Blue Calypso, Inc. v. Groupon, Inc.

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against Groupon, Inc. ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0540-3705325.), filed by Blue Calypso, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit A - U.S. Patent No. 7,664,516, # 3 Exhibit B - U.S. Patent No. 8,155,679, # 4 Exhibit C - screen shot, # 5 D - screen shot)(Hill, Jack) (Entered: 07/31/2012)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
TYLER DIVISION
BLUE CALYPSO, INC.,
Plaintiff,
Civil Action No. 6:12-cv-486
v.
GROUPON, INC.

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Defendant.
COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
Blue Calypso files this Complaint and demand for jury trial seeking relief for
patent infringement by Groupon. Blue Calypso alleges the following:
THE PARTIES
1.

Plaintiff Blue Calypso, Inc. is a Delaware corporation, with its principal

place of business located in this District at 19111 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 200,
Dallas, Texas 75287.
2.

On information and belief, Defendant Groupon, Inc. is a Delaware

corporation, with its principal place of business at 600 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago,
Illinois 60654. Defendant Groupon, Inc. may be served with summons by serving its
registered agent for the service of process, The Corporation Trust Company at
Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
3.

This is an action for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of

the United States, 35 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT – Page 1

4.

This Court has personal jurisdiction over Groupon because Groupon has

sufficient minimum contacts with the forum as a result of business conducted within the
State of Texas and within this judicial district and because Groupon has committed acts
of patent infringement within the State of Texas and within this judicial district.
5.

Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b)

and (c) and 1400(b).
6.

On February 16, 2010, United States Patent No. 7,664,516 (“the ’516

patent”) entitled “Method and System for Peer-to-Peer Advertising Between Mobile
Communication Devices” was duly and legally issued by the United States Patent and
Trademark Office. Blue Calypso owns the ’516 patent by assignment. A true and correct
copy of the ’516 patent is attached as Exhibit A.
7.

On April 10, 2012, United States Patent No. 8,155,679 (“the ’679 patent”)

entitled “System and Method for Peer-to-Peer Advertising Between Mobile
Communication Devices” was duly and legally issued by the United States Patent and
Trademark Office. Blue Calypso owns the ’679 patent by assignment. A true and correct
copy of the ’679 patent is attached as Exhibit B.
8.

Groupon infringes by operating a computer-based system typified by the

screen shots attached as Exhibits C and D. Groupon enrolls both consumers and
advertisers in the program and offers deals to consumers, as shown in Exhibit C, based on
at least a geographic match between the consumer and the advertiser’s deal. In offering
the deal to the matched consumer Groupon encourages the consumer to refer the deal to
other consumers, and provides the referring consumer with content to carry out the
referral as shown in Exhibit D.

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT – Page 2

9.

On information and belief, Groupon has infringed and is infringing one or

more claims of the ’516 and ’679 patents, literally or under the doctrine of equivalents,
directly and indirectly. Groupon induces infringement by encouraging use of the system
by consumers and advertisers. Groupon contributorily infringes by, inter alia, providing
content to consumers for use in referring deals to other consumers (e.g., as shown on
Exhibit D).
10.

On information and belief, Groupon will continue to infringe the ’516 and

’679 patents unless and until it is enjoined by this Court.
11.

Groupon has caused and will continue to cause Blue Calypso irreparable

injury and damage by infringing the ’516 and ’679 patents. Blue Calypso will suffer
further irreparable injury, for which it has no adequate remedy at law, unless and until
Groupon is enjoined from infringing the ’516 and ’679 patents.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Blue Calypso respectfully requests that this Court:
1.

Enter judgment that Groupon has infringed the ’516 and ’679 patents;

2.

Enter an order permanently enjoining Groupon and its officers, agents,

employees, attorneys, and all persons in active concert or participation with any of them,
from infringing the ’516 and ’679 patents;
3.

Award Blue Calypso damages in an amount sufficient to compensate it for

Groupon’s infringement of the ’516 and ’679 patents, together with prejudgment and
post-judgment interest and costs under 35 U.S.C. § 284;
4.

Award Blue Calypso an accounting for acts of infringement not presented

at trial and an award by the Court of additional damage for any such acts of infringement;

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT – Page 3

5.

Declare this case to be “exceptional” under 35 U.S.C. § 285 and award

Blue Calypso its attorney fees, expenses, and costs incurred in this action; and
6.

Award Blue Calypso such other and further relief as this Court deems just

and proper.
JURY DEMAND
Blue Calypso hereby requests a trial by jury on all issues so triable by right.

Dated: July 31, 2012

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Thomas M. Melsheimer (by perm. Wesley Hill)
Thomas M. Melsheimer – Lead Attorney
Texas Bar No. 13922550
[e-mail]
Carl E. Bruce
Texas Bar No. 24036278
[e-mail]
FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.
1717 Main Street, Suite 5000
Dallas, Texas 75201
Telephone [phone]
Facsimile [phone]
Wesley Hill
Texas Bar No. 24032294
[e-mail]
WARD & SMITH LAW FIRM
1127 Judson Road, Suite 220
Longview, Texas 75601
Telephone [phone]
Facsimile [phone]
COUNSEL FOR BLUE CALYPSO, INC.

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT – Page 4