Youtoo Technologies LLC v. Twitter Inc

Filing 258

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: This Order addresses the construction of several disputed claim terms pursuant to Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d 967 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (en banc), aff'd, 517 U.S. 370 (1996). Plaintiff VidStream, LLC ("VidStream") contends that Defendant Twitter, Inc. ("Twitter") infringes two United States Patents.1 Having reviewed the relevant intrinsic evidence in the record, and such extrinsic evidence as necessary, the Court construes the disputed terms and phrases as provided below. (Ordered by Chief District Judge David C Godbey on 12/18/2023) (oyh)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
DALLAS DIVISION
VIDSTREAM, LLC,
Plaintiff,
v.
TWITTER, INC.,
Defendant.

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Civil Action No. 3:16-CV-0764-N

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
This Order addresses the construction of several disputed claim terms pursuant to
Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d 967 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (en banc), aff’d, 517
U.S. 370 (1996).

Plaintiff VidStream, LLC (“VidStream”) contends that Defendant

Twitter, Inc. (“Twitter”) infringes two United States Patents. 1 Having reviewed the
relevant intrinsic evidence in the record, and such extrinsic evidence as necessary, the
Court construes the disputed terms and phrases as provided below.
I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
The Patents relate to a system for distribution of user-generated or supplied video
content over a network for distribution to either a traditional broadcast medium (“linear
television programming”) or an internet site that permits uploading of user video content
such as Youtube or TikTok. Linear television programming is characterized by segments

1

They are United States Patent Nos. 8,464,304 and 8,601,506 (the “’304 Patent” and the
“’506 Patent”, or collectively, the “Patents”).
ORDER – PAGE 1

of a specified length broadcast at a scheduled time. Internet streaming is characterized by
no set length and availability on demand.
II. BASIC CLAIM CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS
Claim construction is a question of law for the Court, see Markman, 517 U.S. at
391, although it may involve subsidiary factual questions. See Teva Pharm. USA, Inc. v.
Sandoz, Inc., 574 U.S. 318, 324-28 (2015). In construing the claims of a patent, the words
comprising the claims “are generally given their ordinary and customary meaning” as
understood by “a person of ordinary skill in the art in question at the time of the invention.”
Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312-13 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc) (citations and
internal quotation marks omitted). Accordingly, courts must determine the meaning of
claim terms in light of the resources that a person with such skill would review to
understand the patented technology. See id. at 1313 (citing Multiform Desiccants, Inc. v.
Medzam, Ltd., 133 F.3d 1473, 1477 (Fed. Cir. 1998)).
First, “the person of ordinary skill in the art is deemed to read the claim term . . . in
the context of the entire patent, including the specification.” Id. If the specification
“reveal[s] a special definition given to a claim term by the patentee that differs from the
meaning it would otherwise possess . . . , the inventor’s lexicography governs.” Id. at
1316. Likewise, if “the specification . . . reveal[s] an intentional disclaimer, or disavowal,
of claim scope by the inventor . . .[,] the inventor’s intention, as expressed in the
specification, is regarded as dispositive.”

Id. (citation omitted).

While the claims

themselves provide significant guidance as to the meaning of a claim term, the specification

ORDER – PAGE 2

is generally dispositive as “it is the single best guide to the meaning of a disputed term.”
Id. at 1314-15 (internal quotation marks omitted).
In addition to the specification, courts must examine the patent’s prosecution history
– that is, the “complete record of the proceedings before the PTO and includ[ing] the prior
art cited during the examination of the patent.” Id. at 1317 (citation omitted). “Like the
specification, the prosecution history provides evidence of how the PTO and the inventor
understood the patent.” Id. (citation omitted). In particular, courts must look to the
prosecution history to determine “whether the inventor limited the invention in the course
of prosecution, making the claim scope narrower than it would otherwise be.”
(citations omitted).

Id.

“[W]here the patentee has unequivocally disavowed a certain

meaning to obtain his patent, the doctrine of prosecution disclaimer attaches and narrows
the ordinary meaning of the claim congruent with the scope of the surrender.” Omega
Eng’g, Inc. v. Raytek Corp., 334 F.3d 1314, 1324 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
Finally, in addition to evidence intrinsic to the patent at issue and its prosecution
history, courts may look to “extrinsic evidence, which ‘consists of all evidence external to
the patent and prosecution history, including expert and inventor testimony, dictionaries,
and learned treatises.’” Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1317 (quoting Markman, 52 F.3d at 980).
In general, extrinsic evidence is “less reliable than the patent and its prosecution history in
determining how to read claim terms.” Id. at 1318.
When the intrinsic evidence, that is the patent specification and prosecution history,
unambiguously describes the scope of a patented invention, reliance on extrinsic evidence,
which is everything outside the specification and prosecution history, is improper. See
ORDER – PAGE 3

Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1583 (Fed. Cir. 1996). While the
Court may consult extrinsic evidence to educate itself about the invention and relevant
technology, it may not rely upon extrinsic evidence to reach a claim construction that is
clearly at odds with a construction mandated by the intrinsic evidence. See Key Pharm.
v. Hercon Labs. Corp., 161 F.3d 709, 716 (Fed. Cir. 1998).
III. DISPUTED TERMS
A. ADMINISTRATOR
Claim Term – administrator
VidStream Construction – no construction necessary
Twitter Construction – a person who is responsible for reviewing video content prior to
distribution
Analysis:
The parties’ primary disagreement is whether “administrator” must be a natural
person.

VidStream correctly notes that the specifications contemplate an automated

administrator. E.g., ’304 Patent at 3:37-39 (administrator application). Thus Twitter’s
proposed construction would exclude an embodiment in the specification. But “a claim
interpretation that excludes a preferred embodiment from the scope of the claim is rarely,
if ever, correct.” Accent Packaging, Inc. v. Leggett & Platt, Inc., 707 F.3d 1318, 1326
(Fed. Cir. 2013) (citation omitted). Accordingly, the Court agrees with VidStream that no
construction is necessary.

ORDER – PAGE 4

B. Video Length
Claim Terms – (a) video length defined by the instructions, with the video length
predefined at the server system in accordance with a time slot in a linear television
programming broadcast
(b) wherein the video length is defined in accordance with a time slot in linear television
programming
(c) wherein the video length is defined in accordance with a time slot in the linear television
programming broadcast
VidStream Construction – computer instructions provided by a server computing device to
a client computing device that identify a video length suitable for including video into a
traditional television program or broadcast
Twitter Construction – computer instructions provided by a server computing device to a
client computing device that identify a discrete video length suitable for including video
into a discrete window within traditional linear television programming segments
Analysis:
The parties participated in inter partes review before the Patent and Trademark
Appeal Board (“PTAB”). VidStream proposes the construction adopted by the PTAB.
Twitter proposes adding the additional terms “discrete” and “segments” to the PTAB’s
construction. The Court is not quite sure what is signified by “discrete video length” or
“discrete window” beyond just “video length” or “window.” The Court therefore adopts
the PTAB construction. See Notice, Ex. B at 7 [134-2] (IPR2017-0133, Decision Granting
Institution of Inter Partes Review, October 2, 2017).
ORDER – PAGE 5

C. Time Slot
Claim Term – time slot
VidStream Construction – no construction necessary
Twitter Construction – a discrete window within traditional linear television programming
segments
Analysis:
Twitter’s proposed construction again introduces “discrete window” and
“segments,” which are not found in the specification. It appears to the Court that “time
slot” is readily understood by a jury and does not require further construction.
D. Format for Linear Television
Claim Terms – (a) a format appropriate for inclusion in a linear television programming
broadcast
(b) the format appropriate for inclusion in the linear television programming broadcast
(c) a format appropriate for inclusion in a linear television programming transmission
(d) a format appropriate for inclusion in the linear television programming broadcast
VidStream Construction – not indefinite and no construction necessary
Twitter Construction – indefinite
Analysis:
A patent is indefinite, and thus invalid, when it fails to inform “those skilled in the
art about the scope of the invention” with “reasonable certainty.” BASF Corp. v. Johnson
Matthey Inc., 875 F.3d 1360, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (quoting Nautilus Inc. v. Biosig Instr.,
ORDER – PAGE 6

Inc., 572 U.S. 898, 901 (2014)). The burden is on Twitter to show indefiniteness and any
fact for indefiniteness must be shown by clear and convincing evidence. Intel Corp. v.
VIA Techs., Inc., 319 F.3d 1357, 1366 (Fed. Cir. 2003). VidStream’s expert, Dr. Jones,
opines that a person of ordinary skill in the art would have understood the scope of that
phrase with reasonable certainty. See VidStream App. at 97 (Jones Decl. ¶ 42). The
Court finds that evidence persuasive and accepts it. Accordingly, the Court holds the
phrase is not indefinite and requires no further construction.
E. Format Appropriate for Internet Distribution
Claim Term – format appropriate for Internet distribution
VidStream Construction – not indefinite and no construction necessary
Twitter Construction – indefinite
Analysis:
This is simply a replay of the preceding analysis. See VidStream App. at 101
(Jones Decl. ¶ 53). The Court finds that evidence persuasive and accepts it. Accordingly,
the Court holds the phrase is not indefinite and requires no further construction.
CONCLUSION
The Court orders that the various patent terms are construed as indicated. The
Court will by separate order establish a schedule for resolution of the remaining issues in
the case.

ORDER – PAGE 7

Signed December 18, 2023.

________________________________
David C. Godbey
Chief United States District Judge

ORDER – PAGE 8