Plasma Physics Corporation et al v. CHI MEI Optoelectronics Corp. et al

Filing 37

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER - For the reasons stated herein, the Court denies the 23 Motion to Dismiss without prejudice to renewal as a motion for summary judgment. SO ORDERED by Judge Leonard D. Wexler on 9/30/09. (Valle, Christine)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK -----------------------------------------------------------X PLASMA PHYSICS CORPORATION and SOLAR PHYSICS CORPORATION, Plaintiffs, -againstCHI MEI OPTOELECTRONICS CORP. and CHI MEI OPTOELECTRONICS USA INC., Defendants. -----------------------------------------------------------X Wexler, District Judge Plaintiffs Plasma Physics Corporation and Solar Physics Corporation (collectively, "Plasma") bring this patent infringement action against defendants Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. and Chi Mei Optoelectronics USA Inc. (collectively, "CMO"). CMO moves to dismiss the action as barred under res judicata, the Kessler doctrine, and the patent exhaustion doctrine based on a Stipulation and Order entered by this Court in Applied Materials, Inc. v. Plasma Physics Corp., CV 00-2199 (E.D.N.Y. April 30, 2002) (the "Applied Litigation"). Plasma opposes the motion. In opposing the motion, Plasma contends, inter alia, that CMO fails to mention in its motion that CMO uses different equipment than was at issue in the Applied Litigation to perform its infringing processes. In other words, Plasma argues that CMO uses equipment from companies who are not in privity with Applied. In reply, CMO counters that Plasma's infringement claims are based solely on CMO's use of equipment purchased from the subsidiary through which Applied sold its equipment, Applied Komatsu Technologies ("AKT"), citing Complaint ¶¶ 12, 13. Based on Plasma's contention, CMO requests that the Court convert the MEMORANDUM AND ORDER CV 08-1628 (Wexler, J.)

2 motion to one for partial summary judgment barring Plasma from asserting its patents against products manufactured using AKT equipment, thereby allowing introduction of matter outside the pleadings. Given CMO's request, and the fact that this action is nearing the end of pretrial proceedings, the Court denies the motion to dismiss without prejudice to renewal as a motion for summary judgment. SO ORDERED. ___________/s/___________________ LEONARD D. WEXLER UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Dated: Central Islip, New York September 30, 2009