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Lodsys - Apple Amends Its Proposed Answer and Counterclaim
Wednesday, July 27 2011 @ 08:18 AM EDT

Not a great deal of important news here. Apple has submitted an amended Proposed Answer and Counterclaim in Intervention [PDF] in its Motion to Intervene [PDF] in the Lodsys case. This was necessitated because Lodsys amended its complaint to add the new application developers.

There is nothing of great interest here other than the fact that Apple is going to continue to go toe-to-toe with Lodsys in this matter in order to shield its application developers.

****************

Apple's Amended Proposed Answer and Counterclaim in Intervention

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
MARSHALL DIVISION

LODSYS, LLC,
Plaintiff and Counter-Defendant,

ATARI INTERACTIVE, INC.;
COMBAY, INC.;
ELECTRONIC ARTS, INC.;
ICONFACTORY, INC.;
ILLUSION LABS AB;
MICHAEL G. KARR D/B/A SHOVELMATE;
QUICKOFFICE, INC.;
ROVIO MOBILE LTD.;
RICHARD SHINDERMAN;
SQUARE ENIX LTD.;
TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC.,
Defendants,

APPLE INC.
Intervenor and Counter-Claimant.

CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:1 l-cv-272-TJW

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

APPLE INC.'S [PROPOSED] ANSWER AND COUNTERCLAIM IN INTERVENTION

Introduction

  1. Plaintiff Lodsys, LLC ("Lodsys") asserts claims of infringement of United States Patent Nos. 7,620,565 (the '"565 patent") and 7,222,078 (the "'078 patent") (collectively the "patents in suit") by eleven software development companies (collectively "Developers" or "defendants") who create software applications ("Apps") that run on Apple products, such as the Mac, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and iPad2 (collectively the "Apple Products").
  2. Intervenor Apple Inc. ("Apple") is licensed to the patents in suit ("License") and expressly permitted, among other things, to use, sell, offer to sell or otherwise distribute to its Developers products and services that embody the technology covered by the patents in suit.
  3. Lodsys purchased the patents in suit subject to Apple's License.
  4. Apple's ability to use the technology embodied by the patents in suit in products and services offered to its customers is the essence of the value of Apple's License to the patents in suit.
  5. Apple offers products and services to the Developers to enable the Developers to offer their products to the end users of Apple Products. The products and services Apple provides to the Developers consist, among other things, of Apple application program interfaces ("APIs"), Apple software development kits ("SDKs"), and Apple's operating system ("iOS") through which the Developers' programs access Apple hardware and software that permit interaction between the Developers and Apple end users through the App Store. Apple also provides a comprehensive set of Apple hosting, marketing, sales, agency, and delivery services that allow Developers to provide Apps to millions of Apple end users.
  6. Apple's business with its Developers is extremely valuable to Apple. In return for providing these products and services to the Developers, the Developers pay to Apple a percentage of the revenue the Developers earn from selling their Apps to Apple end users. Fourteen billion Apps have been downloaded from the App Store, and the App Store offers more than 425,000 Apps in over twenty different categories, including games, business, news, health, and travel.
  7. Lodsys's claims of infringement are based on the Developers' use of the products and services provided to them by Apple.
  8. Because Apple is licensed to offer products and services that embody the patents in suit to its Developers, under the patent law doctrines of exhaustion and first sale, Developers are entitled to use, free from claims of infringement of the patents in suit, those products and services to which Apple is licensed.
  9. By commencing this suit against the Developers based on their use of products and services offered to them by Apple and by threatening other App developers, Lodsys has diminished the value to Apple of its License. There has been at least one report of an effort to organize a boycott of further use of Apple's licensed technology by App developers until this issue is resolved. Apple's interest is direct, very real, and of extraordinary importance to the continued success of Apple's business, and will be prejudiced absent intervention to assert the defenses set out below.
  10. Some of the Developers are individuals or very small companies and all possess far fewer resources than Apple. Moreover, none of the defendants in this action possess the detailed knowledge and expertise regarding Apple's licensed products and services necessary to respond to Lodsys's infringement allegations. In addition, the Developers may not have the same motivation as Apple to assert the defense based on Apple's License. Accordingly, the Developers may lack the ability, information, and motivation to protect Apple's rights under the License to offer products and services for use by Developers free from any claim of infringement of the patents in suit.
  11. Apple's interest in defending its rights in the License raises issues that are common to the main action.
  12. To protect the value of its License and the business that is permitted under the License, Apple intervenes in this lawsuit. Lodsys has no legal basis upon which to assert infringement claims based on Developers' use of licensed Apple technology.
  13. THE PARTIES

  14. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 1 of Lodsys's Amended Complaint for Patent Infringement (the "Amended Complaint"), and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  15. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 2 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  16. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 3 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  17. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 4 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  18. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 5 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  19. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 6 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  20. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 7 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  21. 82. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 8 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  22. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 9 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  23. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 10 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  24. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 11 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  25. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 12 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  26. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

  27. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 13 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein, except that Apple admits that this action purports to arise under the patent laws of the United States and that Lodsys purports to ground subject matter jurisdiction in 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).
  28. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 14 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  29. ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 7,620,565 B2

  30. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 15 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein, except that Apple admits that Lodsys purports that Exhibit A is a true and correct copy of U.S. Patent No. 7,620,565 (the '"565 Patent"), which issued on November 17, 2009 and is titled "Customer-Based Product Design Module."
  31. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 16 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  32. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 17 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  33. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 18 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  34. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 19 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  35. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 20 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  36. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 21 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  37. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 22 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  38. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 23 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  39. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 24 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  40. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 25 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  41. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 26 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  42. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 27 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  43. ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 7,222,078 B2

  44. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 28 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein, except that Apple admits that Lodsys purports that Exhibit B is a true and correct copy of U.S. Patent No. 7,222,078 (the '"078 Patent"), which issued on May 22, 2007 and is titled "Methods and Systems for Gathering Information from Units of a Commodity Across a Network."
  45. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 29 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  46. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 30 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  47. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 31 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  48. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 32 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  49. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 33 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  50. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 34 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  51. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 35 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  52. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 36 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  53. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 37 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  54. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 38 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  55. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 39 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  56. Apple lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 40 of the Amended Complaint, and on that basis denies each and every allegation contained therein.
  57. JURY DEMAND

  58. Apple denies that Lodsys is entitled to a jury except as permitted by law.
  59. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

  60. Apple denies that Lodsys is entitled to the relief requested in paragraphs (a)-(f).
  61. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE

    Apple, as a further and separate defense to the Amended Complaint and without assuming any burden it would not otherwise have, alleges the following affirmative defense:

    License/Exhaustion of Patent Rights and First Sale

  62. Apple realleges and incorporates herein by reference the matters set forth in paragraphs 1 -54 above.
  63. As set out above, Apple is licensed to the patents in suit under the License. The License expressly permits Apple to offer and otherwise make available to its Developers products and services that embody the inventions contained in the patents in suit. Plaintiffs infringement claims against the Developers are based substantially or entirely on the Developers' use of products and services that Apple is authorized to provide under the License and which Lodsys claims embody the patents in suit.
  64. Under the patent law doctrines of exhaustion and first sale, the Developers can use the products and services Apple provides to them free of claims of infringing the patents in suit. Therefore, Lodsys's claims against the Developers are barred by at least the doctrines of patent exhaustion and first sale.
  65. COUNTERCLAIM

    Without waiver of any of its rights, including the right to seek dismissal and/or transfer of this action, Apple, by and through its undersigned counsel, and by way of a counterclaim against Lodsys, alleges:

    Parties

  66. Apple is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of California and maintains its principal place of business at One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California 95014.
  67. Lodsys purports to be a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Texas that maintains its principal place of business in Marshall. Texas.
  68. Jurisdiction and Venue

  69. This counterclaim arises under the United States patent laws, 35 U.S.C. § 1, et seq., and seeks relief for which this court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C, §§ 1331, 1338, 1367, and/or 2201-2202.
  70. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391 because, among other reasons, Lodsys purports to reside in this district and further purports to conduct business in this district.
  71. This Court has general and specific personal jurisdiction over Lodsys because, among other reasons, Lodsys purports to reside in this district and further purports to conduct business in this district.
  72. First Counterclaim for Declaratory Relief

  73. Apple realleges and incorporates herein by reference the matters set forth in paragraphs 1-62 above.
  74. Lodsys has invoked federal patent law to control the post-sale use of Apple's licensed products and services. Absent a declaration and order as sought by Apple, Lodsys will continue wrongfully to assert patent claims that are subject to the License and therefore exhausted. An immediate, real, definite, and concrete dispute exists between Apple and Lodsys over whether the License and the doctrines of patent exhaustion and first sale preclude Lodsys's ability to sue and threaten Developers for using Apple products and services that allegedly embody the patents in suit.
  75. A declaration that Lodsys's claims against the Developers are barred by the doctrines of patent exhaustion and first sale will render moot many, if not all, existing claims and defenses in this action. Apple is authorized under the License to offer and otherwise make available to Developers products and services that embody the patents in suit. To the extent that these products and services do embody the patents in suit, the Developers are permitted to use them free from suit by Lodsys under the doctrines of patent exhaustion and first sale.
  76. Therefore, Apple is entitled to a declaration that Lodsys's claims against the Developers are barred by the doctrines of patent exhaustion and first sale.
  77. JURY DEMAND

  78. Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Apple respectfully requests a trial by jury on all issues to which it is entitled to a jury trial by law.
  79. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

    WHEREFORE, Apple respectfully prays that (i) Lodsys take nothing against any defendant by way of the Amended Complaint, (ii) that Lodsys's Amended Complaint be dismissed with prejudice, (iii) that the Court issue an order declaring that Lodsys's claims against the Developers are barred by the doctrines of patent exhaustion and first sale, and (iv) that the Court award Apple such other and further relief as it deems proper.

    Dated: July 26, 2011

    Respectfully submitted,
    By /s/Melissa Richards Smith
    Melissa Richards Smith
    Texas State Bar No. 24001351
    GILLAM & SMITH, L.L.P
    303 South Washington Avenue
    Marshall, Texas 75670
    Telephone: (903) 934-8450
    Facsimile: (903) 934-9257
    E-mail: melissa@gillamsmithlaw.com

    GEORGE M. NEWCOMBE
    gnewcombe@stblaw.com
    JONATHAN C. SANDERS
    j sanders@stblaw.com
    SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP
    2550 Hanover Street
    Palo Alto, California 94304
    Telephone: (650) 251-5000
    Facsimile: (650) 251-5002

    Attorneys for Intervener

    APPLE INC.


  


Lodsys - Apple Amends Its Proposed Answer and Counterclaim | 22 comments | Create New Account
Comments belong to whoever posts them. Please notify us of inappropriate comments.
Corrections
Authored by: stegu on Wednesday, July 27 2011 @ 10:03 AM EDT
Please place the correction in the title, if possible:
"wrong -> right", or something to that effect.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Off Topic
Authored by: stegu on Wednesday, July 27 2011 @ 10:05 AM EDT
For posts off topic, but of assumed general interest
to Groklaw readers.

[ Reply to This | # ]

News Picks
Authored by: stegu on Wednesday, July 27 2011 @ 10:07 AM EDT
Discuss articles in the "news picks" column here.
Please include the news pick you are commenting
as a clicky link, as news picks tend to scroll
off the main page at a much higher pace than regular
articles.

[ Reply to This | # ]

COMES
Authored by: stegu on Wednesday, July 27 2011 @ 10:09 AM EDT
For those hard working heroes who take on the task
of transcribing the COMES documents.
Post HTML code as text, to facilitate cut-n-pasting.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Things that make you go 'Hmmm...'
Authored by: maroberts on Wednesday, July 27 2011 @ 02:28 PM EDT
53. Apple denies that Lodsys is entitled to a jury except as permitted by law.
....
67. Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
Apple respectfully requests a trial by jury on all issues to which it is
entitled to a jury trial by law.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Lodsys - Apple Amends Its Proposed Answer and Counterclaim
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, July 28 2011 @ 06:29 AM EDT
Don't know if this is funny or sad... but according to the newspick Lodsys
doesn't seem to have a copy of the patent license agreement with Apple! So they
cannot possibly know whether a developer who does things covered by their
patents is allowed to do so by Apple's license or not. (And worth repeating
that
Apple says _they_ are doing all the things covered by Lodsys' patents, and
not
the app developers).

[ Reply to This | # ]

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