Canon Enter Settlement with Yama Capital over Noise Reduction Technique

Case Filed: Sep 21, 2012

Case Closed: Jan 17, 2014

Court: New York Southern District Court

Judge: Katherine Polk Failla

Case Summary:

Delaware-based, Yama Capital filed a complaint against Canon claiming unauthorized use of their intellectual property. The patent involved in this suit is US6069982 entitled ‘Estimation of frequency dependence and grey-level dependence of noise in an image’, issued on May 30, 2000 and expiring[i] by Dec 23, 2017. Marood International is the current assignee[ii] (Source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database) and as per the complaint, Yama is the owner of the patent.

The '982 patent claims technology to update default data and parameters relating to spatial noise characteristics in a digital image acquisition system.

According to the complaint, Canon's website boasts that its digital cameras include noise reduction that produces clear images particularly when shooting in low light at high ISO speeds and advertises its infringing noise-reduction technology as a product differentiator. The accused digital cameras manufactured and sold by Canon include noise reduction technology that infringe one or more claims of the ‘932 patent.

In its filing, Yama stated that Canon had knowledge of the ‘982 patent and was invited to enter licensing negotiations in Jun 2012 and Canon responded that the patent has been forwarded to Canon headquarters for further investigation. However, there was no response from Canon thereafter.

The parties reported to the Court on Jan 17, 2014 that they have reached a settlement in this case. Accordingly, the Court ordered the case to be conditionally discontinued without prejudice and without imposing costs on any parties. It also ordered that the parties may submit to the Court their Stipulation of Settlement and Dismissal within 30 days.

See 1:12-cv-07159 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.

Canon, Canatelo End IP Suit over Security Camera

Court: Puerto Rico District Court

Judge: Aida M. Delgado-Colon

Case Summary:

Canatelo filed a lawsuit against Canon on Feb 2013 asserting the claims covered in the US patents 7310111 and 6476858, both entitled ‘Video monitoring and security system’ were infringed. The patents were issued on Nov 05, 2002 and Dec 18, 2007 and expire[i] by Aug 12 2019. The patents are currently assigned[ii] to Canatelo (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database).

The '111 patent covers a process in which a video camera detects motion, and then turns the video signal frames into JPEG photo format once motion is detected. The '858 patent claims the use of a computer inside a video camera to send out a notification email with the captured image(s). The complaint stated that the infringing product, CANON VB - H710F Full HD Fixed IP Security Camera performs a method of operating a video surveillance system as claimed in the above patents. Canatelo requested Court to order judgment in favor, permanent enjoinment from further infringement and money damages. 

Canatelo subsequently filed a motion to dismiss the case, pursuant to which the Court rendered its final verdict on Aug 15^th, ordering dismissal with prejudice, without imposition of costs and attorneys’ fees on the parties

Suits were also filed against other video surveillance manufacturers Panasonic, LG, Pelco, Bosch, Samsung and Logitech, which are pending.

See 3:13-cv-01088 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

Are you looking for a tool to calculate patent terms? Try Patent Term Estimator, 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.

NPE withdraws Suit against Canon over Data Storage Patent

Court: Delaware District Court

Judge: Sue L. Robinson

Case Summary:

Data Speed Technology sued Canon on Jun 10, 2013, stating that their patent US5867686 was infringed. The patent entitled, ‘High speed real-time information storage system’ was issued on Feb 02, 1999 and expires[i] by Nov 09, 2013. The patent was originally issued to Kenneth Conner and currently assigned[ii] to Data Speed Technology (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database). 

The ‘686 patent relates to an information storage system enabling high speed data transfer to and from a shared mass storage device by multiple computers without causing conflicts. Plaintiff alleged that defendant’s storage products and services uses a method of providing memory access to a mass storage device as claimed in the ‘686 patent. The accused products and services included a program entitled Canon imageWARE. Plaintiff sought judgment in favor, permanent injunction and money damages associated with attorneys’ fees.

It appears that the parties have settled the case, as the patent holding company Data Speed Technology filed voluntary dismissal. Upon consideration of the notice filed, the case is declared ‘closed’ on Jul 30, 2013. 

Data Speed Technology also lodged separate suits against Cisco, HP, EMC, IBM, Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Abode asserting the same patent, which are pending.  See case      1:13-cv-01052 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts. 

Are you looking for a tool to calculate patent terms? Try Patent Term Estimator, 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.

Canon, GeoTag End Patent Dispute

Court: Texas Eastern District Court

Judge: Rodney Gilstrap

Case Summary

GeoTag sued Canon on Jan 26, 2012 stating that their patent US5930474 was infringed. The patent entitled Internet organizer for accessing geographically and topically based information, was issued on Jul 27, 1999 and expires[i] by Jan 31, 2016. The patent was originally assigned to Z Land (owned by GeaoTag), since then the patent have moved through many hands and currently assigned[ii] to GeoTag (source: MaxVal’s Assignment Database).

The ‘474 patent relates to network interfaces, which acts to organize information available on the internet based upon geographical distribution. Plaintiff alleged that search functions on the ‘Where To Buy’ and ‘Job Opportunities’ pages on Canon’s website infringe the ‘474 patent. Plaintiff sought judgment in favor, permanent injunction and money damages associated with attorneys’ fees.

On Jun 27, 2013, the case was concluded as the parties have filed a joint motion to dismiss the case. Pursuant to the request made by the parties, the Court ordered that all claims and counterclaims be dismissed with prejudice and no charges imposed on any parties. 

Since 2010, GeoTag has filed many suits against Yellowpages, AT&T, IBM, Oracle, Best Buy, Target and others. The suits all claim that the search systems on those websites infringe GeoTag’s patent.

See case 2:12-cv-00043 for more details. To get alerts on cases filed/closed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

Are you looking for a tool to calculate patent terms? Try Patent Term Estimator, 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.

Summary of Lawsuits Filed by IV

Common facts about the cases

Plaintiff: Intellectual Ventures I, LLC and Intellectual Ventures II, LLC

Date Filed: Mar 25, 2013

Court: Delaware District Court

Case Type: Patent Infringement 

        i.            Case Number: 1:13-cv-00473

Defendants: Canon, Canon U.S.A. and Canon Solutions America

Patents-in-suit:

Patent Numbers Current Assignee[i]	Issue Date	Expiration Date[ii]	Title
US6977944 IV I	Dec 20, 2005	Nov 15, 2022	Transmission protection for communications networks having stations operating with different modulation formats
US5444728 IV I	Aug 22, 1995	Dec 23, 2013	Laser driver circuit
US6130761 IV I	Oct 10, 2000	Dec 23, 2013	Image scanning method
US6435686 IV II	Aug 20, 2002	Dec 23, 2013	Light conducting plate for a back lighting device and back lighting device
RE43086 IV I	Jan 10, 2012	Dec 23, 2013	Method and user interface for performing a scan operation for a scanner coupled to a computer system
US5712870 IV I	Jan 27, 1998	Dec 23, 2013	Packet header generation and detection circuitry
US6754195 IV I	Jun 22, 2004	Dec 23, 2013	Wireless communication system configured to communicate using a mixed waveform configuration
US6650432 IV I	Nov 18, 2003	Aug 18, 2019	Method and user interface for performing an automatic scan operation for a scanner coupled to a computer system
US7315406 IV I	Jan 01, 2008	Jun 27, 2022	Scanning circuit structure

Table information sourced from MaxVal’s Assignment Database. 

As in complaint: Plaintiff alleges that defendant manufactures printers, multifunction devices, and copiers including, Cannon image RUNNER ADVANCE, Canon image CLASS, Canon PIXMA and Canon CanoScan series that is claimed in the above said patents. 

      ii.            Case Number: 1:13-cv-00474

Defendants: Ricoh Company, Ricoh Americas Corporation and Ricoh Electronics

Patents-in-suit: The case includes all the patents as the above except for US6650432 and US7315406. 

As in complaint: Plaintiff alleges that defendant manufactures printers, multifunction devices, and copiers including, Ricoh Aficio MP171, Ricoh Aficio MP201SPF, Ricoh Aficio MP 5000B, Ricoh Aficio SP 1200SF and Ricoh Aficio SG 3110DNw that is claimed in the above said patents. (This is substantially similar to the above case).

Other cases filed:

Recently IV filed cases against Toshiba (1:13-cv-00453) and Symantec (1:13-cv-00440). If you are interested in knowing more about the cases filed, please contact us. To get alerts on cases filed, subscribe to our Litigation Alerts.

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

[ii] 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.