AdvanceMe Inc v. RapidPay LLC

Filing 14

NOTICE/ORDER OF SCHEDULING CONFERENCE, PROPOSED DISCOVERY ORDER, AND PROPOSED DATES FOR DOCKET CONTROL ORDER. Scheduling Conference set for 2/1/2006 09:30 AM before Judge Leonard Davis.. Signed by Judge Leonard Davis on 1/19/06. (fnt, )

AdvanceMe Inc v. RapidPay LLC

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS TYLER DIVISION ADVANCEME, INC. Plaintiff vs. RAPIDPAY LLC Defendant § § § § § § § § §

CASE NO. 6:05 CV 424 PATENT CASE

NOTICE OF SCHEDULING CONFERENCE, PROPOSED DISCOVERY ORDER, AND PROPOSED DATES FOR DOCKET CONTROL ORDER The Court, sua sponte, issues this Notice of Scheduling Conference, Proposed Dates for Docket Control Order and Proposed Discovery Order. NOTICE OF SCHEDULING CONFERENCE Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 16 and Local Rule CV-16, the Scheduling Conference in this case is set for February 1, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. at the United States Courthouse, 211 West Ferguson, 3rd Floor, Judge Leonard Davis's Court, Tyler, Texas. The parties are directed to meet and confer in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) and P.R. § 2-1 no later than seven (7) days before the conference. The parties are excused from the requirement of filing a written proposed discovery plan in this case. PROPOSED DISCOVERY ORDER The proposed Discovery Order as set forth in the attached Appendix A will be discussed at the scheduling conference.

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PROPOSED DATES FOR DOCKET CONTROL ORDER In Appendix B, the Court has set the dates for the Markman hearing, dispositive motion deadline, pretrial conference, jury selection, and trial. Prior to the Scheduling Conference, the parties are to confer as to all interim dates. The parties are to then fill in the remaining dates of the Docket Control Order according to the descriptions given in the form. The parties may modify these dates, but only to the extent the modifications do not affect the Markman hearing, dispositive motion, or trial dates. The parties are to file their joint proposed Docket Control Order with the Court no fewer than three (3) days before the Scheduling Conference. The parties' proposed Docket Control Order will be discussed at the Scheduling Conference.

So ORDERED and SIGNED this 19th day of January, 2006.

__________________________________ LEONARD DAVIS UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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APPENDIX A PROPOSED DISCOVERY ORDER TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE SCHEDULING CONFERENCE After review of the pleaded claims and defenses in this action and in furtherance of the management of the Court's docket under Fed. R. Civ. P. 16, the Court enters the following Discovery Order: 1. Disclosures. Within thirty (30) days after the Scheduling Conference, and without awaiting a discovery request, each party shall disclose to every other party the following information: A. B C. the correct names of the parties to the lawsuit; the name, address, and telephone number of any potential parties; the legal theories and, in general, the factual bases of the disclosing party's claims or defenses (the disclosing party need not marshal all evidence that may be offered at trial); the name, address, and telephone number of persons having knowledge of relevant facts, a brief statement of each identified person's connection with the case, and a brief, fair summary of the substance of the information known by such person; any indemnity and insuring agreements under which any person or entity may be liable to satisfy part or all of a judgment entered in this action or to indemnify or reimburse for payments made to satisfy the judgment; any settlement agreements relevant to the subject matter of this action; any statement of any party to the litigation;

D.

E.

F. G. 2.

Additional Disclosures. Each party shall provide to every other party the following information: A. B. the disclosures required by the Court's Patent Rules in accordance with the deadlines set forth in said rules and the Court's Docket Control Order; to the extent that any party pleads a claim for relief or defensive matter other than those addressed in the Patent Rules, within forty-five (45) days after the Scheduling Conference and without awaiting a discovery request, a copy of all documents, data compilations and tangible things in the possession, custody, or control of the party that are relevant to those additionally pleaded claims or defenses involved in this action. By written agreement of all parties, alternative forms of disclosure may be provided in lieu of paper copies. For example, the parties may agree to exchange images of documents electronically or by means of computer disk; or the parties may agree to review and copy disclosure materials at the offices of the attorneys representing the parties instead of requiring each side to furnish paper copies of the disclosure materials; and within forty-five (45) days after the Scheduling Conference a complete computation of any category of damages claimed by any party to the action, making available for inspection and copying (See Local Rule CV-34), the documents or other evidentiary
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materials on which such computation is based, including materials bearing on the nature and extent of injuries suffered; and those documents and authorizations described in Local Rule CV-34. 3. Testifying Experts. By the date provided in the Docket Control Order, each party shall disclose to the other party or parties: A. B. C. the expert's name, address, and telephone number; the subject matter on which the expert will testify; the general substance of the expert's mental impressions and opinions and a brief summary of the basis for them, or if the expert is not retained by, employed by, or otherwise subject to the control of the disclosing party, documents reflecting such information; if the expert is retained by, employed by, or otherwise subject to the control of the disclosing party; (1) all documents, tangible things, reports, models, or data compilations that have been provided to, reviewed by, or prepared by or for the expert in anticipation of the expert's testimony; and the expert's current resume and bibliography.

D.

(2) 4.

Discovery Limitations. Discovery is limited in this cause to the disclosures described in Paragraphs 1 - 3 together with 60 interrogatories, 60 requests for admissions, the depositions of the parties, depositions on written questions of custodians of business records for third parties, depositions of two expert witnesses per side or the parties may agree on a number of hours of depositions. "Side" means a party or a group of parties with a common interest. Privileged Information. There is no duty to disclose privileged documents or information. However, the parties are directed to meet and confer concerning privileged documents or information after the Scheduling Conference. By the date provided in the Docket Control Order, the parties shall exchange privilege logs identifying the documents or information and the basis for any disputed claim of privilege in a manner that, without revealing information itself privileged or protected, with enable the other parties to assess the applicability of the privilege or protection. A party may move the Court for an order compelling the production of any privileged documents or information identified on any other party's privilege log. If such a motion is made, the party asserting privilege shall file with the Court within thirty (30) days of the filing of the motion to compel any proof in the form of declarations or affidavits to support their assertions of privilege, along with the documents over which privilege is asserted for in camera inspection. If the parties have no disputes concerning privileged documents or information, then the parties shall file a notice so stating by the date provided in the Docket Control Order. Pre-trial Disclosures. By the date provided in the Docket Control Order, each party shall provide to every other party the following disclosures regarding the evidence that the disclosing party intends to present at trial:
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A.

B.

C.

The name and, if not previously provided, the address and telephone number, of each witness, separately identifying those whom the party expects to present at trial and those whom the party may call if the need arises. The designation of those witnesses whose testimony is expected to be presented by means of a deposition and, if not taken stenographically, a transcript of the pertinent portions of the deposition testimony. An appropriate identification of each document or other exhibit, including summaries of other evidence, separately identifying those which the party expects to offer and those which the party may offer if the need arises.

By the date provided in the Docket Control Order, a party may serve and file a list disclosing (1) any objections to the use under Rule 32(a) of a deposition designated by another party under subparagraph "B." above; and (2) any objections, together with the grounds therefor, that may be made to the admissibility of materials identified under subparagraph "C." above. Objections not so disclosed, other than objections under Rules 402 and 403 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, shall be deemed waived unless excused by the Court for good cause shown. 7. Signature. The disclosures required by this order shall be made in writing and signed by the party or counsel and shall constitute a certification that, to the best of the signer's knowledge, information and belief, such disclosure is complete and correct as of the time it is made. Exchange of Disclosures. If feasible, counsel shall meet to exchange disclosures required by this order; otherwise, such disclosures shall be served as provided by Fed. R. Civ. P. 5. Notification of the Court. The parties shall promptly file a notice with the Court that the disclosures required under this order have taken place. Duty to Supplement. After disclosure is made pursuant to this order, each party is under a duty to supplement or correct its disclosures immediately if the party obtains information on the basis of which it knows that the information disclosed was either incomplete or incorrect when made, or is no longer complete or true. Protective Orders. A copy of the Court's standard protective order is available on the Court's website at www.txed.uscourts.gov entitled "Judge Davis Standard Protective Order." A party may request that the Court issue the Protective Order. However, a party may propose the issuance of or move to modify the terms of the Protective Order for good cause. Rules of Practice. The Court's rules of practice for patent cases are on the Court's website at www.txed.uscourts.gov. Discovery Disputes. Counsel are directed to contact the chambers of the undersigned for any "hot-line" disputes before contacting the Discovery Hotline provided by Local Rule CV5

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26(f). If the undersigned is not available, the parties shall proceed in accordance with Local Rule CV-26(f). 14. No Excuses. A party is not excused from the requirements of this Discovery Order because it has not fully completed its investigation of the case, or because it challenges the sufficiency of another party's disclosures, or because another party has not made its disclosures. Absent court order to the contrary, a party is not excused from disclosure because there are pending motions to dismiss, to remand or to change venue. Parties asserting the defense of qualified immunity may submit a motion to limit disclosure to those materials necessary to decide the issue of qualified immunity. E-Filing. Except for good cause shown or as provided in the Local Rules, all documents (with exception of those documents referenced in the local rules) in cases pending in this Court shall be filed electronically. This includes notices of disclosure, notices of no privilege issues, proposed orders, and mediator's reports. The file in each case is maintained electronically. Neither the clerks office nor the Court will maintain a paper file except as provided in the local rules. When filing electronically, the Court prefers: (i) (ii) (iii) that documents be published to PDF and then filed with the Court rather than filing scanned documents; proposed orders be included as attachments to motions filed rather than incorporated within the body of the filed motion; proposed orders should NOT contain an "it is so ordered" designation, signature line, or date line since this information is contained in the Judge's electronic signature stamp and proposed orders should NOT contain the word "Proposed" in the title of the document.

15.

(iv)

16.

Courtesy Paper Copies. In cases pending before this Court, the parties are exempt from complying with Local Rule CV-5 which requires that paper copies be provided to the presiding judge's chambers if a document exceeds five pages in length. Paper copies will not be accepted by this Court unless specifically requested or as provided below. Hearing Notebooks. Within ten days following the filing of responses to dispositive or Daubert motions, the movant is to provide the Court with an original and one copy of a hearing notebook containing the motion, any response, any reply and any surreply with the corresponding docket numbers on each and all pleadings and exhibits appropriately tabbed. Requests for Production. Because documents relevant to any claim or defense are to be produced pursuant to the Patent Rules and paragraphs one and two of this Order, requests for production are unnecessary. However, should a party believe that certain relevant documents have not been produced, that party may request said documents by letter. The Court will entertain a motion to compel documents without the necessity of a movant propounding
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formal requests for production.

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APPENDIX B PROPOSED DEADLINES FOR DOCKET CONTROL ORDER TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE SCHEDULING CONFERENCE
May 14, 2007
C o u r t designated date ­ n o t flexible without g o o d cause - Motion R e q u ir e d

9:00 a.m. JURY TRIAL as reached at the United States District Court, 211 W. Ferguson, 3rd Floor, Courtroom of Judge Leonard Davis, Tyler, Texas.

Day of Trial

EXHIBITS & EXHIBIT LISTS: Each party is requested to provide the Court with an original and two courtesy copies of exhibits and exhibit lists. The Court's preferred format for Exhibit Lists is available on the Court's website at www.txed.uscourts.gov under "Judges' Orders & Information." If exhibits are voluminous, provide only specific pages that pertain to the issues on the two courtesy copies. The original exhibits that are agreed upon by the parties, should be ready to be tendered to the Clerk of the Court at the beginning of trial. Other exhibits that are admitted during trial should be tendered to the Clerk of the Court immediately after admission. The parties are further requested to have all exhibits labeled with the following information on each label: Designation of Plaintiff's or Defendant's Exhibit Number and Case Number. For example:
Plaintiff's Exhibit Exhibit No. ______________ Case No. ________________ Defendant's Exhibit Exhibit No. _______________ Case No. _________________

May 7, 2007
C o u r t designated date ­ n o t flexible without g o o d cause - Motion R e q u ir e d

9:00 a.m. JURY SELECTION at the United States District Court, 211 W. Ferguson, 3rd Floor, Courtroom of Judge Leonard Davis, Tyler, Texas.

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April 26, 2007
C o u r t designated date ­ n o t flexible without g o o d cause - Motion R e q u ir e d

9:00 a.m. PRETRIAL CONFERENCE at the United States District Court, 211 W. Ferguson, 3r d Floor, Courtroom of Judge Leonard Davis, Tyler, Texas.

3 days before pretrial

Motions in Limine due. The parties are directed to confer and advise the Court on or before 3:00 o'clock p.m. the day before the pre-trial conference which paragraphs are agreed to and those that need to be addressed at the pre-trial conference. Pretrial Objections due. Objections to Rebuttal Deposition Testimony due. Rebuttal Designations and Objections to Deposition Testimony due. Cross examination line and page numbers to be included. In video depositions, each party is responsible for preparation of the final edited video in accordance with their parties' designations and the Court's rulings on objections. Pretrial Disclosures due. Video and Stenographic Deposition Designation due. Each party who proposes to offer deposition testimony shall file a disclosure identifying the line and page numbers to be offered. Joint Pretrial Order, Joint Proposed Jury Instructions with citation to authority and Form of the Verdict for jury trials due. Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law with citation to authority for bench trials. Notice of Request for Daily Transcript or Real Time Reporting of Court Proceedings due. If a daily transcript or real time reporting of court proceedings is requested for trial or hearings, the party or parties making said request shall file a notice with the Court and email the Court Reporter, Shea Sloan, at [e-mail]. Response to Dispositive Motions (including Daubert motions) due. Responses to dispositive motions filed prior to the dispositive motion deadline, including Daubert motions, shall be due in accordance with Local Rule CV-7(e). Dispositive Motions due from all parties and any other motions that may require a hearing (including Daubert motions); Motions for Summary Judgment shall comply with Local Rule CV-56.

5 days before pretrial 20 days before pretrial 25 days before pretrial

35 days before pretrial

55 days before pretrial

At least 15 days after dispositive motion date below March 28, 2007
C o u r t designated date ­ n o t flexible without g o o d cause ­ Motion R e q u ir e d

3 days before Dispositive Motions

Parties to Identify Rebuttal Trial Witnesses.

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14 days before Dispositive Motions

Parties to Identify Trial Witnesses; Amend Pleadings (after Markman Hearing). It is not necessary to file a Motion for Leave to Amend before the deadline to amend pleadings. It is necessary to file a Motion for Leave to Amend after the deadline. However, except as provided in Patent Rule 3-6, if the amendment would effect preliminary or final infringement contentions or preliminary or final invalidity contentions, a motion must be made pursuant to Patent Rule 3-7 irrespective of whether the amendment is made prior to this deadline. Discovery Deadline. Parties designate rebuttal expert witnesses (non-construction issues), Rebuttal expert witness reports due. Refer to Local Rules for required information. Parties with burden of proof designate expert witnesses (non-construction issues). Expert witness reports due. Refer to Local Rules for required information. Comply with P.R.3-8 - Furnishing documents and privilege logs pertaining to willful infringement. Markman Hearing at 9:00 a.m. at the United States District Court, 211 West Ferguson, 3rd Floor, Courtroom of Judge Leonard Davis, Tyler, Texas.

28 days before Dispositive Motions 58 days before Dispositive Motions 68 days before Dispositive Motions 98 days before Dispositive Motions November 28, 2006
C o u r t designated date ­ n o t flexible without g o o d cause ­ Motion R e q u ir e d

10 days before Markman Hearing 14 days before Markman Hearing

Parties shall jointly submit a claim construction chart on computer disk in WordPerfect format or in such other format as the Court may direct in accordance with P.R. 4-5(d). Parties to file a notice with the Court stating the estimated amount of time requested for the Markman Hearing. The Court will notify the parties if it is unable to accommodate this request. Comply with P.R. 4-5(c) - Reply brief and supporting evidence due re response to claim construction. The moving party is to provide the Court with 2 binders containing their reply brief and exhibits appropriately tabbed. If a technical advisor has been appointed the moving party is to provide their brief on disk or CD along with a hard copy, tabbed and bound in notebook format with exhibits to the advisor.

21 days before Markman Hearing

Comply with P.R. 4-5(b) - Responsive brief and supporting evidence due to party claiming patent infringement. The moving party is to provide the Court with 2 binders containing their Markman brief and exhibits appropriately tabbed. If a technical advisor has been appointed the moving party is to provide their Markman brief on disk or CD along with a hard copy, tabbed and bound in notebook format with exhibits to the advisor.

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35 days before Markman Hearing

Comply with P.R. 4-5(a) - The party claiming patent infringement shall serve and file an opening brief and any evidence supporting its claim construction. The moving party is to provide the Court with 2 binders containing their Markman brief and exhibits appropriately tabbed. If a technical advisor has been appointed the moving party is to provide their Markman brief on disk or CD along with a hard copy, tabbed and bound in notebook format with exhibits to the advisor. Deadline for parties, if they desire, to provide Court with tutorials concerning technology involved in patent. If a technical advisor has been appointed, each party that provides a tutorial shall provide a copy to the advisor. Discovery Deadline - Claim Construction Issues. Respond to Amended Pleadings. Parties to provide name, address, phone number, and curriculum vitae for three (3) agreed technical advisors and information regarding the nominee's availability for Markman hearing or a statement that they could not reach an agreement as to any potential technical advisor. Amended Pleadings (pre-claim construction) due from all parties. It is not necessary to file a Motion for Leave to Amend before the deadline to amend pleadings. It is necessary to file a Motion for Leave to Amend after the deadline. However, if the amendment would affect preliminary infringement contentions or preliminary invalidity contentions, a motion must be made pursuant to Patent Rule 3-7 irrespective of whether the amendment is made prior to this deadline. Comply with P.R. 4-3 - Filing of Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement. Comply with P.R. 4-2 - Exchange of Preliminary Claim Constructions and Extrinsic Evidence. Privilege Logs to be exchanged by parties (or a letter to the Court stating that there are no disputes as to claims of privileged documents). Comply with P.R. 4-1 - Exchange Proposed Terms and Claim Elements for Construction. Comply with P.R. 3-3 - Preliminary Invalidity Contentions due. Thereafter, it is necessary to obtain leave of Court to add and/or amend invalidity contentions, pursuant to Patent Rule 3-7. Add any inequitable conduct allegations to pleadings. It is not necessary to file a motion for leave to add inequitable conduct allegations to pleadings prior to this date. Thereafter, it is necessary to obtain leave of Court to add inequitable conduct allegations to pleadings.

42 days before Markman Hearing 49 days before Markman Hearing 63 days before Markman Hearing 70 days before Markman Hearing

77 days before Markman Hearing

80 days before Markman Hearing 110 days before Markman Hearing 65 days from Sched Conference 55 days from Sched Conference

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10 days from Sched Conf

Comply with P.R. 3-1 and P.R. 3-2 - Disclosure of Asserted Claims and Preliminary Infringement Contentions due. Thereafter, it is necessary to obtain leave of Court to add and/or amend infringement contentions, pursuant to Patent Rule 3-7. Join Additional Parties. It is not necessary to file a motion to join additional parties prior to this date. Thereafter, it is necessary to obtain leave of Court to join additional parties. Add new patents and/or claims for patents-in-suit. It is not necessary to file a motion to add additional patents or claims prior to this date. Thereafter, it is necessary to obtain leave of Court to add patents or claims. Mediation. The Court refers most cases to mediation. The parties should discuss proposed mediators and timing of mediation prior to the Scheduling Conference and be prepared with a recommendation for the Court.

Deadline Date

Mediation to be completed. (Name), (address), and (phone number) is appointed as mediator in this cause. The mediator shall be deemed to have agreed to the terms of Court Ordered Mediation Plan of the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Texas by going forth with the mediation in accordance with this order. General Order 99-2. EXPECTED LENGTH OF TRIAL

No. of trial days

In the event that any of these dates fall on a weekend or Court holiday, the deadline is modified to be the next Court business day. The parties are directed to Local Rule CV-7(d), which provides in part that "[i]n the event a party fails to oppose a motion in the manner prescribed herein the Court will assume that the party has no opposition." Local Rule CV-7(e) provides that a party opposing a motion has 15 days in which to serve and file supporting documents and briefs after which the Court will consider the submitted motion for decision. OTHER LIMITATIONS (a) All depositions to be read into evidence as part of the parties' case-in-chief shall be EDITED so as to exclude all unnecessary, repetitious, and irrelevant testimony; ONLY those portions which are relevant to the issues in controversy shall be read into evidence. The Court will refuse to entertain any motion to compel discovery filed after the date of this Order unless the movant advises the Court within the body of the motion that counsel for the parties have first conferred in a good faith attempt to resolve the matter. See Eastern District of Texas Local Rule CV-7(h). The following excuses will not warrant a continuance nor justify a failure to comply with the discovery deadline: (i) (ii) The fact that there are motions for summary judgment or motions to dismiss pending; The fact that one or more of the attorneys is set for trial in another court on
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(b)

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(iii)

the same day, unless the other setting was made prior to the date of this order or was made as a special provision for the parties in the other case; The failure to complete discovery prior to trial, unless the parties can demonstrate that it was impossible to complete discovery despite their good faith effort to do so.

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APPENDIX C
P A T E N T RULES 1 . SCOPE OF RULES 1 - 1 . Title. T h e se are the Rules of Practice for Patent Cases before the Eastern District of Texas. They should be cited as " P . R. ___." 1 -2 . Scope and Construction. T h e s e rules apply to all civil actions filed in or transferred to this Court which allege infringement of a utility p a t e n t in a complaint, counterclaim, cross-claim or third party claim, or which seek a declaratory judgment that a utility p a t e n t is not infringed, is invalid or is unenforceable. T h e Court may accelerate, extend, eliminate, or modify the o b lig a t io n s or deadlines set forth in these Patent Rules based on the circumstances of any particular case, including, w i th o u t limitation, the complexity of the case or the number of patents, claims, products, or parties involved. If any m o tio n filed prior to the Claim Construction Hearing provided for in P. R. 4-6 raises claim construction issues, the Court m a y , for good cause shown, defer the motion until after completion of the disclosures, filings, or ruling following the C la i m Construction Hearing. The Civil Local Rules of this Court shall also apply to these actions, except to the extent th a t they are inconsistent with these Patent Rules. The deadlines set forth in these rules may be modified by Docket C o n t r o l Order issued in specific cases. 1 - 3 . Effective Date. T h e s e Patent Rules shall take effect on February 22, 2005 and shall apply to any case filed thereafter and to any p e n d i n g case in which more than 9 days remain before the Initial Disclosure of Asserted Claims is made. The parties to a n y other pending civil action shall meet and confer promptly after February 22, 2005, for the purpose of determining w h e th e r any provision in these Patent Rules should be made applicable to that case. No later than 7 days after the parties m e e t and confer, the parties shall file a stipulation setting forth a proposed order that relates to the application of these P a te n t Rules. Unless and until an order is entered applying these Patent Local Rules to any pending case, the Rules p r e v io u s ly applicable to pending patent cases shall govern. 2 . GENERAL PROVISIONS 2 - 1 . Governing Procedure. ( a ) Initial Case Management Conference. W h e n the parties confer with each other pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 2 6 ( f) , in addition to the matters covered by Fed.R.Civ.P. 26, the parties must discuss and address in the Case M a n a g e m e n t Statement filed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(f), the following topics: ( 1 ) Proposed modification of the deadlines provided for in the Patent Rules, and the effect of any such m o d i f ic a t i o n on the date and time of the Claim Construction Hearing, if any; ( 2 ) W h e t h e r the Court will hear live testimony at the Claim Construction Hearing; ( 3 ) The need for and any specific limits on discovery relating to claim construction, including d e p o s itio n s of witnesses, including expert witnesses; ( 4 ) The order of presentation at the Claim Construction Hearing; and ( 5 ) The scheduling of a Claim Construction Prehearing Conference to be held after the Joint Claim C o n s tr u c tio n and Prehearing Statement provided for in P. R. 4-3 has been filed. ( b ) Further Case M a n a g e m e n t Conferences. To the extent that some or all of the matters provided for in P. R. 2 -1 (a)(1)-(5) are not resolved or decided at the Initial Case Management Conference, the parties shall propose dates for fu r th e r Case Management Conferences at which such matters shall be decided.

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2 - 2 . Confidentiality.

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I f any document or information produced under these Patent Local Rules is deemed confidential by the p r o d u c i n g party and if the Court has not entered a protective order, until a protective order is issued by the Court, the d o c u m e n t shall be marked "confidential" or with some other confidential designation (such as "Confidential ­ Outside A tto r n e ys Eyes Only") by the disclosing party and disclosure of the confidential document or information shall be limited to each party's outside attorney(s) of record and the employees of such outside attorney(s). I f a party is not represented by an outside attorney, disclosure of the confidential document or information shall b e limited to one designated "in house" attorney, whose identity and job functions shall be disclosed to the producing p a r ty 5 court days prior to any such disclosure, in order to permit any motion for protective order or other relief regarding s u c h disclosure. The person(s) to whom disclosure of a confidential document or information is made under this local r u le shall keep it confidential and use it only for purposes of litigating the case. 2 -3 . Certification of Initial Disclosures. A ll statements, disclosures, or charts filed or served in accordance with these Patent Rules must be dated and s ig n e d by counsel of record. Counsel's signature shall constitute a certification that to the best of his or her knowledge, in fo r m a tio n , and belief, formed after an inquiry that is reasonable under the circumstances, the information contained in the statement, disclosure, or chart is complete and correct at the time it is made. 2 -4 . Admissibility of Disclosures. S t a te m e n t s , disclosures, or charts governed by these Patent Rules are admissible to the extent permitted by the F e d e r a l Rules of Evidence or Procedure. However, the statements or disclosures provided for in P. R. 4-1 and 4-2 are n o t admissible for any purpose other than in connection with motions seeking an extension or modification of the time p e r io d s within which actions contemplated by these Patent Rules must be taken. 2 - 5 . Relationship to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. E x c e p t as provided in this paragraph or as otherwise ordered, it shall not be a legitimate ground for objecting to an opposing party's discovery request (e.g., interrogatory, document request, request for admission, deposition q u e s tio n ) or declining to provide information otherwise required to be disclosed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(1) that th e discovery request or disclosure requirement is premature in light of, or otherwise conflicts with, these Patent Rules. A party may object, however, to responding to the following categories of discovery requests (or decline to provide in fo r m a tio n in its initial disclosures under Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(1)) on the ground that they are premature in light of the tim e t a b le provided in the Patent Rules: ( a ) Requests seeking to elicit a party's claim construction position; ( b ) Requests seeking to elicit from the patent claimant a comparison of the asserted claims and the accused a p p a r a t u s , product, device, process, method, act, or other instrumentality; ( c ) Requests seeking to elicit from an accused infringer a comparison of the asserted claims and the prior art; and ( d ) Requests seeking to elicit from an accused infringer the identification of any opinions of counsel, and related d o c u m e n t s , that it intends to rely upon as a defense to an allegation of willful infringement. W h e re a party properly objects to a discovery request (or declines to provide information in its initial d i s c l o s u r e s under Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(a)(1)) as set forth above, that party shall provide the requested information on the date o n which it is required to provide the requested information to an opposing party under these Patent Rules, unless there e x i s ts another legitimate ground for objection.

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3 . PATENT INITIAL DISCLOSURES 3 -1 . Disclosure of Asserted Claims and Preliminary Infringement Contentions. N o t later than 10 days after the Initial Case Management Conference, a party claiming patent infringement must s e r v e on all parties a "Disclosure of Asserted Claims and Preliminary Infringement Contentions." Separately for each o p p o s in g party, the "Disclosure of Asserted Claims and Preliminary Infringement Contentions" shall contain the fo llo w i n g information: ( a ) Each claim of each patent in suit that is allegedly infringed by each opposing party; ( b ) Separately for each asserted claim, each accused apparatus, product, device, process, method, act, or other i n s t r u m e n t a l i ty ("Accused Instrumentality") of each opposing party of which the party is aware. This id e n tific a tio n shall be as specific as possible. Each product, device, and apparatus must be identified by name o r model number, if known. Each method or process must be identified by name, if known, or by any product, d e v ic e , or apparatus which, when used, allegedly results in the practice of the claimed method or process; ( c ) A chart identifying specifically where each element of each asserted claim is found within each Accused I n s tr u m e n ta l ity , including for each element that such party contends is governed by 35 U.S.C. § 112(6), the id e n t i t y of the structure(s), act(s), or material(s) in the Accused Instrumentality that performs the claimed fu n c tio n ; ( d ) W h e t h e r each element of each asserted claim is claimed to be literally present or present under the doctrine o f equivalents in the Accused Instrumentality; ( e ) For any patent that claims priority to an earlier application, the priority date to which each asserted claim a l le g e d ly is entitled; and ( f) If a party claiming patent infringement wishes to preserve the right to rely, for any purpose, on the assertion th a t its own apparatus, product, device, process, method, act, or other instrumentality practices the claimed in v e n tio n , the party must identify, separately for each asserted claim, each such apparatus, product, device, p r o c e s s , method, act, or other instrumentality that incorporates or reflects that particular claim. 3 - 2 . Document Production Accompanying Disclosure. W ith the "Disclosure of Asserted Claims and Preliminary Infringement Contentions," the party claiming patent in fr in g e m e n t must produce to each opposing party or make available for inspection and copying: ( a ) Documents (e.g., contracts, purchase orders, invoices, advertisements, marketing materials, offer letters, beta s ite testing agreements, and third party or joint development agreements) sufficient to evidence each discussion w ith , disclosure to, or other manner of providing to a third party, or sale of or offer to sell, the claimed invention p r i o r to the date of application for the patent in suit. A party's production of a document as required herein shall n o t constitute an admission that such document evidences or is prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102; ( b ) All documents evidencing the conception, reduction to practice, design, and development of each claimed i n v e n t i o n , which were created on or before the date of application for the patent in suit or the priority date id e n t ifie d pursuant to P. R. 3-1(e), whichever is earlier; and ( c ) A copy of the file history for each patent in suit. T h e producing party shall separately identify by production number which documents correspond to each c a te g o ry. 3 -3 . Preliminary Invalidity Contentions. N o t later than 45 days after service upon it of the "Disclosure of Asserted Claims and Preliminary Infringement C o n t e n t i o n s , " each party opposing a claim of patent infringement, shall serve on all parties its "Preliminary Invalidity C o n te n t io n s " which must contain the following information: ( a ) The identity of each item of prior art that allegedly anticipates each asserted claim or renders it obvious. E a c h prior art patent shall be identified by its number, country of origin, and date of issue. Each prior art

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p u b lic a tio n must be identified by its title, date of publication, and where feasible, author and publisher. Prior a rt under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) shall be identified by specifying the item offered for sale or publicly used or k n o w n , the date the offer or use took place or the information became known, and the identity of the person or e n t ity which made the use or which made and received the offer, or the person or entity which made the in fo r m a tio n known or to whom it was made known. Prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(f) shall be identified by p r o v i d i n g the name of the person(s) from whom and the circumstances under which the invention or any part o f it was derived. Prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(g) shall be identified by providing the identities of the p e r s o n ( s ) or entities involved in and the circumstances surrounding the making of the invention before the p a t e n t applicant(s); ( b ) W h e th e r each item of prior art anticipates each asserted claim or renders it obvious. If a combination of ite m s of prior art makes a claim obvious, each such combination, and the motivation to combine such items, m u s t be identified; ( c ) A chart identifying where specifically in each alleged item of prior art each element of each asserted claim i s found, including for each element that such party contends is governed by 35 U.S.C. § 112(6), the identity o f the structure(s), act(s), or material(s) in each item of prior art that performs the claimed function; and ( d ) Any grounds of invalidity based on indefiniteness under 35 U.S.C. § 112(2) or enablement or written d e s c r i p t io n under 35 U.S.C. § 112(1) of any of the asserted claims. 3 -4 . Document Production Accompanying Preliminary Invalidity Contentions. W ith the "Preliminary Invalidity Contentions," the party opposing a claim of patent infringement must produce o r make available for inspection and copying: ( a ) Source code, specifications, schematics, flow charts, artwork, formulas, or other documentation sufficient to show the operation of any aspects or elements of an Accused Instrumentality identified by the patent claimant in its P. R. 3-1(c) chart; and (b) A copy of each item of prior art identified pursuant to P. R. 3-3(a) which does not appear in the file history o f the patent(s) at issue. To the extent any such item is not in English, an English translation of the portion(s) r e lie d upon must be produced. 3 - 5 . Disclosure Requirement in Patent Cases for Declaratory Judgment. ( a ) Invalidity Contentions If No Claim of Infringement. In all cases in which a party files a complaint or other p l e a d i n g seeking a declaratory judgment that a patent is not infringed, is invalid, or is unenforceable, P. R. 3-1 and 3-2 s h a l l not apply unless and until a claim for patent infringement is made by a party. If the defendant does not assert a claim fo r patent infringement in its answer to the complaint, no later than 10 days after the defendant serves its answer, or 10 d a y s after the Initial Case Management Conference, whichever is later, the party seeking a declaratory judgment must s e r v e upon each opposing party its Preliminary Invalidity Contentions that conform to P. R. 3-3 and produce or make a v a ila b le for inspection and copying the documents described in P. R. 3-4. The parties shall meet and confer within 10 d a y s of the service of the Preliminary Invalidity Contentions for the purpose of determining the date on which the p l a i n t i f f will file its Final Invalidity Contentions which shall be no later than 50 days after service by the Court of its C la i m Construction Ruling. ( b ) Applications of Rules W h e n No Specified Triggering Event. If the filings or actions in a case do not trigger th e application of these Patent Rules under the terms set forth herein, the parties shall, as soon as such circumstances b e c o m e known, meet and confer for the purpose of agreeing on the application of these Patent Rules to the case. ( c ) Inapplicability of Rule. This P. R. 3-5 shall not apply to cases in which a request for a declaratory judgment th a t a patent is not infringed, is invalid, or is unenforceable is filed in response to a complaint for infringement of the s a m e patent. 3 -6 . Final Contentions. E a c h party's "Preliminary Infringement Contentions" and "Preliminary Invalidity Contentions" shall be deemed to be that party's final contentions, except as set forth below. ( a ) If a party claiming patent infringement believes in good faith that (1) the Court's Claim Construction Ruling o r (2) the documents produced pursuant to P. R. 3-4 so requires, not later than 30 days after service by the Court

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o f its Claim Construction Ruling, that party may serve "Final Infringement Contentions" without leave of court th a t amend its "Preliminary Infringement Contentions" with respect to the information required by Patent R. 3 -1 ( c ) and (d). ( b ) Not later than 50 days after service by the Court of its Claim Construction Ruling, each party opposing a c l a i m of patent infringement may serve "Final Invalidity Contentions" without leave of court that amend its " P r e l i m i n a r y Invalidity Contentions" with respect to the information required by P. R. 3-3 if: ( 1 ) a party claiming patent infringement has served "Final Infringement Contentions" pursuant to P. R . 3-6(a), or ( 2 ) the party opposing a claim of patent infringement believes in good faith that the Court's Claim C o n s t r u c t io n Ruling so requires. 3 -7 . Amendment to Contentions. A m e n d m e n t or modification of the Preliminary or Final Infringement Contentions or the Preliminary or Final I n v a lid i ty Contentions, other than as expressly permitted in P. R. 3-6, may be made only by order of the Court, which s h a ll be entered only upon a showing of good cause. 3 -8 . W illfu l n e s s . B y the date set forth in the Docket Control Order, each party opposing a claim of patent infringement that will r e l y on an opinion of counsel as part of a defense to a claim of willful infringement shall: ( a ) Produce or make available for inspection and copying the opinion(s) and any other documents relating to th e opinion(s) as to which that party agrees the attorney-client or work product protection has been waived; and ( b ) Serve a privilege log identifying any other documents, except those authored by counsel acting solely as trial c o u n s e l, relating to the subject matter of the opinion(s) which the party is withholding on the grounds of a t to r n e y-c l ie n t privilege or work product protection. A party opposing a claim of patent infringement who does not comply with the requirements of this P. R. 3-8 s h a ll not be permitted to rely on an opinion of counsel as part of a defense to willful infringement absent a stipulation o f all parties or by order of the Court, which shall be entered only upon a showing of good cause. 4 . CLAIM CONSTRUCTION PROCEEDINGS 4 -1 . Exchange of Proposed Terms and Claim Elements for Construction. ( a ) Not later than 10 days after service of the "Preliminary Invalidity Contentions" pursuant to P. R. 3-3, each p a rty shall simultaneously exchange a list of claim terms, phrases, or clauses which that party contends should be c o n s t r u e d by the Court, and identify any claim element which that party contends should be governed by 35 U.S.C. § 112(6). ( b ) The parties shall thereafter meet and confer for the purposes of finalizing this list, narrowing or resolving d i f fe r e n c e s , and facilitating the ultimate preparation of a Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement. 4 - 2 . Exchange of Preliminary Claim Constructions and Extrinsic Evidence. ( a ) Not later than 20 days after the exchange of "Proposed Terms and Claim Elements for Construction" p u r s u a n t to P. R. 4-1, the parties shall simultaneously exchange a preliminary proposed construction of each claim term, p h r a s e , or clause which the parties collectively have identified for claim construction purposes. Each such "Preliminary C l a i m Construction" shall also, for each element which any party contends is governed by 35 U.S.C. § 112(6), identify t h e structure(s), act(s), or material(s) corresponding to that element. ( b ) At the same time the parties exchange their respective "Preliminary Claim Constructions," they shall each a l s o provide a preliminary identification of extrinsic evidence, including without limitation, dictionary definitions, c i t a t i o n s to learned treatises and prior art, and testimony of percipient and expert witnesses they contend support their r e sp e c tiv e claim constructions. The parties shall identify each such item of extrinsic evidence by production number or p r o d u c e a copy of any such item not previously produced. W ith respect to any such witness, percipient or expert, the

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p a r t i e s shall also provide a brief description of the substance of that witness' proposed testimony. ( c ) The parties shall thereafter meet and confer for the purposes of narrowing the issues and finalizing p r e p a r a t i o n of a Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement. 4 - 3 . Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement. N o t later than 60 days after service of the "Preliminary Invalidity Contentions," the parties shall complete and file a Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement, which shall contain the following information: ( a ) The construction of those claim terms, phrases, or clauses on which the parties agree; ( b ) Each party's proposed construction of each disputed claim term, phrase, or clause, together with an id e n t ific a t io n of all references from the specification or prosecution history that support that construction, and a n identification of any extrinsic evidence known to the party on which it intends to rely either to support its p r o p o s e d construction of the claim or to oppose any other party's proposed construction of the claim, including, b u t not limited to, as permitted by law, dictionary definitions, citations to learned treatises and prior art, and te s t im o n y of percipient and expert witnesses; ( c ) The anticipated length of time necessary for the Claim Construction Hearing; (d) W h e th e r any party proposes to call one or more witnesses, including experts, at the Claim Construction H e a r i n g , the identity of each such witness, and for each expert, a summary of each opinion to be offered in s u ffic i e n t detail to permit a meaningful deposition of that expert; and ( e ) A list of any other issues which might appropriately be taken up at a prehearing conference prior to the C la im Construction Hearing, and proposed dates, if not previously set, for any such prehearing conference. 4 - 4 . Completion of Claim Construction Discovery. N o t later than 30 days after service and filing of the Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement, the p a r t i e s shall complete all discovery relating to claim construction, including any depositions with respect to claim c o n s t r u c t i o n of any witnesses, including experts, identified in the Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement. 4 -5 . Claim Construction Briefs. ( a ) Not later than 45 days after serving and filing the Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement, the p a r t y claiming patent infringement shall serve and file an opening brief and any evidence supporting its claim c o n s tr u c ti o n . ( b ) Not later than 14 days after service upon it of an opening brief, each opposing party shall serve and file its r e s p o n s iv e brief and supporting evidence. ( c ) Not later than 7 days after service upon it of a responsive brief, the party claiming patent infringement shall s e r v e and file any reply brief and any evidence directly rebutting the supporting evidence contained in an opposing p a r ty 's response. ( d ) At least 10 days before the Claim Construction Hearing held pursuant to P.R. 4-6, the parties shall jointly s u b m i t a claim construction chart on computer disk in WordPerfect format or in such other format as the Court may d ire c t. ( 1 ) Said chart shall have a column listing complete language of disputed claims with disputed terms in bold type and separate columns for each party's proposed construction of each disputed term. The c h a r t shall also include a fourth column entitled "Court's Construction" and otherwise left blank. A d d itio n a l ly , the chart shall also direct the Court's attention to the patent and claim number(s) where th e disputed term(s) appear(s). ( 2 ) The parties may also include constructions for claim terms to which they have agreed. If the parties c h o o s e to include agreed constructions, each party's proposed construction columns shall state " [ A G R E E D ] " and the agreed construction shall be inserted in the "Court's Construction" column. (3) The purpose of this claim construction chart is to assist the Court and the parties in tracking and r e s o l v in g disputed terms. Accordingly, aside from the requirements set forth in this rule, the parties a r e afforded substantial latitude in the chart's format so that they may fashion a chart that most clearly a n d efficiently outlines the disputed terms and proposed constructions. Appendices to the Court's p r io r published and unpublished claim construction opinions may provide helpful guidelines for

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p a r t ie s fashioning claim construction charts. 4 -6 . Claim Construction Hearing. S u b j e c t to the convenience of the Court's calendar, two weeks following submission of the reply brief specified in P.R. 4-5(c), the Court shall conduct a Claim Construction Hearing, to the extent the parties or the Court believe a h e a r in g is necessary for construction of the claims at issue.

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