Imperium IP Holdings (Cayman), Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al

Filing 301

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER - GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART 109 SEALED MOTION for Leave to Amend Infringement Contentions (Partially Opposed) filed by Imperium IP Holdings (Cayman), Ltd.. Signed by Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on 3/30/2016. (baf, )

United States District Court
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
SHERMAN DIVISION

IMPERIUM IP HOLDINGS (CAYMAN),
LTD.

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§
§
v.
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SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.,
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SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA,
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INC., SAMSUNG
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TELECOMMUNICATIONS AMERICA,
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LLC, AND SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR, §
INC.
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CIVIL ACTION No. 4:14-CV-371
Judge Mazzant

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Pending before the Court is Imperium’s Partially Opposed Motion for Leave to Amend
Infringement Contentions (Dkt. #109). After reviewing the motion and the relevant pleadings,
the Court finds that the motion is granted in part and denied in part.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff filed suit against Defendants on June 9, 2014, asserting patent infringement
(Dkt. #1). Disclosure of infringement contentions was set for January 26, 2015 (Dkt. #70 at p.
1). Plaintiff served its infringement contentions on January 26, 2015 (Dkt. #109 at p. 1).
Defendants provided an interrogatory response regarding particular image sensors used in
Defendants’ products on April 24, 2015 (Dkt. #109, Ex. 1 at pp. 13-15). Plaintiff served
Defendants proposed amended infringement contentions on May 28, 2015 (Dkt. #109, Ex. 2).
Plaintiff filed the current motion for leave to amend its infringement contentions on July
10, 2015 (Dkt. #109). Defendants filed a response on July 30, 2015 (Dkt. #116). Plaintiff filed a
reply on August 10, 2015 (Dkt. #121). Defendants filed a sur-reply on August 14, 2015 (Dkt.
#123).

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LEGAL STANDARD
“The Patent Rules demonstrate high expectations as to [a plaintiff’s] preparedness before
bringing suit, requiring that [the plaintiff] disclose [its] infringement contentions before
discovery has even begun.” Am. Video Graphics, L.P. v. Elec. Arts, Inc., 359 F. Supp. 2d 558,
560 (E.D. Tex. 2005). “Plaintiffs are expected to rigorously analyze all publicly available
information before bringing suit and must explain with great detail their theories of
infringement.” Motion Games, LLC v. Nintendo Co., Ltd., No. 6:12-cv-878-RWS-JDL, 2015
WL 1774448, at *1 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 16, 2015) (quoting Connectel, LLC v. Cisco Sys., Inc., 391 F.
Supp. 2d 526, 528 (E.D. Tex. 2005)).
“Local Patent Rule 3-1 requires a party to provide infringement contentions setting forth
‘particular theories of infringement with sufficient specificity to provide defendants with notice
of infringement beyond that which is provided by the mere language of the patent [claims]
themselves.’” Motion Games, 2015 WL 1774448, at *1 (quoting STMicroelectronics, Inc. v.
Motorola, Inc., 308 F. Supp. 2d 754, 755 (E.D. Tex. 2004)). However, Patent Rule 3-6 allows a
party to amend its infringement contentions upon a showing of good cause. P.R. 3-6; see also
Motion Games, 2015 WL 1774448, at *2 (citing Davis-Lynch, Inc. v. Weatherford, Int’l, Inc.,
No. 6:07-CV-559, 2009 WL 81874, at *3 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 12, 2009) (citing FED. R. CIV. P. 16(b);
Garmin, Ltd. v. TomTom, Inc., No. 2:06-cv-338, 2007 WL 2903843, at *5 (E.D. Tex. Oct. 3,
2007)).
This standard requires the movant to show that “despite its exercise of diligence, it cannot
reasonably meet the scheduling deadlines.” Garmin S & W Enters., L.L.C. v. Southtrust Bank of
Ala., 315 F.3d 533, 535 (5th Cir. 2003).

The court looks at the following factors when

determining if a party should be allowed to supplement its infringement contentions: “(1) the

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reason for the delay and whether the party has been diligent; (2) the importance of what the court
is excluding and the availability of lesser sanctions; (3) potential prejudice in allowing the
amendment; and (4) the availability of a continuance to cure such prejudice.” Motion Games,
2015 WL 1774448, at *2 (citing Comput. Acceleration Corp. v. Microsoft Corp., 503 F. Supp. 2d
819, 822 (E.D. Tex. 2007); Garmin, 2007 WL 2903843, at *6).
ANALYSIS
Defendants do not object to including Defendants’ Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge products (Dkt.
#109, Ex. 3). The Court, therefore, grants Plaintiff leave to amend its infringement contentions
to include the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge products. Defendants do oppose, however, amendment to
include Defendants’ Galaxy Note product (“Note 1”).
Diligence
Plaintiff asserts that it was diligent in seeking to amend its infringement contentions.
Plaintiff argues that the identity of the image sensor used by the Note 1 was not publicly
available at the time it served its initial infringement contentions (Dkt. #109 at pp. 2-3).
Defendant demonstrates that information regarding the Note 1 was publicly available (Dkt. #116
at pp. 4-6).
Plaintiff also asserts that it showed diligence by seeking Defendants’ consent to amend
less than five weeks after receiving discovery on April 24, 2015 (Dkt. #109 at p. 3). Even
according to Plaintiff’s timeline, though, Plaintiff waited until July 10, 2015, to file the present
motion with the Court. The Court notes both that some of this time can be accounted for in
seeking approval for amendment from Defendants and preparation of the current motion.
However, the Court also considers that by April 24, 2015, at the latest Plaintiff was aware of the
image sensors in the Note 1 and could have, almost immediately, contacted Defendants on this

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issue and could have sought leave to amend or notified the Court of its desire to amend as soon
as the amendment was finished.
Considering both the level of availability of information pertaining to the Note 1 and
Plaintiff’s small delay in bringing the current motion, the Court finds this factor weighs against
granting leave to amend.
Importance to the Litigation
Plaintiff contends that inclusion of the Note 1 is important to the litigation because
without the ability to amend, Plaintiff would need to file another lawsuit to obtain relief (Dkt.
#109 at p. 4). Defendants do not contest Plaintiff’s assertions, and while the Note 1 does not
appear essential in any way to the litigation and issues decided in this litigation will likely
resolve issues related to the Note 1, concerns of judicial economy result in this factor weighing
slightly for granting leave to amend.
Potential for Prejudice
Plaintiff argues that amendment will not prejudice Defendants as discovery does not
close until September 9, 2015, and depositions have not yet been taken (Dkt. #109 at p. 5).
Further, Plaintiff asserts that Defendants have known about Plaintiff’s proposed amendment
since May 28, 2015, and regardless, the proposed amendment is based on the same infringement
theories established in Plaintiff’s original contentions.

The Court finds, however, that

Defendants could suffer significant prejudice. While Plaintiff may be able to assert extremely
similar infringement theories to those already proposed, Defendants’ non-infringement positions
may be very different from its previous theories as it is uncertain that the Note 1 functions in the
same way as other accused products. This analysis would require, at the very least, increased

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costs for Defendants related to discovery. The Court finds that this factor weighs against
granting leave to amend.
Availability for a Continuance
Plaintiff argues that the proposed amendment would not necessitate a continuance (Dkt.
#109 at p. 6). This may have been true if this dispute had been resolved on the day this motion
was filed, but Defendants argue that amendment would require extensions regarding their noninfringement expert report currently due August 26, 2015, and an extension to the discovery
deadline of September 9, 2015 (Dkt. #116 at p. 9). The Court finds that, if leave is granted, there
may need for a continuance, at least regarding Defendants’ non-infringement expert report. This
factor weighs slightly against granting leave to amend.
CONCLUSION
Weighing each of the factors, the Court does not find good cause to grant leave to amend
. with respect to the Note 1.

However, the Court grants leave to amend with respect to

Defendants’ Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge products. It is therefore ORDERED that Imperium’s
Partially Opposed Motion for Leave to Amend Infringement Contentions (Dkt. #109) is hereby
GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
SIGNED this 30th day of March, 2016.

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AMOS L. MAZZANT
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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