Microstrategy Incorporated v. Apttus Corporation

Filing 24

MEMORANDUM OPINION. See Opinion for details. Signed by District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr on 07/17/2015. (ccol, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
Richmond Division

MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED,

Plaintiff,
V.

Case No. 3:15-cv-21 -JAG

APTTUS CORPORATION,
Defendant.
OPINION

MicroStrategy brought suit against Apttus claiming infringement on three of

MicroStrategy's patents. Based upon 35 U.S.C. 101,' the Court finds that the patents at issue
claim patent-ineligible subject matter. The three patents are directed at the abstract ideas of
report generation and data storage. Looking to the claims themselves, the Court finds nothing to
transform these abstract ideas into patent-eligible subject matter under the Supreme Court's Alice
decision. Consequently, the Court will GRANT the defendant's motion.
I. Background

MicroStrategy is a worldwide provider of enterprise software platforms for business
intelligence and analytics, including mobile applications, offered in the cloud and on business'

premises. MicroStrategy owns the three patents at issue, patents '798, '577, and '303.^ Apttus
Corporation provides business intelligence systems including software, web based services, and

' Apttus also argues the complaint should be dismissed because MicroStrategy fails to state a
claim under the Twombly and Iqbal pleading standards. Although the Court need not reach the
issue, the Court notes the plaintiff has failed to state a claim under Twombly and Iqbal. If the
case had proceeded, the Court would have granted the plaintiff leave to amend its complaint. See
Macronix International Co., v. Sponsion Inc., 4 F. Supp. 3d 797 (E.D. Va. 2014).

^These patents are continuations ofpatents originally filed in 2001.