`
`Maxell, Ltd. v. Apple Inc.:
`Apple’s Motion to Transfer
`
`Case No. 5:19-cv-00036-RWS
`September 17, 2019
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 2 of 46 PageID #: 4110
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`Grounds For Transfer:
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`1. Forum-selection clause from NDA
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`2. Private and public interest factors under Volkswagen
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`2
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 3 of 46 PageID #: 4111
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`Grounds For Transfer:
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`1. Forum-selection clause from NDA
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`2. Private and public interest factors under Volkswagen
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`3
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 4 of 46 PageID #: 4112
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`“The Federal Circuit has held that a forum selection clause “
`applies if the nexus between the case and the agreement at
`issue is ‘non-frivolous.’ …
`[T]he ‘district court should ordinarily transfer the case to the
`forum specified in that clause unless there are extraordinary
`circumstances unrelated to the convenience of the parties’
`that disfavor transfer.”
`
`EVS Codec Techs., LLC v. LG Elecs., Inc.,
`No. 2:18-cv-00343-JRG, 2019 WL 2904747, *2 (E.D. Tex. July 5, 2019)
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`4
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 5 of 46 PageID #: 4113
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 6 of 46 PageID #: 4114
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 7 of 46 PageID #: 4115
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 8 of 46 PageID #: 4116
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 9 of 46 PageID #: 4117
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 10 of 46 PageID #: 4118
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 11 of 46 PageID #: 4119
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 12 of 46 PageID #: 4120
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 13 of 46 PageID #: 4121
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 14 of 46 PageID #: 4122
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 15 of 46 PageID #: 4123
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 16 of 46 PageID #: 4124
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 17 of 46 PageID #: 4125
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 18 of 46 PageID #: 4126
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 19 of 46 PageID #: 4127
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`Material Dispute As To Whether NDA Precludes Maxell’s
`Willful Infringement Claim
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`•
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`1. Does the NDA cover only “sales negotiations” or does it cover the
`entire June 2013 meeting?
`Requires interpretation of scope of “Confidential Information” and “Assertion
`Material”
`Is Maxell bound by the NDA’s provisions?
`Requires interpretation of scope of “successors in interest”
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`2.
`•
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`19
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 20 of 46 PageID #: 4128
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`“In order to try this case, the Court must unavoidably
`interpret the [parties’ agreement], including the
`definition of ‘Protected Communications.’”
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`Tessera Advanced Techs., Inc. v. Samsung Elecs. Co., Ltd.,
`No. 2:17-cv-00671-JRG, 2018 WL 8014281, at *4 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 5, 2018)
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`20
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 21 of 46 PageID #: 4129
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 22 of 46 PageID #: 4130
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`Grounds For Transfer:
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`1. Forum-selection clause from NDA
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`2. Private and public interest factors under Volkswagen
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`22
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 23 of 46 PageID #: 4131
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`VolkswagenFactors
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`Private Factors
`Favors transfer
`Ease of access to proof
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`Public Factors
`Favors transfer
`Local interest
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`Availability of
`compulsory process
`Attendance of willing
`witnesses
`Other practical
`problems
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`Favors transfer
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`Familiarity with
`governing law
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`Favors transfer
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`Court congestion
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`Neutral
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`Conflicts of law
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`Favors transfer
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`Neutral
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`Neutral
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`23
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 24 of 46 PageID #: 4132
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`Parties’ Evidence
`Local Interest / Ease of Access / Attendance of Witnesses
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`40+ years of Apple presence
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`NDCA
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`Corporate
`headquarters
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`Technical, financial,
`marketing documents
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`EDTX
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`24
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 25 of 46 PageID #: 4133
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`“As the defendant in a patent case, the bulk of
`the documents produced belong to Apple and
`are more easily accessible where it maintains its
`headquarters.”
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`Omni MedSci, Inc. v. Apple Inc.,
`No. 2:18:cv-00134-RWS, D.I. 279, at *5 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 14, 2019) (Ex. GG)
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`25
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 26 of 46 PageID #: 4134
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`Parties’ Evidence
`Local Interest / Ease of Access / Attendance of Witnesses
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`40+ years of Apple presence
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`NDCA
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`Corporate
`headquarters
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`Engineers
`responsible for the
`accused features
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`Technical, financial,
`marketing documents
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`EDTX
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`26
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 27 of 46 PageID #: 4135
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`Apple’s Relevant Witnesses Are In NDCA
`Asserted U.S. Patent No.
`Subject Matter
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`6,748,317; 6,580,999;
`6,430,498
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`Walking navigation features in Apple Maps and Find
`My Friends
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`8,339,493
`7,116,438; 10,212,586
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`6,408,193
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`10,084,991; 6,928,306
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`6,329,794
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`Cameras with image sensors or image stabilization
`Authenticating Apple devices and allowing data
`communication between authenticated Apple
`devices
`Controlling the gain and bias power settings for
`CDMA data transmission
`Notifications and alerts for telephone calls and
`FaceTime video calls
`Low Power Mode
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`Certain of the above patents
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`Pre-suit negotiations
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`Relevant Apple
`Witness(es)
`Scott Lopatin
`Rob Mayor
`Patrick Coleman
`Paul Hubel
`Marc Krochmal
`Greg Novick
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`Ming Hu
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`Christopher Garrido
`Matthew Shepherd
`Cyril de la Cropte de
`Chanterac
`Heather Mewes
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`D.I. 57-1 (Jaynes Decl.) at ¶¶ 22-35; D.I. 57-17 (Ex. O) at 19 (CONFIDENTIAL - ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY)
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`27
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 28 of 46 PageID #: 4136
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`Parties’ Evidence
`Local Interest / Ease of Access / Attendance of Witnesses
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`Source code
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`Financial and
`marketing
`witnesses
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`NDCA
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`Engineers
`responsible for the
`accused features
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`40+ years of Apple presence
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`Corporate
`headquarters
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`Technical, financial,
`marketing documents
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`EDTX
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`Documents at outside
`counsel’s office
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`Non-party subsidiary with
`no employees or relevant
`documents
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`28
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 29 of 46 PageID #: 4137
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`Maxell/MRDA Do Not Practice Patents-in-Suit
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`D.I. 57-16 (Ex. N) at 35
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`29
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 30 of 46 PageID #: 4138
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`MRDA Is Not Relevant To This Case
`Maxell’s Trial Testimony From 2018 Case
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`D.I. 57-6 (Ex. D) at 12:22-13:10 (trial testimony of Maxell’s corp. representative)
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`30
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 31 of 46 PageID #: 4139
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`Third-Party Evidence
`Ease of Access / Compulsory Process / Attendance of Witnesses
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`Relevant chipset suppliers
`(Qualcomm and Intel) and their
`supporting engineers
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`NDCA
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`EDTX
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`31
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 32 of 46 PageID #: 4140
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 33 of 46 PageID #: 4141
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`Third-Party Evidence
`Ease of Access / Compulsory Process / Attendance of Witnesses
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`Shorter travel time
`for Japanese
`inventors and
`witnesses
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`Relevant chipset suppliers
`(Qualcomm and Intel) and their
`supporting engineers
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`NDCA
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`Former employees (pre-
`suit communications)
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`EDTX
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`33
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 34 of 46 PageID #: 4142
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`NDCA Is Closer For Witnesses In Japan
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`9.5 hour direct
`flight to SF
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`17+ hours travel
`time to Texarkana
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`34
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 35 of 46 PageID #: 4143
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`Third-Party Evidence
`Ease of Access / Compulsory Process / Attendance of Witnesses
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`Shorter travel time
`for Japanese
`inventors and
`witnesses
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`Relevant chipset suppliers
`(Qualcomm and Intel) and their
`supporting engineers
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`NDCA
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`Former employees (pre-
`suit communications)
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`EDTX
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`Retained Attorney
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`35
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 36 of 46 PageID #: 4144
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 37 of 46 PageID #: 4145
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 38 of 46 PageID #: 4146
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`Third-Party Evidence
`Ease of Access / Compulsory Process / Attendance of Witnesses
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`Shorter travel time
`for Japanese
`inventors and
`witnesses
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`Relevant chipset suppliers
`(Qualcomm and Intel) and their
`supporting engineers
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`NDCA
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`Former employees (pre-
`suit communications)
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`EDTX
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`Retained Attorney
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`Vendors with no information
`relevant to this case
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`38
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 39 of 46 PageID #: 4147
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`Alleged Third-Party Suppliers Are Not In EDTX
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`D.I. 65-54 (Opp. Appendix 1)
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`39
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 40 of 46 PageID #: 4148
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`Six Suppliers Headquartered In California
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`3 companies
`HQ in CA
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`3 companies
`US HQ in CA
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`D.I. 65-54 (Opp. Appendix 1)
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`40
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 41 of 46 PageID #: 4149
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`9 Other Suppliers Headquartered Outside Texas
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`3 companies
`HQ in CA
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`3 companies
`US HQ in CA
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`7 foreign
`companies
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`2 companies
`HQ in other
`states
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`D.I. 65-54 (Opp. Appendix 1)
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`41
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 42 of 46 PageID #: 4150
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 43 of 46 PageID #: 4151
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`Practical Problems / Judicial Efficiency: Neutral
`Prior Cases In EDTX Have All Concluded
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`“Because Plaintiff has no relevant co-pending case
`in this Court, judicial economy is of limited weight
`in analyzing the venue factors.”
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`Zenith Elecs. LLC v. Sony Corp., No. 5:10-cv-184-DF, 2011 WL 13217851,
`at *10 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 25, 2011) (citing In re Verizon, 635 F.3d 559 (Fed. Cir. 2011))
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`43
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 44 of 46 PageID #: 4152
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`Court Congestion: Neutral
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`E.D. Tex.
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`N.D. Cal.
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`D.I. 65-28 (Opp. Ex. 27)
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`44
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 45 of 46 PageID #: 4153
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`VolkswagenFactors
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`Private Factors
`Favors transfer
`Ease of access to proof
`
`Public Factors
`Favors transfer
`Local interest
`
`Availability of
`compulsory process
`Attendance of willing
`witnesses
`Other practical
`problems
`
`Favors transfer
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`Familiarity with
`governing law
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`Favors transfer
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`Court congestion
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`Neutral
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`Conflicts of law
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`Favors transfer
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`Neutral
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`Neutral
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`45
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036-RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 46 of 46 PageID #: 4154
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`Case 5:19-cv-00036—RWS Document 85-1 Filed 09/19/19 Page 46 of 46 PageID #: 4154
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