APPLE inc. and NEXT Software Inc. v. Motorola, Inc. and Motorola Mobility, Inc
Filing
2
MEMORANDUM OF LAW in Support re: 1 MOTION to Compel DOCUMENT PRODUCTION AND DEPOSTION FROM JEFFERSON HAN AND PERCEPTIVE PIXEL. Other Court Name: NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS. Other Court Case Number: 11CV8450. (Filing Fee $ 46.00, Receipt Number 465401029188) MOTION to Compel DOCUMENT PRODUCTION AND DEPOSTION FROM JEFFERSON HAN AND PERCEPTIVE PIXEL. Other Court Name: NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS. Other Court Case Number: 11CV8450. (Filing Fee $ 46.00, Receipt Number 465401029188). Document filed by Motorola, Inc. and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (wb) Modified on 2/14/2012 (wb).
OFFICE COPY
CT COURT
F
UO 37
APPLE, iNC. and NEXT SOFTWARE, INC.,
Plaintiffs,
LIM
CASE NO.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILL jI'jOIS
CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:11\-cv-0a45Q
MOTOROLA, INC. AND MOTOROLA
MOBILITY, INC.,
DISCO VERY MATTER
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF MOTOROLA MOBILITY'S MOTION TO
COMPEL DOCUMENT PRODUCTION AND DEPOSITION FROM JEFFERSON HAN
AND PERCEPTIVE PIXEL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1.
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... i
II.
BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................2
A.
Procedural Posture ...................................................................................................2
B.
The '949 Patent........................................................................................................2
C.
Jefferson Han and His Company, Perceptive Pixel, Have Relevant
Information Relating to Defendants' Prior Art Defenses........................................3
1.
Han's Technology........................................................................................3
2.
Apple's Knowledge of Han's Technology and Its Similarity to the
iPhone.......................................................................................................... 5
D.
E.
III.
Defendants' Subpoena and Meet and Confer Efforts.............................................. 5
Documents Produced by Apple, the TED Conference, and NYU...........................6
Argument .............................................................................................................................7
A.
The Court Should Compel Production of Documents and Han's
Deposition................................................................................................................7
1.
2.
IV.
Han and Perceptive Pixel Maintain Critical Prior Art to Apple's
'949 Patent...................................................................................................7
The Requests At Issue Are Narrowly Tailored............................................8
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................9
Pursuant to Rule 37(a) and Rules 30 and 45 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
Motorola Mobility, Inc. ("Motorola") respectfully moves the Court for an order compelling third
parties Jefferson Han and his company, Perceptive Pixel, to produce documents, including
source code, and appear for a deposition by March 7, 2012.
I.
INTRODUCTION
Apple has sued Motorola in the Northern District of Illinois (Apple, Inc. and NeXT
Software, Inc. v. Motorola, Inc. and Motorola Mobility, No. 1:11 -cv-08540) alleging that
Motorola's touchscreen smartphones infringe Apple's U.S. Patent No. 7,479,949 (the "949
patent"). Apple alleges the iPhone released in 2007 embodies the patented invention. Trial is
scheduled to begin June 11, 2012.
Motorola alleges, however, that the patent is invalid because Apple was not the first to
invent the touchscreen invention claimed in the patent. Instead, before the patent was filed, a
computer scientist named Jefferson Han presented a touchscreen device to technology
enthusiasts at a TED conference in Monterey, California in 2006 - a demonstration that was
attended by Apple employees, including one of the persons later named as an inventor on the
Apple patent. Jefferson Han and his company Perceptive Pixel are based in New York, and
Motorola seeks discovery from Mr. Han and his company concerning the touchscreen device
demonstrated in 2006, as well as their later communications with Apple. Despite a validly
served subpoena and months of negotiation, Han and his company have steadfastly refused to
cooperate and refused to provide the requested discovery. The discovery sought is focused and
is critical to the pending Illinois patent action. There is no justification for Han and Perceptive
Pixel to have refused to comply with the subpoena. Accordingly, Motorola seeks an order
compelling the discovery.
II. BACKGROUND
A.
Procedural Posture
Apple filed the instant underlying lawsuit on October 29, 2010 in the Western District of
Wisconsin, No. 10-cv-662-BBC (Complaint attached as Exhibit ito the accompanying
Declaration of Brian Cannon.) The case was later transferred to N.D. Illinois before Hon.
Richard A Posner sitting by designation, with trial set for June ii, 2012. (Cannon Deci., Exs. 2,
3 and 4.) The parties are currently engaged in discovery.
B.
The 1 949 Patent
Apple asserts that Motorola infringes the '949 patent. (Cannon Deci., Ex. 1 at 2-5.) The
patent arises from an application filed originally on June 29, 2007. The claimed invention
generally relates to interpreting user finger gestures on a touch screen display. For instance,
claim 1 reads as follows:
1.
A computing device, comprising:
a touch screen display;
one or more processors;
memory; and
one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are
stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or
more processors, the one or more programs including:
instructions for detecting one or more finger contacts with the
touch screen display;
instructions for applying one or more heuristics to the one or more
finger contacts to determine a command for the device; and
instructions for processing the command;
wherein the one or more heuristics comprise:
a vertical screen scrolling heuristic for determining that the one or
more finger contacts correspond to a one-dimensional vertical
screen scrolling command rather than a two-dimensional screen
translation command based on an angle of initial movement of a
finger contact with respect to the touch screen display;
0
a two-dimensional screen translation heuristic for determining that
the one or more finger contacts correspond to the two-dimensional
screen translation command rather than the one-dimensional
vertical screen scrolling command based on the angle of initial
movement of the finger contact with respect to the touch screen
display; and
a next item heuristic for determining that the one or more finger
contacts correspond to a command to transition from displaying a
respective item in a set of items to displaying a next item in the set
of items.
(Cannon Decl., Ex. 5' at Col. 122:37-123:2.)
Apple's infringement allegations for the '949 patent are directed to Motorola's Android
smartphones with Internet browser applications. Apple is also asserting the '949 patent against
both Samsung and HTC in other actions.
C.
Jefferson Han and His Company, Perceptive Pixel, Have Relevant
Information Relating to Defendants' Prior Art Defenses
1.
Han's Technology
It is Motorola's contention that a multitouch device demonstrated by third party Han at
the TED conference in Monterey, California in February 2006, is a prior invention to the
invention claimed in the '949 patent and invalidates the patent.
Han is the founder and Chief Technology Officer of Perceptive Pixel, Inc. (Cannon
Deci., Ex. 6). Han publicly demonstrated a multitouch device at the TED conference in
Monterey, California in February of 2006. (See
http://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_han_demos_his breakthrough_touchscreen.html). TED is a
nonprofit devoted to "Ideas Worth Spreading" in the fields of technology, entertainment and
For purposes of this motion, Motorola has included only pertinent excerpts of the
voluminous patent. The full copy is publicly available as a government record at
http://portal.uspto.gov/extemal/portal/pair.
design. (Cannon Deci., Ex. 7). Each year TED hosts a conference where speakers deliver short
presentations on a variety of topics and issues. (Id.)
The device demonstrated by Han consisted of a 36-inch wide rear-projected drafting table
equipped with a multitouch sensor computing device capable of running various applications.
Han demonstrated several of those applications, including a lava lamp application, a light box
photo application, a keyboard application, a "fuzz balls" application, a WorldWind map
application, and a puppet application, which together demonstrate the heuristics claimed in the
'949 Patent. The audience was stunned by this breakthrough technology and repeatedly gasped,
cheered and clapped during the presentation.
TED posted a video of Hans TED 2006 presentation online in August 2006.
(http://www.ted.com/talks/ieff han demos his breakthrough_touchscreen.html). The video has
been viewed over 2.1 million times on TED's website, and hundreds of thousands of times on
YouTube. (Id.,
see also
http://www.youtube.com/watch?vOKh 1 RvOPlOO).
rd
Han founded his own company, Perceptive Pixel, Inc., in 2006 based on the technology
demonstrated at the TED Conference. (Cannon Dccl., Ex. 8.)
2.
Apple's Knowledge of Han's Technology and Its Similarity to the
iPhone
When Apple first publicly announced its touch screen iPhone at the MacWorld
Conference on January 9, 2007, many recognized the similarity between Apple's device and
Han's multitouch device. At that conference, David Pogue, technology columnist for the New
York Times, asked Steve Jobs if he knew of Han's work. As reported in the interview, Jobs
replied "[w]e've had ours for two and a half years," implying that Apple's version came first.
(Cannon Dccl., Ex. 9.)
Mr. Pogue of the New York Times also spoke with Han in early 2007 about Apple's
iPhone. Han indicated that "he'd known what had happened, and that there was a lot he wasn't
allowed to say." (Cannon Dccl., Ex. 10.) This reported conversation indicates Han developed a
subsequent relationship with Apple.
D.
Defendants' Subpoena and Meet and Confer Efforts
Because of Han's central role in proving the invalidity of the '949 patent and his possible
relationship with Apple, Defendants served subpoenas for documents and a deposition upon him
and Perceptive Pixel on September 12, 2011. (Cannon Dccl., Exs. 11 and 12.) The subpoenas
ask for the same general categories of documents: (1) documents relating to Han's February
2006 TED Conference presentation; (2) documents relating to the multitouch device
demonstrated by Han at that conference; (3) the actual multitouch device that was demonstrated
and related prototypes and source code; (4) documents relating to the development and
functionality of the multitouch device; (5) documents relating to an earlier January 2006 web
demonstration; and (6) documents relating to any communications and agreements with Apple.
See Id. The subpoenas indicated a return date for the documents of September 22, 2011. See Id.
Han and Perceptive Pixel's counsel met and conferred with Motorola's counsel regarding
the subpoenas several times, beginning September 21, 2011. (Cannon Deel. ¶ 13.) In midOctober, to facilitate Han's and Perceptive Pixel's responses to the similar subpoenas served by
Motorola, Samsung and HTC, the three parties agreed to work together with Han's counsel.
After multiple additional communications between Han's original and replacement counsel and
Motorola, Samsung and HTC, as detailed in Exhibit 13, Han's counsel continued to refuse to
produce anything but source code. (Cannon Decl. ¶J 13-14.)
After weeks of negotiation, Han and Perceptive Pixel have produced no documents and
no source code. (Cannon Deci., ¶ 16.) They have said only that they might be willing to look for
source code, but will not look for documents because Han is "extremely busy." (Cannon Decl.
Ex. 13.)
E.
Documents Produced by Apple, the TED Conference, and NYU
Documents produced by both Apple and other relevant third parties call into question
Han's claim that he has no responsive documents. In response to Motorola's document requests,
Apple has produced numerous documents indicating extensive communications between Han
and Apple during the relevant timeframe—yet, Han claims that he has no relevant documents.
In response to Motorola's third party subpoena for documents, the TED Conference also
produced communications between Han and employees of the TED Conference relating to the
2006 presentation at issue. Again, this raises serious doubts about Han's claims that he has no
relevant documents. Documents from NYU provide further evidence that Apple communicated
with Han, and that others communicated with Han about Apple. Although Motorola has
received these email communications from Apple, the TED conference, and NYU, Motorola
does not know if there are additional communications or documents in Han's possession that he
is also refusing to produce, and his refusal to acknowledge any of these documents leads to the
likely conclusion that he has not conducted a proper search for any documents at all. In addition,
many of the documents requested would likely only exist in Han's possession and cannot be
obtained through any other means. Because of the critical role Han's demonstration of the touch
screen device may have on the validity of the '949 patent, this motion followed.
III. ARGUMENT
A.
The Court Should Compel Production of Documents and Han's Deposition
"Parties may obtain discovery regarding any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to any
party's claim or defense.... For good cause, the court may order discovery of any matter
relevant to the subject matter involved in the action." Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1). Relevant
information need not be admissible at the trial if the discovery appears "reasonably calculated to
lead to the discovery of admissible evidence." Id.
A party may not, without cause, simply refuse to respond to a valid subpoena. A Court
may "hold in contempt a person who, having been served [with a subpoena], fails without
adequate excuse to obey the subpoena." Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(e).
Han and Perceptive Pixel Maintain Critical Prior Art to Apple's '949
Patent
Patent claims in the United States are awarded only to those who are the first to invent.
See 35 U.S.C. § 102. In addition, patents cannot be awarded to inventions that were "obvious at
the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject
matter pertains." 35 U.S.C. § 103; see also KSR Int'l v. Teleflex, Inc., 550 U.S. 398 (2007).
Thus, a prior invention, or an obvious one, invalidates a patent claim.
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Han's demonstration at the February 2006 TED conference invalidates the '949 patent's
invention or at least renders it obvious. Han's ability to vertically scroll, perform two
dimensional screen translation, and switch between different data views reads directly on the
heuristics described in asserted Claim 1. (Cannon Decl., Ex. 5 at Col. 122:37-123:2.)
Taking Han's deposition to inquire about his multitouch device and related source code
will provide the necessary specific details of his invention, and may also elicit what he and
others, including David Pogue of the New York Times, would have found obvious at the time of
the '949 patent's application. Moreover, Motorola's requests for documents related to
agreements with Apple and its representatives may shed light on Apple's knowledge of, and
relationship to, this technology.
Finally, it is not plausible that Han has absolutely no documents or source code related to
the demonstration and the multitouch device. This device and Han's TED presentation launched
his company, Perceptive Pixel. (Cannon Decl., Ex. 6.) In addition, the documents produced by
Apple and third parties TED and NYU demonstrate that numerous responsive documents exist.
In fact, Han's new position is that he is too busy to search for the documents, not that such
documents do not exist. An order compelling production of documents and a deposition is the
only way Motorola can be assured that Han and Perceptive Pixel are not withholding relevant
documents.
2.
The Reguests At Issue Are Narrowly Tailored
Motorola narrowly tailored its requests to target the specific documents and source code
relevant to its prior art defense. (Cannon Decl., Exs. 11 and 12.) Motorola Mobility is seeking
documents related to Han's presentation at the February 2006 TED conference, the touch screen
device that was demonstrated, the source code for that device, and documents sufficient to show
the development of that device, the functionality of that device and any other public disclosure or
demonstration of that device. It is also seeking documents and things related to a January 2006
"Demo Reel" described on Han's NYU website, http://cs.nyu.eduJ'-jhanIfiirtoucb/, that cannot be
currently viewed on that website but Defendants believe can be found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v89sz8ExZndc . This "Demo Reel" demonstrates much of the
same functionality Han showed the TED Conference audience in February 2006.
Motorola is also seeking a limited set of documents related to any agreements or
communications Han or Perceptive Pixel may have with Apple.
Han and Perceptive Pixel have not asserted any valid objection. See Orbit One
Communications, Inc. v. Numerex Corp., 255 F.R.D. 98, 108 (S.D.N.Y. 2008) ("A party
contending that a subpoena should be quashed pursuant to Rule 45(c)(3)(A)(iv) must
demonstrate that compliance with the subpoena would be unduly burdensome."). In fact, they
have not served written objections to the Han subpoena or a privilege log for either subpoena.
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(c)(2)(B). They simply will not produce documents or appear for a
deposition. As such, Motorola respectfully requests that the Court grant this Motion to Compel.
IV.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Motorola respectfully requests that the Court order third
parties Jefferson Han and his company, Perceptive Pixel, to produce documents and things and
appear for a deposition by March 7, 2012.
Dated: February 8, 2012
Respectfully submitted,
MOTOROLA MOBILITY, INC.
By:
Brian Cannon
QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART
& SULLIVAN, LLP
555 Twin Dolphin Dr., 5th Floor
Redwood Shores, CA 94065
Telephone: (650) 801-5000
Facsimile: (650) 801-5100
Email: briancannonquinnemanuel.com
Edward J. DeFranco
Richard W. Erwine
QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART
& SULLIVAN, LLP
51 Madison Avenue, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10010
Telephone: (212) 849-7000
Facsimile: (212) 849-7100
Email: eddefranco@quinnemanuel.com
richarderwinequinnemanuel.com
Charles K. Verhoeven
QUINN EMANUEL URQUI-IART
& SULLIVAN, LLP
50 California Street, 22nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: (415) 875-6600
Facsimile: (415) 875-6700
Email:
char1esverhoevenquinnemanue1.com
David A. Nelson
Stephen A. Swedlow
QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART
& SULLIVAN, LLP
500 West Madison St., Ste. 2450
Chicago, IL 60661
Telephone: (312) 705-7400
Facsimile: (312) 705-7401
Email: davenelsonquinnemanue1.com
stephenswedlowquinnemanue1.com
Attorneys for Defendant Motorola
Mobilily, Inc.
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