Anascape, Ltd v. Microsoft Corp. et al

Filing 17

Defendant Nintendo of America Inc.'s ANSWER to Complaint with Jury Demand and, COUNTERCLAIM against Anascape, Ltd by Nintendo of America, Inc..(Germer, Lawrence)

Anascape, Ltd v. Microsoft Corp. et al

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS LUFKIN DIVISION § § § § § Hon. Ronald Clark § § Civil Action No.: 9:06-CV-00158-RC § JURY TRIAL DEMANDED § § §

ANASCAPE, LTD., Plaintiff, v. MICROSOFT CORP. and NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC., Defendants.

DEFENDANT NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.'S ANSWER AND COUNTERCLAIMS Defendant Nintendo of America Inc. ("NOA"), by and through its undersigned counsel, hereby answers the Original Complaint for Patent Infringement by plaintiff Anascape, Ltd. dated July 31, 2006 (the "Complaint"), and sets forth counterclaims, as follows: THE PARTIES 1. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of

paragraph 1 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 2. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of

paragraph 2 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 3. NOA admits the allegations of the first and second sentences of paragraph 3.

NOA admits that it sells video game consoles and video game controllers to consumers in the United States, including in the Eastern District of Texas, but denies the remaining allegations of the third sentence of paragraph 3.

Dockets.Justia.com

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4.

NOA admits that pursuant to paragraph 4 Anascape purports to collectively refer

to Microsoft and Nintendo in the Complaint as the "Defendants." JURISDICTION AND VENUE 5. NOA admits that pursuant to paragraph 5 Anascape purports to bring this action

under Title 35, United States Code, with subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a), but NOA denies any liability thereunder. 6. NOA admits that venue is proper in the Eastern District of Texas under 28 U.S.C.

§§ 1391 and 1400. 7. NOA does not contest personal jurisdiction over it in this case. NOA admits the

allegations of the second and third sentences of paragraph 7 insofar as they relate to NOA. NOA denies that it has directly infringed or contributed to or induced acts of infringement in the Eastern District of Texas or elsewhere. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 7 insofar as they relate to Microsoft and, therefore, denies these allegations. NOA denies the remaining allegations of paragraph 7. PATENT INFRINGEMENT 8. 9. NOA incorporates by reference paragraphs 1-7 as if fully set forth herein. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 5,999,084 (the "`084 patent") entitled

"Variable-Conductance Sensor" issued on December 7, 1999 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `084 patent is attached as Exhibit A to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 9 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 10. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,102,802 (the "`802 patent") entitled "Game

Controller with Analog Pressure Sensor(s)" issued on August 15, 2000 and lists Brad A. 2

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Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `802 patent is attached as Exhibit B to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 10 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 11. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,135,886 (the "`886 patent") entitled

"Variable-Conductance Sensor with Elastomeric Dome-Cap" issued on October 24, 2000 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `886 patent is attached as Exhibit C to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 11 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 12. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,208,271 (the "`271 patent") entitled "Remote

Controllers with Analog Button(s)" issued on March 27, 2001 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `271 patent is attached as Exhibit D to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 12 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 13. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,222,525 (the "`525 patent") entitled "Image

Controllers with Sheet Connected Sensors" issued on April 24, 2001 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `525 patent is attached as Exhibit E to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 13 and, therefore, denies these allegations.

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14.

NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,343,991 (the "`991 patent") entitled "Game

Control with Analog Pressure Sensor" issued on February 5, 2002 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `991 patent is attached as Exhibit F to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 14 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 15. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,344,791 (the "`791 patent") entitled "Variable

Sensor with Tactile Feedback" issued on February 5, 2002 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `791 patent is attached as Exhibit G to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 15 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 16. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,347,997 (the "`997 patent") entitled "Analog

Controls Housed with Electronic Displays" issued on February 19, 2002 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `997 patent is attached as Exhibit H to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 16 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 17. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,351,205 (the "`205 patent") entitled

"Variable-Conductance Sensor" issued on February 26, 2002 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `205 patent is attached as Exhibit I to the

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Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 17 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 18. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,400,303 (the "`303 patent") entitled "Remote

Controller with Analog Pressure Sensor(s)" issued on June 4, 2002 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `303 patent is attached as Exhibit J to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 18 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 19. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,563,415 (the "`415 patent") entitled "Analog

Sensor(s) with Snap-Through Tactile Feedback" issued on May 13, 2003 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `415 patent is attached as Exhibit K to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 19 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 20. NOA admits that U.S. Patent No. 6,906,700 (the "`700 patent") entitled "3D

Controller with Vibration" issued on June 14, 2005 and lists Brad A. Armstrong as the named inventor. NOA denies that this patent was duly and legally issued. NOA admits that an uncertified copy of a document purporting to be the `700 patent is attached as Exhibit L to the Complaint. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 20 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 21. NOA admits that pursuant to paragraph 21 Anascape purports to collectively refer

to the `084, `802, `886, `271, `525, `991, `791, `997, `205, `303, `415, and `700 patents as the "Patents-in-Suit."

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22.

NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of

paragraph 22 and, therefore, denies these allegations. 23. 24. NOA denies the allegations of paragraph 23. NOA denies the allegations of paragraph 24 insofar as they relate to NOA. NOA

is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 24 insofar as they relate to Microsoft and, therefore, denies these allegations. 25. NOA asserts that the allegations of paragraph 25 insofar as they relate to NOA

contain legal conclusions to which no response is required and, therefore, denies these allegations. NOA is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 25 insofar as they relate to Microsoft and, therefore, denies these allegations. 26. NOA denies the allegations of paragraph 26 insofar as they relate to NOA. NOA

is without sufficient information or belief to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 26 insofar as they relate to Microsoft and, therefore, denies these allegations. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES Further answering the complaint, NOA asserts that: FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Failure to State a Claim) 27. The Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Non-Infringement) 28. NOA has not infringed, and is not infringing, any valid and enforceable claim of

the `525, `791, `205, `415 or `700 patents, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, nor has it induced or contributorily infringed any claim of the `525, `791, `205, `415 or `700 patents. 6

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THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Invalidity) 29. The `525, `791, `205, `415 and `700 patents, and each claim thereof, are invalid

for failure to meet at least one of the requirements of patentability set forth in 35 U.S.C. §§ 101, 102, 103, and/or 112. FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Laches) 30. Anascape's claims for relief are barred, in whole or in part, by the equitable

doctrine of laches. FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (35 U.S.C. § 287) 31. § 287. SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Prosecution Laches) 32. Anascape's claims for relief are barred, in whole or in part, by the equitable Anascape's claims for relief are barred, in whole or in part, pursuant to 35 U.S.C.

doctrine of prosecution laches. SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Prosecution History Estoppel) 33. Anascape's claims for relief are barred under the doctrine of prosecution history

estoppel to the extent that Anascape alleges infringement under the doctrine of equivalents.

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EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Double Patenting) 34. Claims of one or more of the `525, `791, `205, `415 and `700 patents are invalid

for double patenting. NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Inequitable Conduct) 35. The `700 patent is unenforceable due to inequitable conduct in its prosecution

before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the "PTO"), as more particularly alleged below. 36. The application which led to the `700 patent, U.S. Patent Application No.

09/715,532 (the "`532 application"), was filed on November 16, 2000. The `532 application was filed and prosecuted by the named inventor, Brad A. Armstrong. 37. During prosecution of the `532 application, Mr. Armstrong filed a Preliminary

Amendment in the PTO dated July 15, 2002, in which he added new claims 39-77 to the application. Mr. Armstrong provided a sworn statement in the Preliminary Amendment stating that, inter alia, he was "the original, first and sole inventor" of the subject matter contained in the new claims and that "no new matter has been added" to the application by the Preliminary Amendment. 38. The sworn statement provided by Mr. Armstrong was false, known to be false and

made with the intent to mislead the PTO. The false statement was highly material to the patentability of the new claims. Mr. Armstrong's false statement constitutes inequitable conduct in the procurement of the `700 patent which renders the `700 patent unenforceable.

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TENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Indispensable Parties/Lack of Standing) 39. Anascape's claims are barred in whole or in part to the extent that parties

retaining rights to one or more of the `525, `791, `205, `415 and `700 patents are not parties to this lawsuit. ELEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Dedication to the Public) 40. Anascape has dedicated to the public any method or apparatus in the `525, `791,

`205, `415 and `700 patents but not literally claimed therein, and is estopped from claiming infringement by any such public domain method or apparatus. TWELFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Specification and Prosecution Disclaimer) 41. Anascape's claims for relief are barred under the doctrines of specification and

prosecution history disclaimer. THIRTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Unavailability of Relief (Enhanced Damages)) 42. On information and believe, Anascape has failed to plead and meet the

requirements of enhanced damages. FOURTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (Reservation of Rights) 43. NOA reserves the right to assert additional defenses which may become apparent

during discovery in this action. COUNTERCLAIMS

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Defendant and counterclaim plaintiff NOA, for its counterclaims against counterclaim defendant Anascape, alleges as follows: 44. Defendant and counterclaim plaintiff NOA is a Washington corporation having its

principal place of business at 4820 150th Avenue NE, Redmond, Washington 98052. 45. Upon information and belief, plaintiff and counterclaim defendant Anascape is a

limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of the State of Texas having its principal place of business in Tyler, Texas. 46. In its Complaint, Anascape alleges that it is the owner of the `791, `205, `415,

`700 and `525 patents. 47. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a), this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over these

counterclaims for declaratory judgment, brought pursuant to the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202. Venue for this counterclaim is proper under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b) and (c) and 1400(b). 48. Based on the Complaint that Anascape filed against NOA, a justiciable actual

controversy exists between NOA and Anascape with respect to the alleged infringement and validity of the `525, `791, `205, `415 and `700 patents. FIRST COUNTERCLAIM (Declaratory Judgment of Noninfringement) 49. NOA realleges and incorporates herein by reference all allegations in Paragraph

Nos. 27-48 above. 50. NOA has not infringed and is not infringing (either directly, contributorily or by

inducement), any claim of the `525, `791, `205, `415 and `700 patents. SECOND COUNTERCLAIM (Declaratory Judgment of Invalidity) 10

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51. 27-50 above. 52.

NOA realleges and incorporates herein by reference all allegations in paragraphs

NOA seeks a declaration that the `525, `791, `205, `415 and `700 patents and each

claim thereof are void and invalid for failure to comply with one or more of the requirements of Title 35, United States Code, including, but not limited to, Sections 101, 102, 103, and/or 112. THIRD COUNTERCLAIM (Declaratory Judgment of Unenforceability of the `700 Patent) 53. 27-52 above. 54. The `700 patent is unenforceable due to inequitable conduct in its prosecution NOA realleges and incorporates herein by reference all allegations in paragraphs

before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the "PTO"), as more particularly alleged below. 55. The application which led to the `700 patent, U.S. Patent Application No.

09/715,532 (the "`532 application"), was filed on November 16, 2000. The `532 application was filed and prosecuted by the named inventor, Brad A. Armstrong. 56. During prosecution of the `532 application, Mr. Armstrong filed a Preliminary

Amendment in the PTO dated July 15, 2002, in which he added new claims 39-77 to the application. Mr. Armstrong provided a sworn statement in the Preliminary Amendment stating that, inter alia, he was "the original, first and sole inventor" of the subject matter contained in the new claims and that "no new matter has been added" to the application by the Preliminary Amendment. 57. The sworn statement provided by Mr. Armstrong was false, known to be false and

made with the intent to mislead the PTO. The false statement was highly material to the

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patentability of the new claims. Mr. Armstrong's false statement constitutes inequitable conduct in the procurement of the `700 patent which renders the `700 patent unenforceable. 58. NOA seeks a declaration that the `700 patent is unenforceable due to the

inequitable conduct committed by the inventor of the `700 patent and/or his attorneys or agents. EXCEPTIONAL CASE 59. This case is exceptional under 35 U.S.C. § 285. JURY DEMAND NOA respectfully demands a trial by jury of any and all issues triable of right by jury in this action. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, NOA prays that this Court: (a) Dismiss the Complaint in its entirety with prejudice, with Anascape taking

nothing by its Complaint; (b) (c) `700 patents; (d) Adjudge and decree that NOA has not willfully infringed the `525, `791, `205, Adjudge and decree that all of Anascape's claims are denied; Adjudge and decree that NOA has not infringed the `525, `791, `205, `415 and

`415 and `700 patents; (e) (f) (g) Adjudge and decree that the `525, `791, `205, `415 and `700 patents are invalid; Adjudge and decree that the `700 patent is unenforceable; Award NOA its reasonable attorney fees and the costs of this action pursuant to

35 U.S.C. § 285; (h) Award NOA such further and other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

Dated: September 25, 2006 12

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Respectfully submitted, By: /s/ Lawrence L. Germer Lawrence L. Germer Texas Bar No. 07824000 GERMER GERTZ L.L.P 550 Fannin, Suite 400 P.O. Box 4915 Beaumont, Texas 77704 Tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] Robert J. Gunther, Jr. ([e-mail]) James S. Blank ([e-mail]) LATHAM & WATKINS LLP 885 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 Tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] Robert W. Faris ([e-mail]) Joseph S. Presta ([e-mail]) NIXON & VANDERHYE, P.C. 1100 North Glebe Road 8th Floor Arlington, VA 22201 Tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant Nintendo of America Inc.

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE This is to certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document has been served to the following counsel of record in the manner indicated this 25th day of September, 2006:

Via ECF/Notice of Electronic Filing Sam Baxter McKool Smith, P.C. 505 E. Travis, Suite 105 Marshall, Texas 75670 /s/ Lawrence L. Germer

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