needs these documents to prepare its case and confirms that this exercise is
`
`merely another manifestation of Maxell vexatiously litigating this case.
`
`

`

`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 8 of 10 PageID #: 8523
`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 8 of 10 PageID #: 8523
`
`Confirming Maxell’s scorched earth approach to source code production, in a another
`
`transparent attempt to impose unnecessary discovery expenses on Apple, Maxell has just this last
`
`Friday (January 31), demanded that Apple make available for inspection every single accused
`
`product, each with every compatible version of accused operating systems. Taken literally, this
`
`request seeks inspection of ahnost 4,000 product/operating system combinations, regardless of
`
`whether there are any differences relevant to Maxell’s infringement allegations. Like its many
`
`unnecessary source code requests, such a demand can have no legitimate goal other than to
`
`impose expense and burden on Apple.
`
`With only eight weeks remaining in fact discovery, the time for Maxell to comply with
`
`P.R. 3-1(g) has long passed. If Maxell fails to supplement its infringement contentions within 30
`
`days of Apple addressing the handful of open source code issues, Apple expects it will be
`
`necessary to seek the Court’s assistance in requiring Maxell to meaningfully comply with its
`
`discovery obligations and PR. 3-l(g).
`
`Dated: February 3, 2020
`
`/s/ Jamie B. Beaber
`
`/s/ Luann L. Simmons
`
`Geoff Culbertson
`Kelly Tidwell
`Patton, Tidwell & Culbertson, LLP
`2800 Texas Boulevard (75503)
`Post Office Box 5398
`Texarkana, TX 75505-5398
`Telephone: (903) 792-7080
`Facsimile: (903) 792-8233
`gpc@texarkanalaw.com
`kbt@texarkanalaw.com
`
`Jamie B. Beaber
`Alan M. Grimaldi
`
`Kfir B. Levy
`James A. Fussell, III
`
`Luann L. Simmons (Pro Hac Vice)
`lsimmons@omm.com
`O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
`Two Embarcadero Center, 28th Floor
`San Francisco, CA 94111
`Telephone: 415-984-8700
`Facsimile: 415-984-8701
`
`Xin—Yi Zhou (Pro Hac Vice)
`vzhou@omm.com
`Anthony G. Beasley (TX #24093882)
`tbeasley@omm.c0m
`O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
`
`400 S. Hope Street
`Los Angeles, CA 90071
`
`

`

`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 9 of 10 PageID #: 8524
`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 9 of 10 PageID #: 8524
`
`Baldine B. Paul
`
`Tiffany A. Miller
`Saqib Siddiqui
`Bryan Nese
`William J. Barrow
`
`Clark S. Bakewell
`
`Alison T. Gelsleichter
`MAYER BROWN LLP
`
`1999 K Street, NW
`Washington, DC 20006
`Telephone: (202) 263-3000
`Facsimile: (202) 263-3300
`jbeaber@mayerbrown.com
`agrimaldi@mayerbrown.com
`klevy@mayerbrown.com
`jfussell@mayerbrown.com
`bpaul@mayerbrown.com
`tmiller@mayerbrown.com
`ssiddiqui@mayerbrown.com
`bnese@mayerbrown.com
`wbarrow@mayerbrown.com
`cbakewell@mayerbrown.com
`agelsleichter@mayerbrown.com
`
`Amanda K. Streff
`
`MAYER BROWN LLP
`
`71 S. Wacker Drive
`
`Chicago, IL 60606
`(312) 782-0600
`astreff@mayerbrown.com
`
`Telephone: 213-430-6000
`Facsimile: 213-430-6407
`
`Marc J. Pensabene (Pro Hac Vice)
`mpensabene@omm.com
`Laura Bayne Gore (Pro Hac Vice)
`lbayne@omm.com
`O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
`
`Times Square Tower, 7 Times Square
`New York, NY 10036
`
`Telephone: 212-326-2000
`Facsimile: 212-326-2061
`
`Bo Moon (Pro Hac Vice)
`bmoon@omm.com
`O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
`
`610 Newport Center Drive, l7tll Floor
`Newport Beach, CA 92660
`Telephone: 949-823-6900
`Facsimile: 949-823-6994
`
`Melissa R. Smith (TX #24001351)
`melissa@gilliamsmithlaw.com
`Bobby Lamb (TX #24080997)
`wrlamb@gillamsmithlaw.com
`GILLIAM & SMITH, LLP
`303 South Washington Avenue
`Marshall, Texas 75670
`
`Telephone: (903) 934-8450
`Facsimile: (903) 934-9257
`
`Counselfor PIaintiijaerI, Ltd.
`
`Attorneys for Defendant Apple Inc.
`
`

`

`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 10 of 10 PageID #: 8525
`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 196 Filed 02/06/20 Page 10 of 10 PageID #: 8525
`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`I hereby certify that all counsel of record who are deemed to have consented to electronic
`
`service are being served this 3rd day ofFebnlaly, 2020, with a copy of this document via electronic
`
`mail.
`
`/s/ Jamie B. Beaber
`
`Jamie B. Beaber
`
`CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION TO FILE UNDER SEAL
`
`The undersigned certifies that the foregoing document is authorized to be filed lmder seal
`
`pursuant to the Protective Order entered in this case.
`
`/s/ Jamie B. Beaber
`
`Jamie B. Beaber
`
`10
`
`

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