D&M Holdings, Inc., et al. v. Sonos, Inc.

Filing 300

AMENDED MEMORANDUM OPINION regarding Motion for Summary Judgment of Invalidity of U.S. Patent No. 7,995,899 (D.I. 186 ). Signed by Judge Richard G. Andrews on 2/20/2018. (nms)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

D&M HOLDINGS INC. d/b/a THE
D+M GROUP, D&M HOLDINGS U.S.
INC.,
Plaintiffs,
Civil Action No. 16-141-RGA

v.
SONOS, INC.,
Defendant.

AMENDED MEMORANDUM OPINION

Jack B. Blumenfeld, Michael J. Flynn, MORRIS, NICHOLS, ARSHT & TUNNELL LLP,
Wilmington, DE; John M. Jackson, Matthew C. Acosta, Blake T. Dietrich, Christopher J. Rourk,
Robert P. Latham, JACKSON WALKER L.L.P., Dallas, TX, David Folsom, JACKSON
WALKER L.L.P., Texarkana, TX; WasifQureshi (argued), JACKSON WALKER L.L.P.,
Houston, TX.
Attorneys for Plaintiffs.
Philip A. Rovner, Jonathan A. Choa, POTTER ANDERSON & CORROON LLP, Wilmington,
DE; George I. Lee, Sean M. Sullivan, Rory P. Shea, J. Dan Smith, Michael P. Boyea, Cole B.
Richter (argued), Jae Y. Park, LEE SULLIVAN SHEA & SMITH LLP, Chicago, IL.
Attorneys for Defendant.

February~, 2018

Presently before the Court is Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment oflnvalidity of
U.S. Patent No. 7,995,899 (D.1. 186) and related briefing (D.I. 190, 222, 243). The Court held
oral argument on all motions for summary judgment (D.I. 177, 186, 191, 193) on January 30,
2018. (D.I. 278) ("Tr."). For the reasons that follow, the Court will grant Defendant's Motion
for Summary Judgment oflnvalidity of U.S. Patent No. 7,995,899. (D.I. 186).

I.

BACKGROUND
Plaintiffs filed a patent infringement action on March 7, 2016 against Defendant, alleging

infringement of several patents, including U.S. Patent Nos. 7,734,850 ("the '850 patent"),
7,995,899 ("the '899 patent"), and 7,987,294 ("the '294 patent"). (D.I. 1). Plaintiffs filed an
amended complaint on May 1, 2017. (D .I. 65).
Plaintiffs allege infringement of claims 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 26 of the '899 patent. (D.I. 190
at 2; D.I. 222 at 1). Claim 5, 7, 8, and 10 depend from claim 1. They read as follows:
1. A method of playing back a recorded signal, comprising:
obtaining a recording identifier corresponding to the recorded signal;
comparing the recording identifier with previously stored identifiers in a playback
preference database; and
reproducing the recorded signal using previously stored preferences if the
recording identifier is found in the playback preference database and using default
preferences if the recording identifier is not found in the playback preference
database.
2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
obtaining playback preferences during said reproducing; and
storing the playback preferences in the playback preference database.

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3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the playback preferences include audio
control settings.
4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the audio control settings include
programmable effects.
5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising obtaining the recorded signal
from a compact disc.
6. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising obtaining the recorded signal
from a file of digitally encoded audio on a computer readable medium.
7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the file is digitally encoded using ISOMPEG Audio Layer-3.
8. A method as recited in claim 6,
wherein the computer readable medium is a computer mass storage device, and
wherein said method further comprises:
detecting changes in software available to playback the recorded signal, and
automatically downloading the software to playback the recorded signal.
10. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the audio control settings include at least
one of echo, reverberation, loudness, speed and direction.
('899 patent, claims 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 26). Claim 26 depends from independent claim 19 and
dependent claims 20-22 and 24. Plaintiffs' arguments for the patentability of claim 26 are the
same as their arguments for the patentability of claims 5, 7, and 10. (D.1. 222 at 12).

II.

LEGALSTANDARD
Section 101 of the Patent Act defines patent-eligible subject matter. It provides:

"Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or
composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor,
subject to the conditions and requirements of this title." 35 U.S.C. § 101. The Supreme Court
has recognized an implicit exception for three categories of subject matter not eligible for

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patentability-laws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas. Alice Corp. Pty. v. CLS
Bank Int'!, 134 S. Ct. 2347, 2354 (2014). The purpose of these carve outs is to protect the "basic

tools of scientific and technological work." Mayo Collaborative Servs. v. Prometheus Labs.,
Inc., 566 U.S. 66, 71 (2012). "[A] process is not unpatentable simply because it contains a law

of nature or a mathematical algorithm," as "an application of a law of nature or mathematical
formula to a known structure or process may well be deserving of patent protection." Id.
(emphasis omitted). In order "to transform an unpatentable law of nature into a patent-eligible
application of such a law, one must do more than simply state the law of nature while adding the
words 'apply it."' Id. at 72 (emphasis omitted).
The Supreme Court recently reaffirmed the framework laid out in Mayo "for
distinguishing patents that claim laws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas from
those that claim patent-eligible applications of those concepts." Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2355. First,
the court must determine whether the claims are drawn to a patent-ineligible concept. Id. If the
answer is yes, the court must look to "the elements of the claim both individually and 'as an
ordered combination"' to see ifthere is an "'inventive concept'-i.e., an element or combination
of elements that is 'sufficient to ensure that the patent in practice amounts to significantly more
than a patent upon the [ineligible concept] itself.'" Id. (alteration in original). "A claim that
recites an abstract idea must include 'additional features' to ensure 'that the [claim] is more than
a drafting effort designed to monopolize the [abstract idea].'" Id. at 2357 (alterations in original)
(quoting Mayo, 566 U.S. at 77). "[S]imply appending conventional steps, specified at a high
level of generality, to ... abstract ideas cannot make those ... ideas patentable." Mayo, 566
U.S. at 82. Further, "the prohibition against patenting abstract ideas cannot be circumvented by
attempting to limit the use of [the idea] to a particular technological environment." Alice, 134 S.

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Ct. at 2358 (quoting Bilski v. Kappas, 561 U.S. 593, 610-11 (2010)). Thus, "the mere recitation
of a generic computer cannot transform a patent-ineligible abstract idea into a patent-eligible
invention." Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2358. For this second step, the machine-or-transformation test
can be a "useful clue," although it is not determinative. Ultramercial, Inc. v. Hutu, LLC, 772
F.3d 709, 716 (Fed. Cir. 2014), cert. denied, 135 S. Ct. 2907 (2015).
"The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine
dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter oflaw." Fed.
R. Civ. P. 56(a). The moving party has the initial burden of proving the absence of a genuinely
disputed material fact relative to the claims in question. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317,
330 (1986). Material facts are those "that could affect the outcome" of the proceeding, and "a
dispute about a material fact is 'genuine' ifthe evidence is sufficient to permit a reasonable jury
to return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Lamont v. New Jersey, 637 F.3d 177, 181 (3d Cir.
2011) (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)). When determining
whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the court must view the evidence in the light most
favorable to the non-moving party and draw all reasonable inferences in that party's favor. Scott

v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380 (2007); Wishkin v. Potter, 476 F.3d 180, 184 (3d Cir. 2007). "The
question of whether a claim element or combination of elements is well-understood, routine and
conventional to a skilled artisan in the relevant field," which underlies the second step of the
Mayo/Alice inquiry, "is a question of fact. Any fact, such as this one, that is pertinent to the
invalidity conclusion must be proven by clear and convincing evidence." Berkheimer v. HP Inc.,
2018 WL 774096, at *5 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 8, 2018). Thus, "[w]hether (the claims] perform wellunderstood, routine and conventional activities to a skilled artisan [can be] a genuine issue of
material fact .... " Id., at *7.

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The Federal Circuit has held that the district court is not required to individually address
claims not asserted or identified by the non-moving party, so long as the court identifies a
representative claim and "all the claims are substantially similar and linked to the same abstract
idea." Content Extraction & Transmission LLC v. Wells Fargo Bank, Nat. Ass 'n, 776 F.3d 1343,
1348 (Fed. Cir. 2014).

III.

DISCUSSION
Plaintiffs allege infringement of claims 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 26 of the '899 patent. (D.I. 190

at 2; D.I. 222 at 1).

A.

Abstract Idea

"First, we determine whether the claims at issue are directed to [an abstract idea]." Alice,
134 S. Ct. at 2355. "The 'abstract ideas' category embodies 'the longstanding rule that [a]n idea
of itself is not patentable."' Id (quoting Gottschalk v. Benson, 409 U.S. 63, 67 (1972)). "The
Supreme Court has not established a definitive rule to determine what constitutes an 'abstract
idea' sufficient to satisfy the first step of the Mayo/Alice inquiry." En.fish, LLC v. Microsoft
Corp., 822 F.3d 1327, 1334 (Fed. Cir. 2016). The Supreme Court has recognized, however, that

"fundamental economic practice[s]," Bilski, 561 U.S. at 611, "method[s] of organizing human
activity," Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2356, and mathematical algorithms, Benson, 409 U.S. at 64, are
abstract ideas. In navigating the parameters of such categories, courts have generally sought to
"compare claims at issue to those claims already found to be directed to an abstract idea in
previous cases." En.fish, 822 F.3d at 1334. "But in determining whether the claims are directed
to an abstract idea, we must be careful to avoid oversimplifying the claims because '[a]t some
level, all inventions ... embody, use, reflect, rest upon, or apply laws of nature, natural

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phenomena, or abstract ideas."' In re TL! Commc 'ns LLC Patent Litig., 823 F.3d 607, 611 (Fed.
Cir. 2016) (alterations in original) (quoting Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2354).
Defendant argues that claim 1 is "directed to the well-known practice of choosing to
[play back] media (e.g., a DVD movie) with or without playback preferences (e.g., volume level,
surround sound mode, viewing angle, etc.), which can be (and was previously) performed
entirely by a human." (D.I. 190 at 1). Defendant notes that the claim language covers both
manual and automated practices, and points to portions of the '899 patent specification, which it
says "expressly disclose[] that the alleged invention was previously performed manually by a
user." (Id at 5). Defendant further points to portions of the specification which it says
characterize "the alleged invention [as] the mere automation of a well-known manual process."

(Id). For example, the specification discloses that the "traditional experience of the musical
recording" consists "essentially of deciding which tracks to play and performing simple
transformations on the recorded sound, such as setting the volume or applying an audio
equalizer." (D.I. 196-1, Exh. Fat 1:24-33). 1 The specification also discloses that a benefit of the
invention is that a user can play back media like a DVD with his or her preferred preferences
"without requiring setting by the user each time." ('899 patent at 9:5-10). Thus, argues
Defendant, the claim is directed to an abstract idea. See Mortg. Grader, Inc. v. First Choice

Loans Servs., Inc., 811F.3d1314, 1324 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (finding an abstract idea where a claim
"could all be performed by humans without a computer"); Content Extraction, 776 F.3d at 1347
(finding an abstract idea where "humans have always performed" the claimed functions).

1

This disclosure appears in U.S. Patent No. 6,154,773, which resulted from U.S. Patent
App. No. 09/060,876. The '899 patent incorporates by reference U.S. Patent App. No.
09/060,876. (' 899 patent, 1: 10-11 ). The incorporated patent application is "effectively part of
the ['899 patent] as if [it] were explicitly contained therein." X2Y Attenuators, LLC v. Int'!
Trade Comm 'n, 757 F.3d 1358, 1362-63 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (internal citation omitted).
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Plaintiffs disagree that claim 1 is directed to an abstract idea, and assert that Defendant's
"arguments mischaracterize the claimed invention." (D.I. 222 at 6).
In support of their position, Plaintiffs point to the specification's disclosure that the '899
patent is directed to methods of "control[ling] audio and video equipment and, more particularly,
[using] a computer in a device having the capabilities of an audio/video receiver." ('899 patent
at 1:27-29). Plaintiffs also point to the specification's description of a "graphical user interface"
that is "[p]referably ... used in performing this method of controlling audio/video equipment,"
as well as several exemplary "interfaces." ('899 patent at 3:2-4, Figs. 6A-6H). However, neither
this "computer" nor this "graphical user interface" are part of the claim language, and Plaintiffs
have failed to explain why the claim requires them. I have not done any claim construction that
would make them claim limitations.
Plaintiffs argue that the claim is "limited to a specific technological field." (D.I. 222 at
8). However, that the claims are directed to a particular technological environment is irrelevant.

Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2358 ("the prohibition against patenting abstract ideas cannot be
circumvented by attempting to limit the use of [the idea] to a particular technological
environment").
Plaintiffs also note that the specification provides "surround sound" as an example of a
claimed "playback preference." (D.I. 222 at 8; '899 patent at 9:5-10, claims 13, 18, 31, 26). The
specification provides that it "is a further object of the present invention to reproduce audio from
multiple forms of recorded signals using playback preferences, including digital signal
processing for surround sound effects .... " ('899 patent at 2:23-26). Plaintiffs note that to
implement "surround sound," the "system must necessarily implement changes to multiple
devices on the network such that each of the devices is designated to perform a different

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playback task." (D.I. 222 at 8; '899 patent, 5:4-8). Plaintiffs argue that this feature "is far more"
than Defendant's proffered abstract idea of "choosing to play back media with or without
playback preferences," especially given that this Court previously determined that
"implementing a surround sound configuration" could not be performed manually by a human.
(Id. at 8-9, citing Sonos, Inc. v. D&M Holdings, Inc., No. 14-1330-WCB, 2017 WL 971700, at

*5-6 (D. Del. Mar. 13, 2017) (D.I. 242 at 9, 11)). 2 However, the "surround sound" feature
recited by claims 13, 18, 31, and 36, either as a preference or a default, is for the purposes of this
analysis, no different than "volume." 3 That is, they are settings that a human can set manually.
I agree with Defendant that this claim is, at most, directed to the automation of a process
that can be (and has been) performed by humans. As pointed out by Defendant, the claim could
be satisfied by (1) a "human choos[ing] a particular DVD to watch by identifying its title," (2)
"[u]sing his or her memory, [determining] whether he or she watched the DVD and if so,
whether he or she selected any playback preferences," and (3) "[i]f the person recalls previously
watching the DVD with playback preferences, [selecting] the same playback preferences as
before and [beginning to watch] the DVD," and "ifthe person does not remember previously
watching the DVD and/or selecting playback preferences, [beginning to watch] the DVD with
default preferences." (D.I. 190 at 6).
Plaintiffs seek to distinguish Content Extraction, a case cited by Defendant, where the
Federal Circuit found claims directed to the abstract idea of (I) "collecting data," (2)

2

The claims under consideration in Sonos v. D&M were considerably less abstract than
the claims I am now considering, as the analysis in D.I. 242 makes clear. The claims I am now
considering specify that "the playback preferences" and "default preferences" can "include
surround sound mode," but provide no further detail. ('899 patent, claims 13, 18, 31, 36).
3
Plaintiffs state that "previously stored preferences" has its plain and ordinary meaning.
(D.I. 280 at 18).
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"recognizing certain data within the collected data set," and (3) "storing that recognized data in a
memory." 776 F.3d at 1347. Plaintiffs argue that the technology in that case "was directed to
the well-known, fundamental practice of scanning and storing information from a physical form
into a digital storage device or memory," whereas the '899 patent claims "describe specific
methods .... " (D.I. 222 at 9). I am unpersuaded by this distinction. Rather, the elements of the
abstract idea in Content Extraction correspond respectively to claim 1's elements of (1)
obtaining a recording identifier, (2) comparing the recording identifier with previously stored
identifiers, and (3) storing the playback preferences in the playback preference database. Claim
1 includes the additional element of reproducing the recorded signal with either the previously
stored or default preferences, but that element is similarly abstract, as it, too, is at most directed
to the automation of a process that can be performed by humans.
Claim 1 is thus directed to the abstract idea of choosing to play back media with or
without playback preferences. 4 ('899 patent, claim 1). It is not directed to an invention that
improves this process. Enfish, 822 F.3d at 1336 (finding that the claims at issue were not
directed to an abstract idea because "the plain focus of the claims is on an improvement to
computer functionality itself, not on economic or other tasks for which a computer is used in its
ordinary capacity").
Plaintiffs do not agree that claim 1 is representative of the other asserted claims. (D.I.
222 at 5, 11-13). Rather, Plaintiffs point to additional reasons they argue demonstrate that the
dependent claims are not abstract.

4

I would characterize the abstract idea as "playing a recording according to one's tastes,"
which I think is a more easily understandable way of saying it.

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Asserted claims 5, 7, and 10, "define alternate sources ofrecorded signals," and "define
alternate types of playback preferences," including "audio control settings" and "programmable
effects." (D.I. 190 at 9; D.I. 222 at 12). Plaintiffs argue that like claim 1, these claims "could
not be performed manually by a human," are "narrowly-tailored to the specific audio/visual
technology field," and "constitute[] a substantial improvement in the underlying functionality of
the audio/visual equipment by improving the quality of audio reproduction and audio
characteristics as enjoyed by the user." (D.I. 222 at 12). As to Plaintiffs first argument, playing
back these recorded signals and setting these playback preferences, as with claim 1, can be
performed by humans, and these claims are, at most, directed to automation of a once-manual
procedure-playing back recorded signals, albeit with specified alternate sources of recorded
signals and types of playback preferences. As to Plaintiffs second argument, recitations of a
specific technology field cannot save the claims. Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2358. Plaintiffs' argument
that the dependent claims "constitute[] a substantial improvement in the underlying functionality
of the audio/visual equipment by improving the quality of audio reproduction and audio
characteristics" likewise does not save the claims from abstraction, because each dependent
claim merely recites generic or well-known computer technology to describe alternate sources of
recorded signals and types of playback preferences. ('899 patent at 1:31-37, 1:57-63, 2:57-65,
3:58-60).
With respect to claims 8 and 26, which contain the limitations of "detecting changes in
software available to playback the recorded signal" and "automatically downloading the software
to playback the recorded signal," Plaintiffs argue that "the underlying software updates allow the
various hardware to operate in a more efficient manner .... " (D.I. 222 at 13). However,
Plaintiffs make no arguments as to how these software updates amount to an "improvement to

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computer functionality," or anything other than automation of a once-manual method with
generic computer functions. En.fish, 822 F.3d at 1336. Rather, Plaintiffs generically recite the
proposition that software "can make non-abstract improvements to computer technology." (D.I.
222 at 13, citing En.fish, 822 F.3d at 1335). As claimed, the software merely "play[s] back a
recorded signal." This is automation of a previously manual step.
Accordingly, each asserted dependent claim is also directed to an abstract idea.

B.

Inventive Concept

The determination that a patent is directed to an abstract idea "does not render the subject
matter ineligible." Internet Patents Corp. v. Active Network, Inc., 790 F.3d 1343, 1346 (Fed.
Cir. 2015). Having decided that the patent's claims are directed to an abstract idea, the Court
must next "determine whether the claims do significantly more than simply describe the abstract
method." Ultramercial, 772 F.3d at 715. Since "a known idea, or one that is routine and
conventional, is not inventive in patent terms," this analysis "favors inquiries analogous to those
undertaken for determination of patentable invention." Internet Patents, 790 F.3d at 1346.
Indeed, the Federal Circuit has noted that the two stages of the Alice two-step inquiry "are
plainly related" and "involve overlapping scrutiny of the content of the claims .... " Elec.
Power Grp. LLC v. Alstom S.A., 830 F.3d 1350, 1353 (Fed. Cir. 2016). Furthermore, neither "[a]

simple instruction to apply an abstract idea on a computer," nor "claiming the improved speed or
efficiency inherent with applying the abstract idea on a computer" satisfies the requirement of an
"inventive concept." Intellectual Ventures I, LLC v. Capital One Bank (USA), 792 F.3d 1363,
1367 (Fed. Cir. 2015).
Defendant argues that claim 1 does not provide an inventive concept, and that it at most
"merely automate[ s] the abstract idea through the use of a generic, conventional technology."

11

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(D.I. 190 at 7; Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2350-60; OIP Techs., Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., 788 F.3d 1359,
1363 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (finding no inventive concept where claims "describe the automation of
the fundamental economic concept ... through the use of generic-computer functions")).
Plaintiffs point to the aforementioned "user interface" as evidence of an inventive
concept. (D.I. 222 at 10). Plaintiffs also point to the specification to demonstrate that the patent
"plainly discloses and claims ... specific advancements unique to and necessarily rooted in
computerized (audio/visual) technology which are ... predicated on 'sophisticated computer
programming."' (D.I. 222 at 10; D.I. 287 at 2; '899 patent at 1:27-29, 2:18-19). Plaintiffs point
to no claim language in response to Defendant's assertion that claim 1 at most "merely
automate[ s] the abstract idea through the use of a generic, conventional technology. " 5
Claim 1 does not cover a "user interface," and Plaintiffs do not explain why the claim
requires an implementation with this "user interface." Likewise, the claim language does not
demonstrate a need for or claim "sophisticated computer programming."
I agree with Defendant that claim 1 provides no inventive concept, and at most "merely
automate[ s] the abstract idea through the use of a generic, conventional technology." As a result,
the claim does not provide an inventive concept. See Two-Way Media Ltd v. Comcast Cable

Commc'ns, LLC, 874 F.3d 1329, 1338-39 (Fed. Cir. 2017) ("The main problem that [the
plaintiff] cannot overcome is that the claim-as opposed to something purportedly described in
the specification-is missing the inventive concept."); Clarilogic, Inc. v. FormFree Holdings

5

Plaintiffs also argue that the machine-or-transformation test demonstrates that claim 1 is
patent eligible, and that claim 1 does not preempt "any process or method applying the allegedly
abstract concept." (D .I. 222 at 10-11 ). Indeed, unless "playback preference database" is limited
to computer databases, claim 1 does not actually claim an automated method. It preempts both
manual and computer-implemented methods of choosing to play back media with or without
playback preferences. The claim is also not tied to a novel machine, and it does not transform an
article.
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Corp., 681 F. App'x 950, 954-55 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (holding claim ineligible where it recited an
"unknown and unclaimed process" to allegedly transform data); Internet Patents, 790 F.3d at
1348 (holding that a claim directed to the abstract idea of "retaining information in the
navigation of online forms" did not supply an inventive concept because the claim "contain[ed] .
no restriction on how the result is accomplished[, that is, t]he mechanism for maintaining the
state [of data on a web page] is not described, although this is stated to be the essential
innovation").
Dependent claims 5, 7, and 10 are directed to automation of a once-manual procedureplaying back recorded signals with alternate, and known, types of playback preferences and
sources ofrecorded signals. Similarly, claims 8 and 26 are directed to automation of a oncemanual method. None of the claims' added limitations provide functions that play back the
recorded signal in a different way than the manual method, or improve the computer as a tool.
Accordingly, none of the asserted dependent claims provides any more of an inventive concept
than claim 1. Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2359; Credit Acceptance Corp. v. Westlake Servs., 859 F.3d
1044, 1055 (Fed. Cir. 2017) ("Our prior cases have made clear that mere automation of manual
processes using generic computers does not constitute a patentable improvement in computer
technology.").
Plaintiffs argue that there is a "genuine issue of material fact as to whether playback
using preferences based on a recording identifier corresponding to a recorded signal was a wellunderstood, routine, and conventional activity." (D.I. 287 at 2). I disagree. In Berkheimer, the
Federal Circuit found a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether a claim element was wellunderstood, routine, and conventional only where the claims "capture[d] the purportedly
inventive concepts." Berkheimer, 2018 WL 774096, at *7. Here, none of the independent or

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dependent claim language captures the "sophisticated computer programming" or the "user
interface" that Plaintiffs argue provide inventive concepts that were not well-understood, routine,
or conventional. (D.I. 222 at IO; D.I. 287 at 2). Accordingly, there is no genuine dispute of
material fact as to "whether a claim element or combination of elements is well-understood,
routine and conventional." Berkheimer, 2017 WL 774096, at *5.
For the reasons given above, I find that claims 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 26 of '899 patent are
drawn to an abstract idea, and do not provide an inventive concept. Therefore, the claims are
invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 101, and I will grant Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment of
Invalidity of U.S. Patent No. 7,995,899. (D.1. 186). I need not reach Defendant's argument that
the asserted claims of the '899 patent are invalid as anticipated under§ 102. (D.1. 190 at 11). I
previously denied Defendant's argument that any of the asserted claims is obvious under§ 103.
(D.1. 269 at 2).
IV. CONCLUSION
Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment oflnvalidity of U.S. Patent No. 7,995,899
(D.1. 186) is granted, and U.S. Patent No. 7,995,899 is declared invalid for lack of patent eligible
subject matter.
A separate order will be entered.

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