Bedrock Computer Technologies, LLC v. Softlayer Technologies, Inc. et al

Filing 200

Google Inc.s ANSWER to #191 Amended Complaint,, Affirmative Defenses, COUNTERCLAIM and Jury Demand against Bedrock Computer Technologies, LLC by Google Inc..(Briggs, Todd)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS TYLER DIVISION BEDROCK COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES LLC, Plaintiff, v. SOFTLAYER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., CITIWARE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, LLC, GOOGLE INC., YAHOO! INC., MYSPACE INC., AMAZON.COM INC., PAYPAL INC., MATCH.COM, LLC., AOL LLC, and CME GROUP INC., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

CASE NO. 6:09-CV-00269 Hon. Leonard E. Davis JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

DEFENDANT GOOGLE INC.'S ANSWER TO BEDROCK'S SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT, AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES, COUNTERCLAIMS, AND JURY DEMAND Defendant Google Inc. ("Google") answers Plaintiff Bedrock Computer Technologies LLC's ("Bedrock") Second Amended Complaint for Patent Infringement ("Second Amended Complaint") as follows: PARTIES 1. Google lacks sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the truth

of the allegations in paragraph 1, and therefore denies them. 2. The allegations of paragraph 2 are not directed to Google, and therefore no

answer is required. To the extent a response is required, Google is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 2, and therefore denies them.

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3.

The allegations of paragraph 3 are not directed to Google, and therefore no

answer is required. To the extent a response is required, Google is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 3, and therefore denies them. 4. Google admits that it is a corporation organized under the laws of the state of

Delaware with its principal place of business at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043. For the purposes of this action only, Google admits that it is doing business in the Eastern District of Texas and elsewhere in the United States. Google lacks sufficient information regarding the specific nature of Bedrock's allegations of infringement, and therefore, on this basis, denies that it is infringing or has infringed any valid and enforceable patent claim and that Bedrock is entitled to any relief therefrom. Google denies all remaining allegations of paragraph 4. 5. The allegations of paragraph 5 are not directed to Google, and therefore no

answer is required. To the extent a response is required, Google is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 5, and therefore denies them. 6. The allegations of paragraph 6 are not directed to Google, and therefore no

answer is required. To the extent a response is required, Google is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 6, and therefore denies them. 7. The allegations of paragraph 7 are not directed to Google, and therefore no

answer is required. To the extent a response is required, Google is without knowledge or

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information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 7, and therefore denies them. 8. The allegations of paragraph 8 are not directed to Google, and therefore no

answer is required. To the extent a response is required, Google is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 8, and therefore denies them. 9. The allegations of paragraph 9 are not directed to Google, and therefore no

answer is required. To the extent a response is required, Google is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 9, and therefore denies them. 10. The allegations of paragraph 10 are not directed to Google, and therefore no

answer is required. To the extent a response is required, Google is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 10, and therefore denies them. 11. Bedrock has withdrawn the allegations originally contained in paragraph 11 from

the Second Amended Complaint, and therefore no answer is required. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 12. Google admits that Bedrock's Second Amended Complaint alleges infringement

under the United States patent laws, and that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over these patent law claims. Consistent with the denial of the allegations of paragraph 15 below, on information and belief, Google denies that Bedrock has standing, and accordingly denies that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over Bedrock's patent claims in this particular case.

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13.

Google admits that venue is proper in the Eastern District of Texas for purposes

of this particular action only, but states that this case should be transferred to the Northern District of California pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure § 1404(a). 14. Google admits that it has transacted business in the State of Texas and this

District for the purpose of this particular action only, and that this Court has personal jurisdiction over it in this particular action only. Google admits that its website can be accessed in the State of Texas and the Eastern District of Texas. Google lacks sufficient information regarding the specific nature of Bedrock's allegations of infringement, and therefore, on this basis, denies that it is infringing or has infringed any valid and enforceable patent claim and that Bedrock is entitled to any relief therefrom. To the extent any remaining allegations of paragraph 14 are directed at Google, they are denied. To the extent the allegations of paragraph 14 are directed to other defendants, Google lacks sufficient information to admit or deny the allegations and therefore denies them. GENERAL ALLEGATIONS 15. Google admits that U.S. Patent No. 5,893,120 (the "`120 Patent") is entitled

"Methods and Apparatus for Information Storage and Retrieval Using a Hashing Technique with External Chaining and On-the-Fly Removal of Expired Data." Google is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to whether Bedrock holds all right, title and interest in and to the `120 Patent and therefore denies those allegations. Google admits that a document that purports to be a true and correct copy of the `120 Patent is attached to Bedrock's Second Amended Complaint as Exhibit A. Google denies any remaining allegations of paragraph 15. 16. Google lacks sufficient information regarding the specific nature of Bedrock's

allegations of infringement, and therefore, on this basis, denies that it is infringing or has infringed any valid and enforceable patent claim and that Bedrock is entitled to any relief 4

therefrom. Google admits that it uses servers that run software based on one or more of the versions of Linux listed in paragraph 16, as consistent with Bedrock's explanation concerning its infringement contentions in its November 4, 2009 letter to Google's counsel. To the extent any remaining allegations of paragraph 16 are directed at Google, they are denied. To the extent the allegations of paragraph 16 are directed to other defendants, Google lacks sufficient information to admit or deny the allegations and therefore denies them. 17. Google lacks sufficient information regarding the specific nature of Bedrock's

allegations of infringement, and therefore, on this basis, denies that it is infringing or has infringed any valid and enforceable patent claim and that Bedrock is entitled to any relief therefrom. To the extent any remaining allegations of paragraph 17 are directed at Google, they are denied. To the extent the allegations of paragraph 17 are directed to other defendants, Google lacks sufficient information to admit or deny the allegations and therefore denies them. COUNT I Infringement of the `120 Patent 18. herein. 19. Google lacks sufficient information regarding the specific nature of Bedrock's Google incorporates its answers to paragraphs 1 through 17 as if set forth fully

allegations of infringement, and therefore, on this basis, denies that it is infringing or has infringed any valid and enforceable patent claim and that Bedrock is entitled to any relief therefrom. To the extent any remaining allegations of paragraph 19 are directed at Google, they are denied. To the extent the allegations of paragraph 19 are directed to other defendants, Google lacks sufficient information to admit or deny the allegations and therefore denies them. 20. Bedrock has withdrawn the allegations originally contained in paragraph 20 from

the Second Amended Complaint, and therefore no answer is required.

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21.

Google lacks sufficient information regarding the specific nature of Bedrock's

allegations of infringement, and therefore, on this basis, denies that it is infringing or has infringed any valid and enforceable patent claim and that Bedrock is entitled to any relief therefrom. To the extent any remaining allegations of paragraph 21 are directed at Google, they are denied. To the extent the allegations of paragraph 21 are directed to other defendants, Google lacks sufficient information to admit or deny the allegations and therefore denies them. PRAYER FOR RELIEF Google denies that Bedrock is entitled to any of the requested relief and denies any allegations in paragraphs 22 through 31 of its prayer for relief.

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AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES Google alleges and asserts the following affirmative defenses. In addition to the affirmative defenses described below and subject to its responses above, Google specifically reserves all rights to allege additional affirmative defenses that become known through the course of discovery. FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: Non-Infringement of the `120 Patent Google lacks sufficient information regarding the specific nature of Bedrock's allegations of infringement, and, on this basis, asserts that it does not infringe and has not infringed (not directly, contributorily, by inducement, nor in any other way) literally or under the doctrine of equivalents any claim of the `120 Patent. SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: Invalidity of the `120 Patent The claims of the `120 Patent are invalid for failure to satisfy one or more of the requirements of Title 35 of the United States Code including but not limited to §§ 101, 102, 103, 112 and 132. THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: Waiver, Acquiescence and/or Consent Bedrock's claims of infringement under the `120 Patent are barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrines of waiver, acquiescence and/or consent. FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: Unclean Hands Bedrock's claims of infringement under the `120 Patent are barred, in whole or in part, by unclean hands. FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: Laches Bedrock's claims of infringement under the `120 Patent are barred, in whole or in part, by laches.

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SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: Estoppel Bedrock's claims of infringement under the `120 Patent are barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrines of equitable estoppel and/or prosecution history estoppel. SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: Lack of Standing Bedrock lacks standing to assert infringement of the `120 Patent because it did not have sufficient rights in the `120 Patent at the time the suit was filed. EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: Failure to Join Bedrock has failed to name or join an indispensable party or parties to the present action, including but not limited to certain persons or entities who may have an ownership interest in the `120 Patent. NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: Bar to Damages Bedrock's claims for damages are barred, in whole or in part, under 35 U.S.C. § 286 (six year limitation), 35 U.S.C. § 287 (marking), and 28 U.S.C. § 1498 (government manufacture and use). COUNTERCLAIMS Pursuant to Rule 13 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Google asserts the following Counterclaims against Bedrock: THE PARTIES 1. Counterclaim-Plaintiff Google is a corporation organized and existing under the

laws of the state of Delaware with its principal place of business at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043. 2. Counterclaim-Defendant Bedrock purports to be a Texas corporation with its

principal place of business at 100 E. Ferguson Street, Suite 712, Tyler, TX 75702.

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JURISDICTION AND VENUE 3. Subject to Google's affirmative defenses and denials, including those concerning

Bedrock's lack of standing, Google alleges that this Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of these Counterclaims under, without limitation, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1367, 1338(a), 2201, and 2202. 4. Venue for these Counterclaims is proper in this district, but this case should be

transferred to the Northern District of California pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure § 1404(a). 5. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Bedrock. FACTUAL BACKGROUND 6. In its Second Amended Complaint, Bedrock asserts that Google has infringed

U.S. Patent No. 5,893,120 (the "`120 Patent"). Google denies Bedrock's allegations of infringement and further denies that the `120 patent is valid. Consequently, there is an actual case or controversy between the parties over the non-infringement and invalidity of the `120 Patent. COUNT ONE Declaratory Judgment of Non-Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,893,120 7. Google restates and incorporates by reference its allegations in paragraphs 1

through 6 of its Counterclaims. 8. An actual case or controversy exists between Google and Bedrock as to whether

the `120 Patent is not infringed by Google. 9. Google seeks a judicial declaration finding that Google has not infringed and does

not infringe, directly or indirectly, any claim of the `120 Patent.

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COUNT TWO Declaratory Judgment of Invalidity of U.S. Patent No. 5,893,120 10. Google restates and incorporates by reference its allegations in paragraphs 1

through 9 of its Counterclaims. 11. An actual case or controversy exists between Google and Bedrock as to whether

the `120 Patent is invalid. 12. Google seeks a judicial declaration finding that the `120 Patent is invalid for

failure to meet the conditions of patentability and/or otherwise comply with the requirements of Title 35, including but not limited to §§ 101, 102, 103, and/or 112. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Google prays for judgment as follows: a. A judgment in favor of Google denying Bedrock all relief requested in its Second Amended Complaint in this action and dismissing Bedrock's Second Amended Complaint with prejudice; b. c. A judgment in favor of Google on all of its Counterclaims; A declaration that Google has not infringed, either directly or indirectly, any valid claims of the `120 Patent; d. e. A declaration that the `120 Patent is invalid; A declaration that this case is exceptional under 35 U.S.C. § 285 and an award to Google of its reasonable costs and expenses of litigation, including attorneys' fees and expert witness fees; f. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.

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DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL In accordance with Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Local Rule CV38, Defendant respectfully demands a jury trial of all issues triable to a jury in this action.

Dated: April 30, 2010

Respectfully submitted, By: /s/ Todd M. Briggs Todd M. Briggs Michael E. Jones [e-mail] Texas State Bar No. 10929400 POTTER MINTON, PC 110 N. College Tyler, Texas 75702 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Claude M. Stern [e-mail] Todd M. Briggs [e-mail] QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN, LLP 555 Twin Dolphin Dr., 5th Floor Redwood Shores, CA 94065 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: 650-801-5100 ATTORNEYS FOR GOOGLE, INC.

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE The undersigned hereby certifies that counsel of record who are deemed to have consented to electronic service are being served with a copy of DEFENDANT GOOGLE INC.'S ANSWER TO BEDROCK'S SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT, AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES, COUNTERCLAIMS, AND JURY DEMAND, via the Court's CM/ECF system per Local Rule CV-5(a)(3) on April 30, 2010.

By: /s/ Todd M. Briggs Todd M. Briggs

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