throbber
Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 1 of 27 PageID #: 1717
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`TYLER DIVISION
`
`
`CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS
`EQUIPMENT LLC,
`Plaintiff,
`
`v.
`
`SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
`INC, et al.,
`Defendants.
`
`
`
`
`Civil Action No. 6:14-cv-983
`
`Consolidated Lead Case Civil Action No.
`6:14-cv-982
`
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`T-MOBILE’S ANSWER
`TO PLAINTIFF’S FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT
`
`Defendants T-Mobile USA, Inc., and T-Mobile US, Inc. (collectively, “T-Mobile”)
`
`hereby submit this Answer and Affirmative Defenses in response to Plaintiff Cellular
`
`Communications Equipment LLC’s (“CCE” or “Plaintiff”) First Amended Complaint for Patent
`
`Infringement (the “Complaint”).
`
`GENERAL DENIAL
`
`
`
`Unless specifically admitted below, T-Mobile denies each and every allegation in the
`
`Complaint. To the extent the headings of the Complaint are construed as allegations, they are
`
`each denied.
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`1.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 1 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`2.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 2 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 2 of 27 PageID #: 1718
`
`3.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 3 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`4.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 4 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`5.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 5 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`6.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 6 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`9.
`
`Admit.
`
`Admit.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`T-Mobile admits that the Complaint purports to set forth a patent infringement
`
`action arising under the patent laws of the United States, Title 35 of the United States Code. T-
`
`Mobile denies all remaining allegations of Paragraph 9.
`
`10.
`
`To the extent that the allegations of Paragraph 10 of the Complaint set forth legal
`
`conclusions, no response is required. T-Mobile admits that this Court has subject matter
`
`jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a) over actions arising under the patent laws
`
`of the United States. T-Mobile denies all remaining allegations of Paragraph 10.
`
`11.
`
`To the extent that the allegations of Paragraph 11 of the Complaint set forth legal
`
`conclusions, no response is required. T-Mobile admits it has transacted business in this district.
`
`T-Mobile denies that it has committed any act of patent infringement in this district or any other
`
`judicial district. T-Mobile denies all remaining allegations in Paragraph 11.
`
`
`
`- 2 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 3 of 27 PageID #: 1719
`
`12.
`
`To the extent that the allegations of Paragraph 12 of the Complaint set forth legal
`
`conclusions, no response is required. T-Mobile admits it has transacted business in this district.
`
`T-Mobile denies that it has committed any act of patent infringement in this district or any other
`
`judicial district. T-Mobile denies all remaining allegations in Paragraph 12.
`
`13.
`
`T-Mobile admits it has transacted business in this district. T-Mobile denies that it
`
`has committed any act of patent infringement in this district or any other judicial district. T-
`
`Mobile denies all remaining allegations in Paragraph 13.
`
`COUNT I—ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,385,966
`
`14.
`
`T-Mobile re-alleges and reincorporate its answers to Paragraphs 1-13 of the
`
`Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
`
`15.
`
`T-Mobile admits that the cover page of U.S. Patent No. 8,385,966 (“’966 Patent”)
`
`states that its title is “Method, Apparatus, and Computer Program for Power Control Related to
`
`Random Access Procedures.” T-Mobile admits that what purports to be a copy of the ’966
`
`Patent is attached as Exhibit A to the Complaint. T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information
`
`sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations of Paragraph 15 of the
`
`Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`16.
`
`17.
`
`18.
`
`19.
`
`20.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`T-Mobile denies the allegations in Paragraph 20 as to T-Mobile. T-Mobile lacks
`
`knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations
`
`of Paragraph 20 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`
`
`- 3 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 4 of 27 PageID #: 1720
`
`21.
`
`22.
`
`23.
`
`24.
`
`25.
`
`26.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 26 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`27.
`
`T-Mobile admits that it has provided Sony brand devices. T-Mobile denies all
`
`remaining allegations of Paragraph 27.
`
`28.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 28 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`29.
`
`Denied.
`
`COUNT II—ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,848,556
`
`30.
`
`T-Mobile re-alleges and reincorporate its answers to Paragraphs 1-29 of the
`
`Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
`
`31.
`
`T-Mobile admits that the cover page of U.S. Patent No. 8,848,556 (“’556 Patent”)
`
`states that its title is “Carrier Aggregation with Power Headroom Report.” T-Mobile admits that
`
`what purports to be a copy of the ’556 Patent is attached as Exhibit B to the Complaint. T-
`
`Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining
`
`allegations of Paragraph 31 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`32.
`
`33.
`
`34.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`
`
`- 4 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 5 of 27 PageID #: 1721
`
`35.
`
`T-Mobile denies the allegations in Paragraph 35 as to T-Mobile. T-Mobile lacks
`
`knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations
`
`of Paragraph 40 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`36.
`
`37.
`
`Denied.
`
`T-Mobile admits that it has provided Sony brand devices. T-Mobile denies all
`
`remaining allegations of Paragraph 37.
`
`38.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 38 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`39.
`
`Denied.
`
`COUNT III—ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,868,060
`
`40.
`
`T-Mobile re-alleges and reincorporate its answers to Paragraphs 1-39 of the
`
`Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
`
`41.
`
`T-Mobile admits that the cover page of U.S. Patent No. 8,868,060 (“’060 Patent”)
`
`states that its title is “Method, Network and Device for Information Provision by Using Paging
`
`and Cell Broadcast Services.” T-Mobile admits that what purports to be a copy of the ’060
`
`Patent is attached as Exhibit C to the Complaint. T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information
`
`sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations of Paragraph 41 of the
`
`Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`42.
`
`43.
`
`44.
`
`45.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`
`
`- 5 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 6 of 27 PageID #: 1722
`
`46.
`
`T-Mobile denies the allegations in Paragraph 46 as to T-Mobile. T-Mobile lacks
`
`knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations
`
`of Paragraph 46 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`47.
`
`48.
`
`49.
`
`50.
`
`51.
`
`52.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`Denied.
`
`T-Mobile admits that it has provided Sony brand devices. T-Mobile denies all
`
`remaining allegations of Paragraph 52.
`
`53.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 53 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`54.
`
`Denied.
`
`JOINDER OF PARTIES
`
`55.
`
`T-Mobile re-alleges and reincorporate its answers to Paragraphs 1-54 of the
`
`Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
`
`56.
`
`T-Mobile admits that it has provided Sony brand devices. T-Mobile denies all
`
`remaining allegations of Paragraph 56.
`
`57.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 57 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`58.
`
`T-Mobile lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the
`
`truth of the allegations of Paragraph 58 of the Complaint, and therefore denies the same.
`
`59.
`
`Denied.
`
`
`
`- 6 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 7 of 27 PageID #: 1723
`
`JURY DEMAND
`
`Plaintiff’s demand for a jury trial does not require a response.
`
`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
`
`T-Mobile denies that Plaintiff is entitled to any relief whatsoever against T-Mobile, either
`
`
`
`
`
`as prayed for in the Complaint or otherwise.
`
`ADDITIONAL DEFENSES
`
`T-Mobile alleges and asserts the following additional defenses in response to the
`
`allegations of the Complaint, undertaking the burden of proof only as to those defenses required
`
`by law, regardless of how such defenses are denominated herein. In addition to defenses pleaded
`
`herein, T-Mobile reserves the right to allege additional defenses that become known through the
`
`course of discovery or otherwise.
`
`FIRST DEFENSE
`
`(FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM)
`
`60.
`
`The Complaint fails to state a claim against T-Mobile upon which relief can be
`
`granted.
`
`SECOND DEFENSE
`
`(NON-INFRINGEMENT)
`
`61.
`
`T-Mobile does not infringe and has not infringed, literally or by the doctrine of
`
`equivalents, any valid and enforceable claim of the ’060 Patent, ’556 Patent, or ’966 Patent
`
`(collectively, the “Asserted Patents”), either directly, contributorily, by inducement, jointly, or in
`
`any other manner.
`
`THIRD DEFENSE
`
`(PROSECUTION HISTORY ESTOPPEL)
`
`
`
`- 7 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 8 of 27 PageID #: 1724
`
`62.
`
`Plaintiff is estopped from construing any of the claims of the Asserted Patents in
`
`such a way as may cover, encompass, and/or include T-Mobile’s products, services, or activities
`
`and/or has waived any right to do so by reason of amendment, cancellation, and/or abandonment
`
`of claims, and/or admissions, representations, and/or statements made by or on behalf of the
`
`applicants, in any proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
`
`FOURTH DEFENSE
`
`(INVALIDITY)
`
`63.
`
`Each and every claim of the Asserted Patents is invalid for failure to meet the
`
`requirements of Title 35, United States Code, including but not limited to Sections 101, 102, 103,
`
`and/or 112 thereof, and the rules, regulations, and laws pertaining thereto.
`
`64.
`
`Each and every claim of the Asserted Patents is invalid for double patenting.
`
`FIFTH DEFENSE
`
`(35 U.S.C. § 286)
`
`65.
`
`Plaintiff’s claims for relief and prayer for damages are limited by 35 U.S.C. §
`
`286.
`
`SIXTH DEFENSE
`
`(35 U.S.C. § 287)
`
`66.
`
`Upon information and belief, the relief sought by Plaintiff is barred or limited in
`
`whole or in part by the failure to mark, by Plaintiff or by one or more parties licensed or
`
`otherwise authorized to practice the Asserted Patents, as required by 35 U.S.C. § 287.
`
`SEVENTH DEFENSE
`
`(28 U.S.C. § 1498)
`
`
`
`- 8 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 9 of 27 PageID #: 1725
`
`67.
`
`To the extent that any accused product has been used or manufactured by or for
`
`the United States Government, Plaintiff’s claims and demands for relief are barred by 28 U.S.C.
`
`§ 1498.
`
`EIGHTH DEFENSE
`
`(STANDING)
`
`68.
`
`Plaintiff lacks standing to bring this suit because, as shown on the face of the
`
`Asserted Patents, Plaintiff is not the assignee of the Asserted Patents. Plaintiff also lacks
`
`standing to bring this suit to the extent that Plaintiff and/or its predecessors-in-interest lacked
`
`ownership of the Asserted Patents at any relevant time. In addition, Plaintiff lacks standing to
`
`bring this suit to the extent that Plaintiff lacks all substantial rights to the Asserted Patents.
`
`NINTH DEFENSE
`
`(LICENSE)
`
`69.
`
`Plaintiff’s claims for relief are barred in whole or in part by express or implied
`
`license.
`
`70.
`
`CCE and/or its predecessors have engaged in standard-setting misconduct,
`
`including without limitation, CCE and/or its predecessors breach of its commitment to offer
`
`FRAND license terms for the patents asserted in the Complaint and breach of their disclosure
`
`requirements or based on other circumstances.
`
`71.
`
`Furthermore, NSN issued a written declaration to the SSO, committing to license
`
`its Declared-Essential Patents to all implementers of the UMTS standard on fair, reasonable, and
`
`non-discriminatory (“FRAND”) terms, but when 3GPP was considering alternative technologies,
`
`deliberately and deceptively concealed from 3GPP and its constituent SSOs that it in fact would
`
`not offer FRAND license terms. Accordingly, as to all patents CCE and NSN has declared
`
`
`
`- 9 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 10 of 27 PageID #: 1726
`
`essential to the UMTS standard, T-Mobile is at the very least entitled to a license on FRAND
`
`terms.
`
`TENTH DEFENSE
`
`(PATENT EXHAUSTION)
`
`72.
`
`Plaintiff’s claims for relief are barred in whole or in part by the doctrine of patent
`
`exhaustion.
`
`ELEVENTH DEFENSE
`
`(WAIVER, ESTOPPEL, CLAIM PRECLUSION, LACHES, UNCLEAN HANDS)
`
`73.
`
`Plaintiff’s claims against T-Mobile regarding the Asserted Patents are barred by
`
`the equitable doctrines of waiver, estoppel, claim preclusion, laches, and/or unclean hands.
`
`74.
`
`CCE and/or its predecessors have engaged in standard-setting misconduct,
`
`including without limitation, CCE and/or its predecessors breach of its commitment to offer
`
`FRAND license terms for the patents asserted in the Complaint and breach of their disclosure
`
`requirements or based on other circumstances.
`
`75.
`
`Furthermore, NSN issued a written declaration to the SSO, committing to license
`
`its Declared-Essential Patents to all implementers of the UMTS standard on fair, reasonable, and
`
`non-discriminatory (“FRAND”) terms, but when 3GPP was considering alternative technologies,
`
`deliberately and deceptively concealed from 3GPP and its constituent SSOs that it in fact would
`
`not offer FRAND license terms. Accordingly, as to all patents CCE and NSN has declared
`
`essential to the UMTS standard, T-Mobile is at the very least entitled to a license on FRAND
`
`terms.
`
`
`
`TWELFTH DEFENSE
`
`(UNENFORCEABILITY OF ’556 PATENT DUE TO IMPLIED WAIVER)
`
`- 10 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 11 of 27 PageID #: 1727
`
`76.
`
`CCE and/or its predecessors-in-interest with respect to one or more of the
`
`Asserted Patents have engaged in standards-setting misconduct, including without limitation
`
`breach of the commitment to license one or more of the Asserted Patents on fair, reasonable, and
`
`nondiscriminatory terms and CCE’s breach of its patent disclosure requirements or based on
`
`other circumstances.
`
`77.
`
`At various times, Nokia Siemens Networks (“NSN”), a predecessor-in-interest of
`
`CCE, declared the Asserted Patents to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute
`
`(“ETSI”), a leading standard-setting organization (“SSO”), as purportedly essential to practice
`
`the Universal Mobile Telecommunications Standard (“UMTS”) standard, the world’s most
`
`widely adopted telecommunications standard. (The patents NSN has declared essential to the
`
`UMTS standard are referred to collectively herein as the “Declared-Essential Patents”). Time
`
`and again, however, NSN deliberately and deceptively failed to disclose its purported intellectual
`
`property rights (“IPR”) to the Third Generation Platform Partnership (“3GPP”), the SSO that set
`
`the UMTS standard, before its members decided to incorporate into the standard technologies
`
`purportedly covered by NSN’s patents, in violation of ETSI’s IPR policy. Furthermore, NSN
`
`issued a written declaration to the SSO, committing to license its Declared-Essential Patents to
`
`all implementers of the UMTS standard on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (“FRAND”)
`
`terms, but when 3GPP was considering alternative technologies, deliberately and deceptively
`
`concealed from 3GPP and its constituent SSOs that it in fact would not offer FRAND license
`
`terms. Accordingly, as to all patents CCE and NSN has declared essential to the UMTS standard,
`
`T-Mobile is at the very least entitled to a license on FRAND terms.
`
`
`
`- 11 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 12 of 27 PageID #: 1728
`
`78.
`
`The Third Generation Partnership Project (“3GPP”) is a collaborative project that
`
`develops globally applicable standard specifications for third generation (“3G”) mobile phones
`
`and other telecommunications systems.
`
`79.
`
`80.
`
`3GPP was established on or around December 1998.
`
`3GPP’s standardization efforts include Third Generation Wideband Code
`
`Division Multiple Access cellular standards.
`
`81.
`
`3GPP is composed of Organizational Partners and Individual Members.
`
`Organizational Partners are standard-setting organizations. The European Telecommunications
`
`Standards Institute (“ETSI”) is an Organizational Partner of 3GPP. The Individual Members of
`
`3GPP are members of the Organizational Partners of 3GPP, including members of ETSI.
`
`82.
`
`On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, CCE’s
`
`predecessor-in-interest NSN has been a member of ETSI and 3GPP.
`
`83.
`
`As an individual member of 3GPP, CCE’s predecessor-in-interest NSN was
`
`required to comply with 3GPP’s intellectual property rights policy (“IPR Policy”).
`
`84.
`
`On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, 3GPP’s
`
`IPR Policy states that its Individual Members are bound by the IPR Policy of their respective
`
`Organizational Partner. 3GPP’s IPR Policy requires its Individual Members to declare to their
`
`Organizational Partners any IPR that they believe to be essential, or potentially essential, to any
`
`work being conducted within 3GPP; the IPR Policy also requires Organizational Partners to
`
`“encourage their respective members to grant licenses on fair, reasonable terms and conditions
`
`and on a non-discriminatory basis.”
`
`85.
`
`As members of ETSI, CCE’s predecessor-in-interest NSN was required to comply
`
`with ETSI’s IPR Policy.
`
`
`
`- 12 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 13 of 27 PageID #: 1729
`
`86.
`
`To facilitate its standard setting activity, ETSI promulgated an IPR policy, set
`
`forth in Annex 6 of its Rules of Procedure.
`
`87.
`
`Clause 4 of the policy requires, among other things, that members timely disclose
`
`to the organization any IPR they own that may be essential to standards that have been developed
`
`or are being developed. Participants in ETSI standard development understand that this provision
`
`requires disclosure of all IPR that they believe might be essential to standards under
`
`consideration. Clause 4 requires in particular that a participant submitting a technical
`
`specification to ETSI, as NSN did, make ETSI aware of any IPR that might be essential if that
`
`proposal is adopted. Clause 4.1 states:
`
`[E]ach MEMBER shall use its reasonable endeavors, in particular during the
`
`development of a STANDARD or TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION where it participates,
`
`to inform ETSI of ESSENTIAL IPRs in a timely fashion. In particular, a MEMBER
`
`submitting a technical proposal for a STANDARD or TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
`
`shall, on a bona fide basis, draw the attention of ETSI to any of that MEMBER’s IPR
`
`which might be ESSENTIAL if that proposal is adopted.
`
`88.
`
`Under ETSI’s IPR policies, the term “IPR” is defined to include patent
`
`applications as well as issued patents:
`
`“IPR” shall mean any intellectual property right conferred by statute law including
`
`applications therefore other than trademarks.
`
`89.
`
`Clause 6 of ETSI’s IPR policy governs the availability of licenses to essential
`
`IPR. In relevant part, Clause 6.1 states:
`
`When an ESSENTIAL IPR relating to a particular STANDARD or TECHNICAL
`
`SPECIFICATION is brought to the attention of ETSI, the Director-General of ETSI shall
`
`
`
`- 13 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 14 of 27 PageID #: 1730
`
`immediately request the owner to give within three months an irrevocable undertaking in
`
`writing that it is prepared to grant irrevocable licenses on fair, reasonable and non-
`
`discriminatory [FRAND] terms and conditions under such IPR to at least the following
`
`extent:
`
`• MANUFACTURE, including the right to make or have made customized components
`
`and sub-systems to the licensee’s own design for use in MANUFACTURE;
`
`• sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of EQUIPMENT so MANUFACTURED;
`
`• repair, use, or operate EQUIPMENT; and
`
`• use METHODS.
`
`90.
`
`The above undertaking may be made subject to the condition that those who seek
`
`licenses agree to reciprocate.
`
`91.
`
`If an owner of an essential IPR refuses to undertake a FRAND commitment with
`
`respect to that IPR, then, as provided in Section 8 of the ETSI IPR Policy, ETSI may suspend
`
`work on relevant parts of the standard or redesign the standard to render the IPR non-essential.
`
`92.
`
`ETSI’s IPR Policy was designed to benefit all ETSI members, as well as all other
`
`parties that implement an ETSI standard. In particular, the stated objective of the policy,
`
`described in Clause 3.1, is to “reduce the risk” to those implementing the standards or other
`
`technical specifications “that investment in the preparation, adoption and application of the
`
`STANDARDS could be wasted as a result of an ESSENTIAL IPR for a STANDARD or
`
`TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION being unavailable.” The IPR Policy specifies that it “shall be
`
`governed by the laws of France.” Clause 12.
`
`93.
`
`During all times relevant to these allegations, NSN has been a member of ETSI.
`
`NSN actively participated in 3GPP’s development of the UMTS standard. As a result of its
`
`
`
`- 14 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 15 of 27 PageID #: 1731
`
`membership in ETSI and participation in 3GPP’s standard-setting process for UMTS, CCE’s
`
`predecessor NSN was bound by the ETSI Rules of Procedure, including the ETSI IPR Policy. As
`
`was required by the ETSI IPR policy, NSN submitted declarations to ETSI promising to license
`
`its Declared-Essential Patents on FRAND terms.
`
`94.
`
`CCE has alleged that certain products having wireless capability compliant with
`
`3GPP TS 36.321 §§ 5.4.6, 6.1.3.6a infringe the ’556 Patent.
`
`95.
`
`96.
`
`97.
`
`CCE has represented that it is the owner or assignee of the ’556 Patent.
`
`The ’556 Patent issued from Application No. 13/164,266 filed on June 20, 2011.
`
`The ’556 Patent claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/356,867, filed
`
`on June 21, 2010.
`
`98.
`
`On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, NSN is a
`
`predecessor-in-interest of CCE with respect to the ’556 Patent and its related applications.
`
`99.
`
`3GPP is composed of specification groups responsible for drafting and amending
`
`technical specifications associated with the 3GPP.
`
`100. 3GPP specification group TSG RAN WG2 (“WG2”) was formed on or around
`
`January 1999. WG2 was responsible for e Radio Interface architecture and protocols (MAC,
`
`RLC, PDCP), the specification of the Radio Resource Control protocol, the strategies of Radio
`
`Resource Management and the services provided by the physical layer to the upper layers. In
`
`particular, WG2 was responsible for drafting 3GPP Technical Specification (“TS”) 36.321. CCE
`
`have alleged that certain products having wireless capability compliant with TS 36.321 standards
`
`infringe the ’556 Patent.
`
`101. On
`
`information and belief supported by publicly available documents,
`
`representatives of NSN attended WG2 meetings and participated in drafting and revising TS
`
`
`
`- 15 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 16 of 27 PageID #: 1732
`
`36.321. For example, the following NSN employees attended WG2 meetings: Guillaume
`
`Decarreau, Woonhee Hwang, Thyagarajan Manivannan, Benoist Sebire, Malgorzata Tomala, and
`
`Chunli Wu.
`
`102. On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, at the
`
`beginning of each WG2 and TSG RAN Plenary meeting, the Chairman of the meeting made the
`
`following IPR call:
`
`The attention of the delegates of this Working Group was drawn to the fact that 3GPP
`
`Individual Members have the obligation under the IPR Policies of their respective
`
`Organizational Partners to inform their respective Organizational Partners of Essential
`
`IPRs they become aware of.
`
`The delegates were asked to take note that they were hereby invited:
`
`
`
`to investigate whether their organization or any other organization owns IPRs
`
`which were, or were likely to become Essential in respect of the work of 3GPP.
`
`
`
`to notify their respective Organizational Partners of all potential IPRs, e.g., for
`
`ETSI, by means of the IPR Statement and the Licensing declaration forms
`
`(http://webapp.etsi.org/Ipr/).
`
`103. On or about November 15-19, 2010, the TSG-RAN WG2 group met for meeting
`
`#72 in Jacksonville, FL USA in connection with the standards-setting process.
`
`104. On
`
`information and belief supported by publicly available documents,
`
`representatives of CCE’s predecessor NSN, including Benoist Sebire and Chunli Wu, attended
`
`the November 2010 meeting in Jacksonville.
`
`105. Benoist Sebire and Chunli Wu are the named inventors on the ’556 Patent.
`
`
`
`- 16 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 17 of 27 PageID #: 1733
`
`106. On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, during the
`
`November 2010 meeting, Nokia Corporation and NSN presented for discussion “Power
`
`Headroom MAC CE format for CA” (R2-106199).
`
`107. On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, during the
`
`November 2010 meeting, significant changes related to TS 36.321 and related to the technology
`
`of the ‘557 Patent, such as “Power Headroom Reporting in Rel-10” (R2-106259), were discussed
`
`and approved during the meeting.
`
`108. On or about December 7-12, 2010, the TSG-RAN plenary group met for meeting
`
`#50 in Istanbul, Turkey in connection with the standards-setting process.
`
`109. On
`
`information and belief supported by publicly available documents,
`
`representatives of CCE’s predecessor NSN, including Jiang Chang, Antti Toskala, and Colin
`
`Willcock, attended the December 2010 meeting in Istanbul.
`
`110. On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, during the
`
`December 2010 meeting, significant changes related to TS 36.321 and related to the technology
`
`of the ’556 Patent were approved during the meeting.
`
`111. NSN waited until November 12, 2010 to declare the ’556 Patent as relevant to TS
`
`36.321.
`
`112. CCE’s predecessor NSN had a duty to disclose the ’556 Patent as essential to
`
`standards drafted and revised in WG2 and TSG RAN Plenary groups as a result of its
`
`membership in ETSI and 3GPP, including its obligations to disclose essential IPRs under the IPR
`
`policies of ETSI and 3GPP.
`
`113. On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, CCE’s
`
`predecessor NSN breached its duty to disclose the ’556 Patent by intentionally and knowingly
`
`
`
`- 17 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 18 of 27 PageID #: 1734
`
`delaying disclosure of the ’556 Patent as essential, or potentially essential, to the specifications
`
`being drafted and revised at WG2 and the TSG RAN Plenary groups.
`
`114. On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, the
`
`foregoing delay to disclose the ’556 Patent was made in bad faith with the intent to deceive and
`
`induce reliance.
`
`115. The foregoing actions and conduct have caused damage and continue to cause
`
`damage to T-Mobile and relevant third-parties.
`
`116. Accordingly, the ’556 Patent is unenforceable due to implied waiver.
`
`THIRTEENTH DEFENSE
`
`(UNENFORCEABILITY OF ’556 PATENT DUE TO EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL)
`
`117. T-Mobile incorporates by reference paragraphs 1-116 above.
`
`118. CCE’s predecessor NSN had a duty to disclose the ’556 Patent as essential to
`
`standards drafted and revised in WG2 and TSG RAN Plenary groups as a result of its
`
`membership in ETSI and 3GPP, including its obligations to disclose essential IPRs under the IPR
`
`policies of ETSI and 3GPP.
`
`119. On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, CCE’s
`
`predecessor NSN breached its duty to disclose the ’556 Patent by intentionally and knowingly
`
`delaying the disclosure of the ’556 Patent as essential, or potentially essential, to the
`
`specifications being drafted and revised at WG2 and the TSG RAN Plenary groups.
`
`120. On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, the
`
`foregoing delay to disclose the ’556 Patent was made in bad faith with the intent to deceive and
`
`induce reliance.
`
`
`
`- 18 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 19 of 27 PageID #: 1735
`
`121. On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, CCE’s
`
`predecessor NSN’s delay in disclosing the ’556 Patent led to the adoption and propagation of
`
`3GPP standards without consideration of the ’556 Patent.
`
`122. As a consequence of CCE’s predecessor NSN’s delay in disclosing the ’556
`
`Patent, ETSI members, 3GPP members, their successors, and customers throughout the supply
`
`chain, including T-Mobile and relevant third parties, thereafter designed, manufactured, and
`
`marketed products meant to comply with those 3G cellular standards, thereby reasonably and
`
`justifiably relying on CCE’s predecessor NSN’s promises to abide by ETSI and 3GPP IPR
`
`Policies, to their detriment.
`
`123. As a consequence of CCE’s predecessor NSN’s delay in disclosing the ’556
`
`Patent, ETSI members, 3GPP members, their successors, and customers throughout the supply
`
`chain, including T-Mobile and relevant third parties, thereafter designed, manufactured, and
`
`marketed products meant to comply with those 3G cellular standards, thereby reasonably
`
`inferred that NSN did not intend to enforce the ’556 Patent against potential infringers.
`
`124. The foregoing actions and conduct have caused damage and continue to cause
`
`damage to T-Mobile and relevant third-parties.
`
`125. Accordingly, the ’556 Patent is unenforceable due to equitable estoppel.
`
`FOURTEENTH DEFENSE
`
`(UNENFORCEABILITY OF ’966 PATENT DUE TO IMPLIED WAIVER)
`
`126. T-Mobile incorporates by reference paragraphs 1-125 above.
`
`127. CCE has alleged that certain products having wireless capability compliant with
`
`3GPP TS 25.213 and TS 36.300 infringe the ’966 Patent.
`
`128. CCE has represented that it is the owner or assignee of the ’966 Patent.
`
`
`
`- 19 -
`
`

`

`Case 6:14-cv-00982-KNM Document 155 Filed 11/13/15 Page 20 of 27 PageID #: 1736
`
`129. The ’966 Patent issued from Application No. 12/387,661 filed on May 5, 2009.
`
`130. The ’966 Patent claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/126,617, filed
`
`on May 5, 2008.
`
`131. On information and belief supported by publicly available documents, NSN is a
`
`predecessor-in-interest of CCE with respect to the ’966 Patent and its related applications.
`
`132. 3GPP is composed of specification groups responsible for drafting and amending
`
`technical specifications associated with the 3GPP.
`
`133. 3GPP specification group TSG RAN WG1 (“WG1”) was formed on or around
`
`January 1999. WG1 was responsible for the specification of the physical layer of the radio
`
`Interface for UE, UTRAN, Evolved UTRAN, and beyond; covering both FDD and TDD modes
`
`of the radio interface. In particular, WG1 was responsible for drafting 3GPP TS 36.213. CCE
`
`has alleged that certain products having w

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