Interval Licensing LLC v. AOL, Inc. et al

Filing 92

MOTION to Dismiss Joinder in Defs Google Inc. and YouTube's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim Upon Which Relief Can Be Granted by Defendant Facebook Inc. (Attachments: #1 Proposed Order) Noting Date 11/12/2010, (Durbin, Christopher)

Interval Licensing LLC v. eBay, Inc. et al

Doc. 92

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DEFENDANT FACEBOOK, INC.'S JOINDER IN GOOGLE'S MOTION TO DISMISS 2:10-cv-01385-MJP

HONORABLE MARSHA J. PECHMAN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE

INTERVAL LICENSING LLC, Plaintiff, v. AOL, INC., et al., Defendants.

Case No. No. 2:10-cv-01385-MJP DEFENDANT FACEBOOK, INC.'S JOINDER IN DEFENDANTS GOOGLE INC. AND YOUTUBE, LLC'S MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM UPON WHICH RELIEF CAN BE GRANTED PURSUANT TO FED. R. CIV. R. 12(b)(6) NOTED ON MOTION CALENDAR: November 12, 2010

I.

INTRODUCTION AND RELIEF REQUESTED

Defendant Facebook, Inc. ("Facebook"), through its undersigned counsel, respectfully joins in the Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim upon Which Relief Can Be Granted Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) filed by defendants Google Inc. and YouTube, LLC ("Google's Motion to Dismiss"). (D.I. 62.) Interval's complaint alleges that Facebook infringes U.S. Patent No. 6,757,682 (the "Fourth Cause of Action"), but does not indicate how the alleged infringement takes place, nor does it identify which products and/or services allegedly infringe. As such, Interval fails to meet the pleading requirements of the Federal Rules as interpreted by Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937 (2009) ("Iqbal"), and Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544
COOLEY LLP 719 SECOND AVE., STE. 900 SEATTLE, WA 98104 /[phone]

Dockets.Justia.com

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(2007) ("Twombly"). Because of this failure, Interval's Fourth Cause of Action should be dismissed. II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On August 27, 2010, Interval filed its complaint alleging that Facebook along with AOL, Apple, eBay, Google, Netflix, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples, Yahoo, and YouTube infringe U.S. Patent No. 6,757,682 ("the '682 Patent"). (D.I. 1 at ¶¶ 45­55.) Interval's allegations as to the '682 Patent are identical as to each defendant and merely assert that each infringes "by making and using websites and associated hardware and software to provide alerts that information is of current interest to a user as claimed in the patent."1 (Id.) Interval's allegations do not identify any Facebook products or services that are being accused of infringement, nor provide a factual basis for the infringement claim. III. ARGUMENT

The Supreme Court's decision in Twombly makes clear that a complaint must include "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. The Court further specified in Iqbal that in order to be facially plausible, a claim must plead "factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1949. "A pleading that offers `labels and conclusions' or a `formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.' Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders `naked assertion[s]' devoid of `further factual enhancement.'" Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 557). Interval's allegations in its Fourth Cause of Action against Facebook fail to state a claim for patent infringement under Twombly and Iqbal because they merely rephrase the title of the '682 Patent, add "websites and associated hardware and software," and state that Facebook's allegedly infringing activity is performed "as claimed in the patent." (D.I. 1 at ¶ 48.) Interval's The full text of the allegations against Facebook in the Interval complaint are as follows: "Defendant Facebook has infringed and continues to infringe one or more claims of the '682 patent. Facebook is liable for infringing the `682 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271 by making and using websites and associated hardware and software to provide alerts that information is of current interest to a user as claimed in the patent." (Id. at ¶ 48.)
DEFENDANT FACEBOOK, INC.'S JOINDER IN GOOGLE'S MOTION TO DISMISS 2:10-cv-01385-MJP
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COOLEY LLP 719 SECOND AVE., STE. 900 SEATTLE, WA 98104 /[phone]

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Fourth Cause of Action does not identify the products or services offered by Facebook that allegedly infringe or how Facebook has allegedly infringed the patent-in-suit. The use of identical allegations against all defendants, who provide widely varying products and services, underscores the lack of specificity of Interval's claims. For these reasons, Interval's Fourth Cause of Action does not satisfy the pleading requirements set forth in Twombly and Iqbal, warranting dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. IV. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, and for the reasons discussed in Google's Motion to Dismiss, Facebook respectfully requests that the Court dismiss Interval's complaint as to the Fourth Cause of Action against Facebook for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. DATED this 22nd day of October, 2010. COOLEY LLP /s/ Christopher B. Durbin Christopher B. Durbin (WSBA #41159) COOLEY LLP 719 Second Avenue, Suite 900 Seattle, WA 98104 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail] COOLEY LLP Michael G. Rhodes (pro hac vice pending) 101 California St., 5th Floor San Francisco, CA 94111-5800 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Heidi L. Keefe (pro hac vice pending) Mark R. Weinstein (pro hac vice pending) Christen M.R. Dubois (pro hac vice pending) Elizabeth L. Stameshkin (pro hac vice pending) 3175 Hanover St. Palo Alto, CA 94304-1130 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Attorneys for Defendant FACEBOOK, INC.

DEFENDANT FACEBOOK, INC.'S JOINDER IN GOOGLE'S MOTION TO DISMISS 2:10-cv-01385-MJP

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COOLEY LLP 719 SECOND AVE., STE. 900 SEATTLE, WA 98104 /[phone]

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 2:10 -CV-01385-MJP

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on October 22, 2010, I electronically filed the following document(s): DEFENDANT FACEBOOK, INC.'S JOINDER IN DEFENDANTS GOOGLE, INC. AND YOUTUBE, LLC'S MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM UPON WHICH RELIEF CAN BE GRANTED PURSUANT TO FED.R. CIV. P. 12(B)(6) with the Clerk of the Court using the CM/ECF system, which will send an email notification of such filing to the attorney(s) of record listed below. Justin A. Nelson Matthew R. Berry Susman Godfrey 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 3800 Seattle, WA 98101 Attorneys for Plaintiff Interval Licensing LLC Eric J. Enger Michael F. Heim Nathan J. Davis HEIM PAYNE & CHORUSH LLP 600 Travis Street, Suite 6710 Houston, TX 77002 Attorneys for Plaintiff Interval Licensing LLC Max L. Tribble SUSMAN GODFREY 1000 Lousiana Street, Suite 5100 Houston, TX 77002 Attorneys for Plaintiff Interval Licensing LLC Brian M. Berliner Neil L. Yang O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP 400 South Hope Street, Suite 1050 Los Angeles, CA 90071 Attorneys for Defendant Apple, Inc. By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail]

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COOLEY LLP 719 SECOND AVE., STE. 900 SEATTLE, WA 98104 / [phone]

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 2:10 -cv-01385-MJP
COOLEY LLP 719 Second Ave., Ste. 900 Seattle, WA 98104 / [phone]

David Almeling George A. Riley O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP Two Embarcadero Center, 28th Floor San Francisco, CA 94111 Attorneys for Defendant Apple, Inc. Jeremy E. Roller Scott T. Wilsdon YARMUTH WILSDON CALFO PLLC 818 Stewart Street, Suite 1400 Seattle, WA 98101 Attorneys for Defendant Apple, Inc. J. Christopher Carraway John D. Vandenberg KLARQUIST SPARKMAN 121SW Salmon Street, Suite 1600 Portland, OR 97204 Attorneys for eBay, Inc.; Netflix, Inc.; Office Depot, Inc.; and Staples, Inc. Aneelah Afzali Scott A.W. Johnson Shannon M. Jost STOKES LAWRENCE 800 5th Avenue, Suite 4000 Seattle, WA 98104-3179 Attorneys for Defendants Google, Inc. and YouTube LLC Dimtrios T. Drivas John Handy Kevin X. McGann Aaron Chase WHITE & CASE 1155 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 Attorneys for Defendants Google, Inc. and YouTube LLC

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 2:10 -cv-01385-MJP
COOLEY LLP 719 Second Ave., Ste. 900 Seattle, WA 98104 / [phone]

Warren S. Heit WHITE & CASE 3000 El Camino Real Bldg. 5, 9th Floor Palo Alto, CA 94306 Attorneys for Defendants Google, Inc. and YouTube LLC Michael D. Hunsinger THE HUNSINGER LAW FIRM 100 South King Street, Suite 400 Seattle, WA 98104 Attorneys for Defendant Office Depot, Inc. Edward J. Bennett WILLIAMS & CONNOLLY 712 12th Street NW Washington, DC 20005-5901 Attorneys for Defendant Office Depot, Inc. Kevin C. Baumgardner Steven W. Fogg CORR CRONIN MICHELSON BAUMGARDNER & PREECE 1001 4th Avenue, Suite 3900 Seattle, WA 98154 Attorneys for Defendant OfficeMax Inc. Jeffrey D. Neumeyer OFFICEMAS INCORPORATED 1111 West Jefferson Street P.O. Box 50 Boise, ID 83728 Attorneys for Defendant OfficeMax Inc. Douglas S. Rupert John L. Letchinger WILDMAN, HARROLD ALLEN & DIXON 225 West Wacker Drive, Suite 2700 Chicago, IL 60606 Attorneys for Defendant OfficeMax Inc.

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail]

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 2:10 -cv-01385-MJP
COOLEY LLP 719 Second Ave., Ste. 900 Seattle, WA 98104 / [phone]

Eric W. Ow Francis Ho Michael I. Kreeger Michael A. Jacobs Richard S. J. Hung MORRISON & FOERSTER 425 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Attorneys for Defendants Yahoo! Inc. Mark P. Walters Dario A. Machleidt FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG LLP 1191 Second Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 Attorneys for Defendants Yahoo! Inc.

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]

By Electronic CM/ECF: [e-mail] [e-mail]

/s/Christopher B. Durbin Christopher B. Durbin (WSBA #41159) COOLEY LLP 719 Second Avenue, Suite 900 Seattle, WA 98104-1732 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendant FACEBOOK, INC.

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