Advanced Processor Technologies LLC v. Analog Devices, Inc. et al

Filing 152

MEMORANDUM ORDER RE: AS TO CREATIVE LABS, INC. VENUE MOTION. Signed by Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne on 3/19/2013. (ch, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
MARSHALL DIVISION
ADVANCED PROCESSOR
TECHNOLOGIES LLC
v.
ANALOG DEVICES INC., ET AL.
ADVANCED PROCESSOR
TECHNOLOGIES LLC
v.
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD.

§
§
§
§
§
§

Case No. 2:11-CV-19-JRG-RSP

§
§
§
§
§
§

Case No. 2:12-CV-154-JRG-RSP

MEMORANDUM ORDER
Before the Court is Intervenor ARM, Inc.’s Motion to Transfer Venue Pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1404(a), as it relates to Defendant Creative Labs, Inc., filed in Case No. 2:11-CV-19
(Dkt. No. 108, filed July 27, 2012), and ARM’s and Creative Labs’ identical Motion to Transfer
Venue Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) filed in Case No. 2:12-CV-154 (Dkt. No. 24, filed July
27, 2012).
This case is one of several related patent infringement cases involving Plaintiff Advanced
Processor Technologies LLC (“APT”). Case No. 2:11-CV-19 (hereinafter, “the first case”) was
filed on January 18, 2011 asserting the ‘978 and ‘354 patents against nine defendants (Analog
Devices, Cirrus Logic, Conextant Systems, Digi International, Marvell Semiconductor, Micrel,
Mindspeed Technologies, Netronome Systems, and Zoran). See Advanced Processor Techs.
LLC v. Analog Devices, Inc., et al., Case No. 2:11-CV-19. Case No. 2:12-CV-154 (hereinafter,
“the second case”) asserting the ‘978, ‘354, ‘207 and ‘172 patents was filed on March 23, 2012,
naming Creative Labs and affiliated companies as defendants. Additional cases involving the

same patents were filed against the other defendants from the first case (hereinafter, “the second
set of cases”), and have been consolidated with the second case for pretrial purposes.
In July 2012, ARM moved to intervene in all of the related cases on behalf of the
remaining defendants (except for defendant AMD). ARM then filed identical motions to transfer
venue to the Northern District of California in the first case and the second set of cases, joined by
the relevant defendants.1 These procedural maneuvers result in the practical effect that Marvell,
Mindspeed, Conextant, and Zoran waited for over 17 months after the first case was filed before
arguing that the Northern District of California is a clearly more convenient venue for this case
than the existing venue. Creative Labs waited nearly four months after being served with the
summons before filing the instant motion to transfer.2
Movants seek to transfer the first case and the second case to the Northern District of
California. Although there are multiple defendants in the first case, and the second case has been
consolidated for pretrial purposes with cases involving other defendants, there does not appear to
be a basis at this time for consolidating the various defendants for the purposes of trial.
Accordingly, the Court must consider the merits of the transfer motion on an individual
defendant basis, at the point in time when the case was filed.

1

“Venue is a privilege personal to a defendant in a civil suit and a person intervening on
either side of the controversy may not object to improper venue.” Trans World Airlines, Inc. v.
C.A.B., 339 F.2d 56, 63 (2d Cir. 1964); Commonwealth Edison Co. v. Train, 71 F.R.D. 391, 394
(N.D. Ill. 1976).
2

The present motion to transfer venue is brought solely on convenience grounds under
28 U.S.C. § 1404 because the Eastern District of Texas is an undisputed proper venue for this
lawsuit, and in any event, Creative never challenged venue by filing a timely motion to dismiss
under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3).

-2-

APPLICABLE LAW
Section 1404(a) provides that “[f]or the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the
interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division
where it might have been brought.” 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) (2006). The first inquiry when
analyzing a case’s eligibility for § 1404(a) transfer is “whether the judicial district to which
transfer is sought would have been a district in which the claim could have been filed.” In re
Volkswagen AG, 371 F.3d 201, 203 (5th Cir. 2004) (“In re Volkswagen I”).
Once that threshold is met, courts analyze both public and private factors relating to the
convenience of parties and witnesses as well as the interests of particular venues in hearing the
case. See Humble Oil & Ref. Co. v. Bell Marine Serv., Inc., 321 F.2d 53, 56 (5th Cir. 1963); In
re Nintendo Co., Ltd., 589 F.3d 1194, 1198 (Fed. Cir. 2009); In re TS Tech USA Corp., 551 F.3d
1315, 1319 (Fed. Cir. 2009). The private factors are: 1) the relative ease of access to sources of
proof; 2) the availability of compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses; 3) the cost
of attendance for willing witnesses; and 4) all other practical problems that make trial of a case
easy, expeditious, and inexpensive. In re Volkswagen I, 371 F.3d at 203; In re Nintendo, 589
F.3d at 1198; In re TS Tech, 551 F.3d at 1319. The public factors are: 1) the administrative
difficulties flowing from court congestion; 2) the local interest in having localized interests
decided at home; 3) the familiarity of the forum with the law that will govern the case; and 4) the
avoidance of unnecessary problems of conflict of laws or in the application of foreign law. In re
Volkswagen I, 371 F.3d at 203; In re Nintendo, 589 F.3d at 1198; In re TS Tech, 551 F.3d at
1319.
The plaintiff’s choice of venue is not a factor in this analysis. In re Volkswagen of Am.,
Inc., 545 F.3d 304, 314-15 (5th Cir. 2008) (“In re Volkswagen II”). Rather, the plaintiff’s choice
of venue contributes to the defendant’s burden in proving that the transferee venue is “clearly
-3-

more convenient” than the transferor venue. In re Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 315; In re
Nintendo, 589 F.3d at 1200; In re TS Tech, 551 F.3d at 1319. Furthermore, though the private
and public factors apply to most transfer cases, “they are not necessarily exhaustive or
exclusive,” and no single factor is dispositive. In re Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 314-15.
Timely motions to transfer venue should be “should [be given] a top priority in the
handling of [a case],” and “are to be decided based on ‘the situation which existed when suit was
instituted.’” In re Horseshoe Entm’t, 337 F.3d 429, 433 (5th Cir. 2003); In re EMC Corp., Dkt.
No. 2013-M142, 2013 WL 324154 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 29, 2013) (quoting Hoffman v. Blaski, 363
U.S. 335, 443 (1960)).
DISCUSSION
A.

Proper Venue
The parties agree that Northern District of California and the Eastern District of Texas are

proper venues for this lawsuit.
B.

Private Interest Factors
1.

Relative Ease of Access to Sources of Proof

“In patent infringement cases, the bulk of the relevant evidence usually comes from the
accused infringer. Consequently, the place where the defendant’s documents are kept weighs in
favor of transfer to that location.” In re Genentech, Inc., 566 F.3d 1338, 1345 (Fed. Cir. 2009)
(citation omitted).
Plaintiff APT’s Sources of Proof
APT has submitted a declaration by Dooyong Lee, its chief executive officer and a
member of its board of directors. (Lee Decl., Dkt. No. 109-4.)3 APT is a Texas LLC with its
3

Because the motions filed in the first case and the second case are identical, the Court
only cites to the docket entries in the first case.

-4-

principal place of business in Frisco, Texas. (Id. at 1.) APT’s parent company, Acacia Research
Group LLC, is also a Texas LLC with its principal place of business in Frisco, Texas. (Id. at 1.)
APT maintains its documents and its business records “related to APT’s licensing efforts,
documents relating to APT's corporate formation, and documents relating to the patents owned
by APT, among others” at its office in Frisco, Texas. (Id. at 2.)
Movants argue that APT’s and Acacia Research Group’s publicly traded parent company,
Acacia Research Corporation, “has substantial discoverable information concerning the chain of
title . . . as well as the licensing and valuation of the patents-in-suit.” (Mot. at 11.) Acacia
Research Corporation has its principal place of business in Newport Beach, California, which is
located in the Central District of California. (Dkt. No. 102-15.) However, APT’s evidence
clearly shows that all of the evidence relevant to these topics is maintained by APT’s and Acacia
Research Group’s offices in Frisco, Texas. (See Lee Decl., Dkt. No. 109-4.)
The Court finds that APT’s sources of proof are located in the Eastern District of Texas.
Intervenor ARM’s and Defendant Creative Labs’ Sources of Proof
Intervenor ARM has submitted a declaration by Guy Larri, who was formerly its CPU
product manager. (Larri Decl., Dkt. No. 102-17.) “ARM’s corporate headquarters and primarily
[sic] development facility for processor cores is located in Cambridge, United Kingdom.” (Id. at
3.) Other development facilities are located in the United Kingdom and France. (Id.) ARM also
has engineering and product development facilities in Cambridge, UK; Austin, Texas; and
Silicon Valley, California. (Id.) With respect to the accused ARM products, Larri states that
“[a]ny specific documentation related to these products would have been authored” in
Cambridge, UK or Sophia Antipolis, France. (Id. at 4.)
Creative Labs has submitted a declaration by Russell Swerdon, who is the director of
intellectual property.

(Swerdon Decl., Dkt. No. 102-4.)
-5-

Creative Labs is a California

corporation headquartered in Milipitas, California, which is within the Northern District of
California.

(Id.)

Only about 40 employees, involved in management and research and

development work near its headquarters. (Id.) Mr. Swerdon states that “[v]irtually all CLI
business documents and records relating to the research, design, marketing strategy, and product
revenue for the Accused Products are located in or near [the Northern District of California.]”
In response, APT argues that movants “not only fail to identify a single employee of
ARM with discoverable information in the NDCA, but the supporting declarations confirm that
ARM’s technical personnel with relevant knowledge are located in either the United Kingdom or
France.” (Resp. at 6.) APT argues that this fact should carry “substantial weight” because ARM
itself argued that “the necessary technical information to defend the case is solely in ARM’s
possession – not that of the Defendants” in the motion to intervene in this suit. (Id. at 6 (quoting
ARM’s Mot. to Intervene at 8).) APT observes that Creative Labs alleges that its witnesses are
located in the Northern District of California and overseas, but alleges that its documents are
located solely in the Northern District of California. (Resp. at 8.)
Based on the evidence submitted, the Court finds that Movants’ relevant sources of proof
are located in the Northern District of California and in Europe. However, the Court observes
that the record is entirely devoid of any measure of the relative quantities of proof available at
either location.
Third Party Sources of Proof
Inventors
Inventors Shinichi Yoshioka, Ikuya Kawasaki, Susumu Narita, Saneaki Tarmaki, and
Atushi Hasegawa reside in Japan, and any documents they have are located in Japan.
(Loudermilk Decl. at 1, Docket No. 109-2.) Based upon the listing of inventors on the face of

-6-

the ‘207 patent, which was filed in 1999, Rajesh Chopra is believed to be in Sunnyvale,
California.
Prosecuting Attorneys
Prosecuting attorney Alan Loudermilk has an office in Marshall, Texas and has
maintained his files at that location since early 2010. (Loudermilk Decl. at 1, Docket No. 1092.) Attorneys Carl Brundige, David Lee, and Melvin Krauss are all located in Alexandria,
Virginia. (Farnum Decl. at 2-3, Dkt. No. 109-1.)
Movants identify J. Nicholas Gross (a lawyer presently in Berkeley, California), as one of
the prosecuting attorneys for the asserted ‘207 patent.

In response, APT submitted Mr.

Loudermik’s declaration, which explains how Mr. Gross had no involvement in the prosecution
of the ‘207 patent, and is only listed on the application’s power of attorney “as a matter of
standard practice because [Gross] and [Loudermilk] shared certain portions of [their] respective
patent prosecution practices at that time.” (Loudermilk Supp. Decl. at 3, Dkt. No. 109-3.)
Movants have not challenged APT’s explanation.
Prior Art
Movants argue that “prior art and associated witnesses are predominantly centered in the
[Northern District of California.]” (Mot. at 2 and 11.) In support of this contention, Movants
attached a highlighted listing of prior art references included in Defendants’ invalidity
contentions where 33 of the 80 references are highlighted. (Mot. Ex. H, Dkt. No. 102-8.)
Movants represent to the Court that each highlighted reference “have inventors or authors
located in the Northern District.” (Id. at 11.) Movants also identify MIPS Technologies, Inc. as
a designer of “one primary invalidating” reference. (Mot. at 11.) MIPS has a primary place of
business in the Northern District of California. (Id.)

-7-

APT raises several concerns with respect to Movants’ identification of prior artisans.
First, there is no declaration that identifies who prepared the listing and identified the locations
of the authors and inventors. (Resp. at 11.) The exhibit itself does not list any of the authors and
inventors, and does not list their locations. (Id.) Given the age of a number of the references,
there is no evidence that any of the authors or inventors of the highlighted references “are even
still alive, much less whether they currently reside in [the Northern District of California.]” (Id.)
APT argues that no weight should be given “to the speculative assertion that any of these prior
art witnesses may currently reside in [the Northern District of California.]” (Id. ar 12.) With
respect to MIPS, APT argues that there is “no evidence that MIPS has actual relevant
information in [the Northern District of California],” and that the only basis for Movants’
argument is a “website printout showing that MIPS has its headquarters in the NDCA and other
US offices in Oregon.” (Id. at 12.)
Movants offer little in response to APT’s concerns other than arguing that APT’s
“speculation that the prior art somehow have moved away from the Northern District is
nonsensical,” and that there is no requirement that Movants prognosticate on what “witness
MIPS or Sun [Microsystems] might identify in response to a 30(b)(6) notice.” (Reply at 4-5,
Dkt. No. 114.)
The Court has reviewed Movants’ listing of prior art references. The 80 references
comprise patents, user manuals, and technical articles, dated as early as 1974 and as late as 1994.
All but a handful of the highlighted references are U.S. or foreign patents or patent applications.
On balance, the Court finds that some weight, but not substantial weight, should be accorded the
33 references. First, movants have not identified what other relevant evidence may be available
from the prior artisans. As patents and printed publications, their principal evidentiary value lies

-8-

in the content of the patents and publications themselves. This does not appear to be a situation
where the authors and inventors may have important evidence to offer that is not reflected in the
writings, such as evidence to establish a prior public use or an on-sale bar.
The Court finds that the sources of proof factor does not favor transfer to the Northern
District of California. All of Plaintiff’s evidence is located within this district. Movants’
evidence is distributed between locations in the Northern District of California and Europe,
where “necessary” technical evidence resides. Movants fail to provide any indication of how
much evidence resides at any of the various locations. With respect to third party sources of
proof, one of the prosecuting attorney’s files reside in this district, and none exist in the Northern
District of California. Finally, there is some indication that prior art witnesses reside in the
Northern District of California, but there is only speculation as to what relevant evidence these
witnesses may possess beyond what is already provided by the prior art patents, patent
applications, and printed publications themselves.

Moreover, Movants have chosen not to

provide any location information for any of the remaining 47 prior art references, which suggests
that third party sources of prior art evidence are more distributed than perhaps is suggested by
Movants’ highlighted prior art references.
2.

Cost of Attendance for Willing Witnesses

“The convenience of the witnesses is probably the single most important factor in a
transfer analysis.” In re Genentech, Inc., 566 F.3d 1338, 1342 (Fed. Cir. 2009). While the Court
must consider the convenience of both the party and non-party witnesses, it is the convenience of
non-party witnesses that is the more important factor and is accorded greater weight in a transfer
of venue analysis. Aquatic Amusement Assoc., Ltd. v. Walt Disney World Co., 734 F.Supp. 54,
57 (N.D.N.Y. 1990); see also 15 Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and
Procedure § 3851 (3d ed. 2012). “A district court should assess the relevance and materiality of
-9-

the information the witness may provide.” In re Genentech, Inc., 566 at 1343. However, there is
no requirement that the movant identify “key witnesses,” or show “that the potential witness has
more than relevant and material information . . . .” Id. at 1343-44.
APT’s Witnesses
“A majority of APT’s Board of Directors, including [Dooyong Lee] (CEO of APT), Mr.
Marvin Key (officer of APT), and Ms. Tisha Stender (officer of APT) work primarily from their
respective offices in the Eastern District of Texas. All of those officers have knowledge of
relevant facts and are potential witnesses in this case.” (Lee Decl. at 3, Dkt. No. 109-4.) “At
least two Acacia employees - Mr. Fahim Aftab (who has technical knowledge relating to the
patents in APT's patent portfolio), and Ms. Annie Le Blanc (who has knowledge of certain
licensing practices and agreements relating to APT's patent portfolio) - are potential witnesses
with knowledge of relevant facts. Both of them work primarily or exclusively from their offices
in the Eastern District of Texas. They also live in Texas.” (Id. at 4.) As discussed above, there is
no evidence that any of Acacia Research Corporation’s California-based employees are likely
witnesses.
Intervenor ARM’s and Defendant Creative Labs’ Witnesses
ARM’s employees with technical knowledge reside exclusively in Europe. With respect
to “the ARM1136J, ARM11MP, and ARM926EJ-S ARM cores, the individuals with direct
knowledge of the overall functionality of these products would be located in Cambridge.” (Larri
Decl. at 5, Dkt. No. 102-17.) With respect to the “Cortex A9 core, the individuals with direct
knowledge of the overall functionality of these products would be located in Sophia (sic),
France.” (Id. at 5.)
Creative Labs “has approximately 40 employees who work in or near its headquarters in
Milpitas, CA.” (Swerdon Decl. at 2, Dkt. No. 102-4.) “The likely [Creative Labs] witnesses
- 10 -

with the most relevant knowledge concerning the technical design, development, manufacturing,
marketing, and sales of the Accused Products are located either at [Creative Labs’] headquarters
in Milpitas, CA in the Northern District or overseas.” (Id. at 2.)
In response, APT notes that ARM and Creative Labs failed to specifically identify a
single relevant witness. (Resp. at 6 and 11.) In reply, ARM identifies three witnesses in the
Northern District of California (Saumil Shah, Christine Cong Tran, and Ehab Youssef) that have
“relevant knowledge of the licensing of the accused ARM cores.” (Hodgson Decl. at 4, Dkt. No.
114-6.) Creative Labs submits a supplemental declaration in support of its reply brief, where
two witnesses relevant to “U.S. Testing and Certification for Creative Ziio Tablets” (Robert
Gilsdorf and Thinh Bui), and one witness relevant to marketing and sales (Uma Venkatesh) are
identified. (Swerdon Supp. Decl. at 2-3., Dkt. No. 114-5.)
Even with this supplemental declaration, Creative Labs has failed to identify any
witnesses relevant to “technical design, development, [or] manufacturing” located in the
Northern District of California. Given that Creative Labs has only 40 employees in the Northern
District of California and the remainder overseas, it seems reasonable to assume, as APT
suggests, that these witnesses are located overseas. (Sur-Reply at 3.)
Third Party Witnesses
The parties argued the convenience of venue for third party witnesses along with the
identification of third party sources of proof. The Court’s analysis and findings with respect to
third party sources of proof are also applicable to this convenience factor and are incorporated
herein.
The Court finds that the cost of attendance for willing witnesses factor does not favor
transfer to the Northern District of California. All of Plaintiff’s party witnesses reside within this
district. Creative Labs has identified three witnesses that reside in the Northern District of
- 11 -

California that are relevant to only a few of the topics Creative Labs’ briefing suggest are
relevant to this case. It appears that important witnesses regarding design, development and
manufacturing of the accused products are located overseas. ARM has identified three witnesses
relevant to licensing of its processor cores that are located in the Northern District of California.
Although ARM has taken the position in its motion to intervene that it alone possesses
“necessary” technical information relevant to infringement, ARM has failed to identify any
specific technical witnesses. Given that ARM’s declarations establish that its technical witnesses
reside in Europe, it appears that ARM does not bother specifically identifying relevant technical
witnesses because it would show that Movants’ witnesses are not concentrated in the Northern
District of California. The only prosecuting attorney in either forum is located in the Eastern
District. One inventor is located in the Northern District of California. No specific third party
prior art witnesses are identified, but for some, the Northern District of California would be more
convenient.
3.

Availability of Compulsory Process to Secure the Attendance of Witnesses

The majority of identified potential witnesses located in the Northern Districts of
California are party witnesses.

One inventor may still reside in the Northern District of

California. Although movants offer evidence identifying relevant prior art witnesses that is
somewhat suspect, it appears that there may be a few witnesses within the Northern District of
California’s subpoena power. The Court finds that this factor weighs in favor of transfer.
4.

All Other Practical Problems that Make Trial of a Case Easy, Expeditious,
and Inexpensive

The Court finds that this factor weighs slightly against transfer. Creative Labs waited
four months to file its motion to transfer venue.

- 12 -

At the time these suits were filed, there would have been some judicial economy benefits
arising from the Court’s handling of other cases involving the same patents. To be clear, this
finding is based solely on the existence of other defendants that did not file motions to transfer,
although they have since settled.
C.

Public Interest Factors
1.

Administrative Difficulties Flowing From Court Congestion

The Court finds that this factor is neutral. Movants argue that at the time of filing of the
first case, there were several judicial retirements in the Eastern District of Texas. However, at
the time of filing of the second case, the Marshall vacancy had been filled. Movants offer that
civil cases in general “reach trial slightly faster than in EDTX.” (Mot. at 15.)
2.

Local Interest in Having Localized Interests Decided at Home

“[I]f there are significant connections between a particular venue and the events that gave
rise to a suit, this factor should be weighed in that venue’s favor.” In re Hoffman-LaRoche Inc.,
587 F.3d 1333, 1338 (Fed. Cir. 2009.) Movants argue that APT has no real connection to the
Eastern District of Texas because its presence here is a sham, and that the Northern District of
California has an overriding local interest in this case given that several of the defendants in the
APT cases have their U.S. headquarters there, and employ thousands of employees. (Reply at 5.)
However, this argument is misplaced in this instance – ARM and Creative Labs appear to have
limited footprints in the Northern District of California, unlike some of the other defendants.
(See, supra 5-6 and 10-11.)
Throughout the briefing, Movants suggest that this Court should view APT’s presence in
the Eastern District of Texas with suspicion, and disregard evidence that it has a legitimate
presence in the district because APT is a non-practicing entity. As another court has recognized,
“many businesses and academic institutions enforce their patent rights through private

- 13 -

companies [like APT]; such a business strategy is not nefarious.” Cradle IP, LLC v. Texas
Instruments, Inc., Case No. 11-CV-1254-SLR, slip op. (D. Del. February 12, 2013) (Robinson,
J.). Moreover, it would be improper to “treat such non-practicing entities as anything less than
holders of constitutionally protected property rights, those rights having been legitimized by the
Patent & Trademark Office.” (Id.)
The evidence shows that APT was formed in 2010, before this lawsuit was filed, and that
APT’s employees are residents in the Eastern District of Texas. APT and Acacia Research
Group operate a legitimate patent licensing business. Movants offer no persuasive evidence to
the contrary. The residents of the Eastern District clearly have a legitimate local interest in the
enforcement of patents owned by a resident business.
The Northern District of California would also have a legitimate local interest in suits
involving their own resident businesses. However, Movants do not identify any controlling law
that requires giving a preference to larger businesses or employers. Accordingly, this factor is
neutral.
3-4.

Familiarity of the Forum With the Law that Will Govern the Case and
Avoidance of Unnecessary Problems of Conflict of Laws or in the
Application of Foreign Law

These factors are neutral.
//
//
//

- 14 -

.

CONCLUSION
The Court finds that Movants have not established that the Northern District of California
is a clearly more convenient forum than the Eastern District of Texas. Accordingly, IT IS
ORDERED THAT:
•

ARM, Inc.’s Motion to Transfer Venue Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) (Case No.
2:11-CV-19, Dkt. No. 108), to the extent it relates to Creative Labs, is DENIED; and

•

ARM’s and Creative Labs’ Motion to Transfer Venue Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1404(a) (Case No. 2:12-CV-156, Dkt. No. 24, filed July 27, 2012) is DENIED.
SIGNED this 3rd day of January, 2012.
SIGNED this 19th day of March, 2013.

____________________________________
ROY S. PAYNE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

- 15 -