Beneficial Innovations, Inc. v. Blockdot, Inc. et al

Filing 47

ANSWER to Amended Complaint and Affirmative Defenses by Ebaum's World, Inc..(Jones, Michael)

Beneficial Innovations, Inc. v. Blockdot, Inc. et al

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Case 2:07-cv-00263-TJW-CE

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS MARSHALL DIVISION ___________________________________________ BENEFICIAL INNOVATIONS, INC., Plaintiff, v. BLOCKDOT, INC., CAREERBUILDER, LLC, CNET NETWORKS, INC., DIGG, INC., EBAUM'S WORLD, INC., JABEZ NETWORKS, INC., THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY, THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY, THE WEATHER CHANNEL INTERACTIVE, INC., Defendants. ____________________________________________ ANSWER AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES OF DEFENDANT E'BAUMS WORLD, INC. TO PLAINTIFF'S FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT Defendant EBAUM'S WORLD, INC., ("eBaum's" or "Defendant") by and through its attorneys, files this Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Plaintiff, BENEFICIAL INNOVATIONS, INC.'s, ("Beneficial" or "Plaintiff") First Amended Complaint ("Complaint") and states as follows: 1. Defendant is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief CASE NO. 2:07-cv-263(TJW/CE) JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

as to the truth of the allegations in Paragraph "1" regarding Plaintiff's ownership of U.S. Patent No. 6,712,702 (the "702 Patent") and U.S. Patent No. 6,183,366 (the "366 Patent") and therefore, denies the same. Defendant is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to those defendants and affirmatively denies the allegations in Paragraph "1" as they apply to eBaum's. The remaining allegations of Paragraph "1" are legal conclusions to which no

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response is required. To the extent that any response is required, such allegations are hereby denied. 2. Defendant admits that the Complaint alleges that this in an action for

patent infringement under the provisions of the Patent Laws of the Untied States, Title 35, United States Code. Defendant admits that subject-matter jurisdiction of patent claims is

conferred upon this Court by 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a). Defendant denies any patent infringement and any remaining allegations set forth in Paragraph "2." 3. Defendant is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief

as to the alleged business activities or as to the infringement by other defendants and therefore, denies the allegations set forth in Paragraph "3" as to those defendants. Defendant admits that eBaum's is doing business in New York and elsewhere in the United States. Defendant denies any patent infringement of the 702 Patent and the 366 Patent. The remaining allegations set forth in Paragraph "3" are legal conclusions to which no response is required. To the extent that any response is required, such allegations are hereby denied. 4. Defendant is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief

as to the truth of the allegations in Paragraph "4" and therefore, denies the same. 5. Defendant denies knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as

to the allegations set forth in Paragraphs "5", "6", "7" and "8." 6. Defendant eBaum's admits so much of the allegation as set forth under

Paragraph "9" of the Complaint to the extent that it is a corporation existing under the laws of the State of New York, and its principal place of business is located at 2590 Brighton Henrietta Townline Road, Rochester, New York.

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9.

Defendant denies knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as

to the alleged business activities or as to infringement by other defendants and therefore, denies Paragraphs "10", "11", "12" and "13." CLAIM FOR INFRINGEMENT OF THE 702 PATENT 10. Defendant refers to and incorporates herein by reference, the responses to

each of the allegations in Paragraphs "1" through "9" above. 11. Defendant admits that Exhibit "A" attached to the Complaint is what is

believed to be a copy of the text of the 702 Patent, and that this document indicates that the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued the 702 Patent, entitled "Method and System for Playing Games on a Network," on March 30, 2004. Defendant denies that the 702 Patent was duly and legally issued. Defendant is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations of Paragraph "15" and therefore, such allegations are hereby denied. 12. Defendant denies any patent infringement of the 702 Patent. Defendant is

without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to infringement by other defendants and therefore, denies the allegations in Paragraph "16" as to those defendants and affirmatively denies the allegations in Paragraph "16" as they apply to eBaum's. 13. Defendant denies any patent infringement of the 702 Patent. Defendant is

without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to infringement by other defendants and therefore, denies the allegations in Paragraph "17" as to those defendants. Defendant is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the remaining allegations of Paragraph "17" and therefore, such allegations are hereby denied.

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14.

Defendant denies any patent infringement of the 702 Patent. Defendant is

without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to willfulness by other defendants and therefore, denies the allegations in Paragraph "18" as th those defendants and affirmatively denies the allegations in Paragraph "18" as they apply to eBaum's. 15. Defendant denies any patent infringement. The remaining allegations of

Paragraph "19" are legal conclusions to which no response is required. To the extent that any response is required, such allegations are hereby denied. 16. The allegations of Paragraph "20" require no response. To the extent that

any response is required, such allegations are hereby denied. CLAIM FOR INFRINGEMENT OF THE 366 PATENT 17. Defendant refers to and incorporates herein by reference, the responses to

each of the allegations in Paragraphs "1" through "16" above. 18. Defendant admits that Exhibit "B" attached to the Complaint is what is

believed to be a copy of the text of the 366 Patent and that this document indicates that the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued the 366 Patent, entitled "Network Gaming System," on February 6, 2001. Defendant denies that the 366 Patent was duly and legally issued. Defendant is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations of Paragraph "22" and therefore, such allegations are hereby denied. 19. Defendant denies any patent infringement of the 366 Patent. Defendant is

without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to infringement by other

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defendants and therefore, denies the allegations in Paragraph "23" as to those defendants and affirmatively denies the allegations in Paragraph "23" as they apply to eBaum's. 20. Defendant denies any patent infringement of the 366 Patent. Defendant is

without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to infringement by other defendants and therefore, denies the allegations in Paragraph "24" as to those defendants and affirmatively denies the allegations in Paragraph "24" as they apply to eBaum's. 21. Defendant denies any patent infringement of the 366 Patent. Defendant is

without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to willfulness by other defendants and therefore, denies the allegations in Paragraph "25" as th those defendants and affirmatively denies the allegations in Paragraph "25" as they apply to eBaum's. 22. Defendant denies any patent infringement. The remaining allegations of

Paragraph "26" are legal conclusions to which no response is required. To the extent that any response is required, such allegations are hereby denied. 23. The allegations of Paragraph "27" require no response. To the extent that

any response is required, such allegations are hereby denied. 24. Defendant denies any and all allegations of the Complaint that are not

expressly admitted above. AS AND FOR A FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT STATES: 1. eBaum's does not infringe, has not infringed and does not and has not

induced infringement or contributed to infringement of any claim of the 702 Patent or the 366

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Patent under any theory of infringement, including direct infringement, indirect infringement, literal infringement or infringement under the doctrine of equivalents. 2. The claims of the 702 Patent and the 366 Patent are invalid and void for

failing to meet the requirements of Title 35, United States Code, including but not limited to Sections 102, 103 and 112 thereof. 3. may be granted. AS AND FOR A SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT STATES: 4. The Complaint fails to state a cause of action upon which relief may be As such, the Complaint fails to state a cause of action upon which relief

granted and therefore, Plaintiff lacks the legal capacity to sue. AS AND FOR A THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT STATES: 5. required by law. AS AND FOR A FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT STATES: 6. Plaintiff lacks jurisdiction over the person of Defendant eBaum's and Plaintiff insufficiently served the Complaint upon Defendant, eBaum's, as

therefore, is barred from recovering from the Defendant herein. AS AND FOR A FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT STATES: 7. That this Court is the improper venue as Plaintiff failed to state a cause of

action, has not obtained personal jurisdiction and therefore Plaintiff, is barred from recovering from Defendant herein.

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AS AND FOR A SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT STATES: 8. Plaintiff is estopped from asserting construction of any claim of the 702

Patent or the 366 Patent that covers any acts of the Defendant or any products made, used, sold or offered for sale by the Defendant because of amendments and arguments made by the inventor to overcome prior art to obtain allowance of the patent claims. AS AND FOR A SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT STATES: 9. Plaintiff's claims for damages are barred by the equitable doctrine of

laches in view of its unreasonable delay in bringing suit. AS AND FOR AN EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE DEFENDANT STATES: 10. Plaintiff's claims for damages and request for prospective relief are

precluded by intervening rights doctrine, including that set forth in 35 U.S.C. §§ 307 and 252 (as referenced in § 307). WHEREFORE, Defendant, eBaum's respectfully requests the Court to order: A. Plaintiff take nothing; B. defense of this action; C. That this is an "exceptional case" under 35 U.S.C. § 285, thereby entitling That Defendant eBaum's be awarded attorney's fees relative to the That the Complaint be dismissed in its entirety, with prejudice, and that

Defendant eBaum's to an award of attorney's fees; D. Any and all further relief this Court deems proper.

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Dated: August 13, 2007

Respectfully submitted, By: /s/ Michael E. Jones Michael E. Jones State Bar No. 10929400 POTTER MINTON A Professional Corporation 110 N. College, Suite 500 (75702) P. O. Box 359 Tyler, Texas 75710 [phone] [phone] (Facsimile) [e-mail] Of Counsel: Frank G. Montemalo, Esq. CULLEY, MARKS, TANENBAUM & PEZZULO, LLP 36 West Main Street Suite 500 Rochester, New York 14614 585-546-7830 Telephone [phone] Facsimile [e-mail] CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that all counsel of record who have consented to electronic service are being served with a copy of this document via the Court's CM/ECF system per Local Rule CV-5(a)(3) on this the 13th day of August, 2007. Any other counsel of record will be served by first class U.S. mail on this same date. /s/ Michael E. Jones Michael E. Jones

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