Court Dismisses Case against Google over Sales Force Automation System

Case Filed: Aug 18, 2014

Case Closed: Oct 29, 2014

Court: District Court of Texas

Judge: K. Nicole Mitchell

Case Summary:

SFA Systems LLC (SFA), a Texas based company filed a case against Google Inc. (Google), a California based Delaware corporation alleging that the latter has infringed two of their US patents.

Patents in suit:

The patents at issue were: US6067525 entitled ‘Integrated computerized sales force automation system,’ and US7941341 entitled ‘Sales Force Automation System and Method’ issued on May 23, 2000 and May 10, 2011, respectively. The ‘525 patent expires^* by Oct 30, 2015 and the ‘341 patent expires^* by May 8, 2020. SFA Systems is the current assignee⁺ of the patents (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database). The ‘525 and ‘341 patents relate to an automated sales system which facilitates the sale of an item or service by intelligently integrating into a single system, tools used by a salesperson in the sales process. 

As in Complaint:

SFA alleged that Google has directly infringed the ‘525 and ‘341 patents without permission or authority from it. SFA also alleged that Google is involved in various business activities such as making, using, selling, importing, and offering to sell computer implemented sales systems including methods for facilitating processes relating to the sale and provision methods of products and services.

Plaintiff also added that Google’s foregoing acts of infringement were willful and deliberate. Hence SFA is entitled to recovery of past damages, at a minimum, a reasonable royalty along with interests and costs.

Case Conclusion:

Joint stipulation of dismissal was filed by the parties’ and accordingly court ordered claims to be dismissed with prejudice with each party bearing its own costs and expenses, thereby ending the litigation.

MaxVal had discussed this case earlier on Aug 20^th 2014 when it was filed. The below mentioned blog address portrays the history of the case.

http://maxval-ip.blogspot.in/2014/08/sfa-systems-sues-google-over-sales.html

See 6:14-CV-00705 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

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* Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

+ MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.

Lakshmi Arunachalam Withdraws IP Suit against Home Depot

Case Filed: Aug 12, 2013

Case Closed: Dec 23, 2013

Court: Texas Eastern District Court

Judge: Rodney Gilstrap

Case Summary:

Lakshmi Arunachalam filed an infringement suit against Home Depot accusing them of infringing their patented technology relating to a method and apparatus for providing real-time, two-way transactional capabilities on the web. The patent involved in the suit was: US8346894 entitled ‘real-time web transactions from web applications’, issued on Jan 01, 2013 and expiring[i] by Aug 05, 2016. Lakshmi is the owner of the ‘894 patent with all substantive rights in and to that patent.

According to the complaint, the ’894 patent discloses the technology underlying web commerce and real-time web based transactions that are embodied in defendant’s accused products and services. Defendant provides real-time web transactions from web applications that are accessible through its website http://www.homedepot.com/, which was believed to be the accused products and services.

Plaintiff filed voluntary dismissal, pursuant to which the Court ordered that all claims and counterclaims to be dismissed without prejudice.  It was further ordered that attorneys’ fees, expense and costs be incurred by the parties themselves.

See 2:13-cv-00613 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

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[i] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

Court Enters Judgment Favoring Microsoft over Allvoice Developments

Case Filed: Dec 20, 2010

Case Closed: Dec 23, 2013

Court: Washington Western District Court

Judge: Richard A Jones

Case Summary:

Allvoice Developments US brought a complaint against Microsoft accusing of infringing their U.S. patent US5799273 involving speech recognition interface. The patent entitled ‘Automated proofreading using interface linking recognized words to their audio data while text is being changed’ was issued on Aug 25, 1998 and expiring[i] by Sep 24, 2016. The patent is currently assigned[ii] to Allvoice (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database).

According to the Court documents, the ‘273 patent describes systems where a computer translates the spoken words of an end user into text. The text can then be copied into a word processing or other computer application.

The complaint alleged that Microsoft has made, used, offered for sale and sold the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems that include software referred as the Text Services Framework (TSF). The operating systems that include TSF and its related components (the Infringing Products) are the inventions claimed in the ‘273 patent that is employed without authorization.

The Court’s claims construction found that the asserted claims of Allvoice’s ’273 patent are quite specific and require a particular implementation of speech-recognition interface that Microsoft’s accused products do not use. Later, Microsoft filed a summary judgment and the Court granted Microsoft’s motion for summary judgment of non-infringement, thereby entering Judgment in favor of defendant and against plaintiff.

See 2:10-cv-02102 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

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[i] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

[ii] MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.

Apple, e.Digital Resolve Patent Dispute over Data Storage Device

Case Filed: Apr 01, 2013

Case Closed: Dec 19, 2013

Court: California Southern District Court

Judge: Dana M. Sabraw

Case Summary:

e.Digital, a San Diego based company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The company alleged that most of Apple's products infringe upon three of their patents regarding Flash-R technologies used in smartphones, tablets and other computers.

The patents in question were:

•         US5491774 entitled Handheld record and playback device with flash memory issued on  Feb 1996 and expiring* by Apr 19, 2014
•         US5742737 entitled Method for recording voice messages on flash memory in a hand held recorder issued on Apr 21, 1998 and expiring* by Apr 19, 2014
•         US5842170 entitled Method for editing in hand held recorder issued on Nov 24, 1998 and expiring* by Nov 14, 2014

The patents are currently assigned+ to e.Digital (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database). The complaint alleged that Apple manufactures products including iPhone, iPad (excluding the first generation), iPod Touch (excluding the first generation), MacBook Pro and MacBook Air series of computers that infringe on their patents covering the use of flash memory technologies.

In Sep 30, e.Digital filed joint motion for entry of stipulated partial judgment after which Court entered stipulated partial judgment of non-infringement  in favor of Apple on e.Digital's claim for infringement of independent claims 33 and 34 and dependent claims 2, 10, 15 and 23 of the '774 patent.

Later, parties filed joint motion for voluntary dismissal and the Court ordered all claims against Apple be dismissed with prejudice and all counterclaims against e.Digital be dismissed without prejudice. It was further ordered all attorneys' fees, costs and expenses to be borne by each party.

See 3:13-cv-00785 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

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* Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents. 

+ MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.

Microsoft, Mediastream Reach Settlement in Litigation

Case Filed: Jun 07, 2011

Case Closed: Dec 17, 2013

Court: California Northern District Court

Judge: Richard Seeborg

Case Summary:

A patent infringement suit was filed by Mediastream against Microsoft alleging the unauthorized use of two U.S patents relating to a technology for recording video onto a computer disk.  The patents involved in suit were: US7009655 and US7283172 both entitled ‘Method and system for direct recording of video information onto a disk medium and USPTO granted them in Mar 07, 2006 and Oct 16, 2007, respectively. The patents expire[i] by Jul 23, 2022 and are currently assigned[ii] to Mediastream (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database).

The complaint alleged that Microsoft is engaged in manufacturing variety of electronic products and software applications covered by the ‘655 and ‘172 patents and claims to be a willful act of infringement.

It appears that the parties agreed to settle the case and joint stipulation of dismissal was filed. Upon consideration, the Judge signed off on the dismissal with prejudice of all claims brought by MedioStream against Microsoft in the action. Details on the settlement were not disclosed.

Mediastream also sued Acer, Apple, Sony, Dell, Gateway, Asus and few others and the cases were consolidated on the request of Mediastream. All the claims against the consol defendants were dismissed with prejudice.

See 3:11-cv-02525 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

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[i] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

[ii] MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.

Callertone Settles Suit against Sprint and Others over Ringback Tone Patents

Case Filed: Oct 28, 2011

Case Closed: Dec 16, 2013

Court: Delaware District Court

Judge: Leonard P. Stark

Case Summary:

Callertone Innovations filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Sprint accusing that their two patents covering ring-tone advertising were infringed. Callertone had also filed a dozen other lawsuits targeting other cell phone service providers such as T-Mobile, Verizon, At&T, Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile etc. from Oct to Nov 2011. The US patents in question were: 7852995 and 7860225 both entitled “Method and apparatus for selectively providing messages in telecommunications systems” issued on Dec 14, 2010 and Dec 28, 2010 respectively. The patents expire[i] by Jun 01, 2020 and are currently assigned[ii] to Callertone Innovations (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database).

The complaint vaguely claimed that Sprint Nextel uses “methods and instrumentalities that embody the inventions,” in its products and services and cites one specific example of infringement—the use of “ringback tones.” It is a cell ringing tone selected by the cell phone user to set music or even personalized recorded sound to be heard when people call.

Separate cases filed against Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile were consolidated and the proceedings moved together. The parties agreed to settle the case and filed a joint status report announcing to Court that they have entered into a written settlement agreement and are in the process of carrying out the terms of settlement. Later, the parties filed a joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice that was granted by the Court. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Each party will bear its own costs and fees.

All the above filed cases by Callertone Innovations have been closed.

See 1:11-cv-01039 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

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[i] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

[ii] MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.

LG, Cellport End Patent Litigation

Case Filed: Jan 24, 2013

Case Closed: Dec 09, 2013

Court: Colorado District Court

Judge: R. Brooke Jackson

Case Summary:

Cellport filed a complaint against LG for violating their patents relating to mobile communications. The patent involved in this suit is: US6122514 entitled ‘Communications channel selection’, issued on Sep 19, 2000 and expiring[*] by Jan 03, 2017. CellPort is the current assignee[†] of the patent (Source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database). CellPort develops and licenses wireless communication architectures and connectivity solutions that connect wireless phones to home, office, hand-held and automotive environments worldwide.

The patent in suit relates to communicating data over one or more selected network channels, particularly where such a communication involves a mobile unit. The complaint alleged that the defendant infringes the patent by using a method of sending videos and/or pictures in conjunction with the data connection and/or file transmission management features in the accused products, which directly infringes the ‘514 patent. Cellport said LG have had actual knowledge of the ‘514 patent and willfully ignored the patent.

The suit cites LG Optimus 3D, LG Thrill 4G (at least the P-925 model) and other cell phones as the infringing products.

The case is now concluded as the parties agreed to settle the dispute. On Dec 06, Cellport filed stipulation of dismissal pursuant to which the Court ordered all the claims and counterclaims in this action dismissed with prejudice with each party bearing its own attorneys’ fees and costs.

See 1:13-cv-00175 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

* Expected expiration date using Patent Term Estimator, use our free tool or download our free Android app on Google Play Store.

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[*] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator  is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

[†] MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.

Cisco, Penovia Put Litigation to Rest

Case Filed: Sep 27, 2013

Case Closed: Dec 06, 2013

Court: Texas Eastern District Court

Judge: Rodney Gilstrap

Case Summary:

Patent holding company Penovia filed an infringement suit against Cisco accusing them of infringing the company’s patented technology for office machine monitoring device. The patent in question is US5822221 issued on Oct 13, 1998 and expiring[i] by Dec 04, 2016. The document stated that the ‘221 patent expired on or about October 13, 2010, because its owner, the inventor Frank S. Groenteman, was not able to pay the maintenance fee to USPTO and later Penovia LLC acquired the patent. Penovia is the current assignee[ii] of the ‘221 patent (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database).

The complaint alleged that Cisco infringed the patent, which covers a device that can wirelessly transmit messages to and receive communications from office machines including computers, printers and copiers. Defendant is alleged to have directly infringed at least claim 1 of the ‘221 patent by making, using, importing, selling and/or offering for sale office machine monitoring devices, including wireless routers and/or wireless gateways utilizing a device for monitoring certain machine statuses wirelessly, the complaint said. The accused products include Linksys WRT100 RangePlus Wireless Router products.

The parties announced to Court that they have settled the case among themselves, after which agreed motion for dismissal was filed by Penovia. Upon consideration, the Court granted the motion and ordered all claims asserted against Cisco be dismissed with prejudice, thereby closing the case. Each party will bear their own costs and expenses. Further details of the settlement were not disclosed.

See 2:13-cv-00774 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

* Expected expiration date using Patent Term Estimator, use our free tool or download our free Android app on Google Play Store. 

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[i] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents

[ii] MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.

HP and Others Settle Suit with NovelPoint over Location Services

Case Filed: Nov 12, 2012

Case Closed: Dec 05, 2013

Court: Texas Eastern District Court

Judge: Rodney Gilstrap

Case Summary:

NovelPoint Security filed a complaint accusing HP of infringing its US patent US6442485 entitled ‘Method and apparatus for an automatic vehicle location, collision notification, and synthetic voice’, which was legally issued on Aug 27, 2002 and expiring[i] by Jun 12, 2020. The patent is currently assigned[ii] to NovelPoint Security (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database). The patent relates to a controller with a memory, a Global Positioning System and means for wireless communication connectively disposed within a vehicle.

The Court documents said, defendant infringed the claims of patent-in-suit by making use of the products and/or methods encompassed by claims of the ‘485 patent and cites Veer 4G smartphone as an example of infringing product/method.

The case initially proceeded with HP and later defendants including Acer, Pantech Wireless, Lenovo, Dell, Huawei Device, Coolpad Technologies and Personal Communications Devices were consolidated to this case.

It seems that all the parties settled the case with NovelPoint and filed a joint motion for dismissal. Upon consideration, the Court ordered all claims be dismissed with prejudice. No information on the terms of settlement is available. Each party will bear their own costs and expenses.

So far, NovelPoint has filed nearly 46 cases asserting the same patent against companies such as Sony, Honda, BMW, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz USA, etc.

See 2:12-cv-00716 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

Patent Term Estimator, use our free tool or download our free Android app on Google Play Store.

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[i] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

[ii] MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.

Lawsuit against Apple’s Find my iPhone Ends

Case Filed: Aug 27, 2013

Case Closed: Dec 04, 2013

Court: Texas Eastern District Court

Judge: Rodney Gilstrap

Case Summary:

Apple was charged by Remote Locator Systems for infringing a patent US5548637 entitled ‘Method and apparatus for locating personnel and objects in response to telephone inquiries,’ which was originally issued to Alan C. Heller, Brian M. Evins and Robert G. Karp on Aug 20, 1996 and expired[i] on Sep 09, 2013. Remote Locate Systems was the last assignee[ii] of the patent (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database).

The ‘637 patent in general relates to a method and apparatus for locating personnel and objects in response to telephone inquiries. The complaint said, Apple’s iOS features including Find My Friends and Find My iPhone applications infringe the claims’ of the ‘637 patent. The features allow a user to easily locate family and friends and their iOS devices.

The case is concluded as the parties filed motion for dismissal, in consideration of which, Court ordered all claims asserted against Apple dismissed with prejudice.  Attorneys’ fees and costs will be borne by the party that incurred them.

See 2:13-cv-00678 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

Patent Term Estimator, use our free tool or download our free Android app on Google Play Store.

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[i] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

[ii]  MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.

NVIDIA, Fuzzysharp Resolves Patent Dispute over 3D Patents

Case Filed: Dec 17, 2012

Case Closed:  Dec 02, 2013

Court: California Northern District Court

Judge: Jon S. Tigar

Case Summary:

A patent infringement suit was filed by Fuzzysharp against NVIDIA alleging that they had unauthorizedly used their patents covering computer graphics. The patents in suit are: US6172679 and US6618047 both entitled ‘Visibility calculations for 3D computer graphics’ issued on Jan 09, 2001 and expired[i] on Jun 28, 2011. The patents were last assigned[ii] to Fuzzysharp (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database).

The patented technology describes a method for efficient determination of visible and/or invisible surfaces to thereby preferably permit improved hidden surface removal in 3D systems. The complaint does not specify any products, but however, points out that the defendant markets graphic processors units (GPU) capable of performing occlusion culling during the computer graphics rendering process that infringes the methods claimed in ‘679 and ‘047 patents and that the Nvidia’s actions have been willful.

Fuzzysharp filed an amended complaint on May 14, 2013 and the Court dismissed Fuzzysharp’s claims of the ’047 patent with prejudice after considering NVIDIA’s motion to dismiss (in part) the amended complaint leaving the claims of ‘679 patent. Later, the parties filed a stipulated motion to dismiss Fuzzysharp’s remaining claim in this case. Upon consideration, the Court granted the order, thereby ending the patent litigation. 

See 3:12-cv-06375 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

Patent Term Estimator, use our free tool or download our free Android app on Google Play Store. 

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[i] Expected expiration date. Patent Term Estimator is a free web-based tool that automatically calculates patent

terms and expiration dates for U.S. utility patents.

[ii] MaxVal offers Patent Assignment Alert service where subscribers receive email alerts when assignments relating to target applications, patents or entities of interest are recorded.