Innovation Sciences, LLC v. amazon.com, Inc.

Case: 21-2111 Document: 45 Page: 1 Filed: 07/20/2022
NOTE: This disposition is nonprecedential.
United States Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit
______________________
INNOVATION SCIENCES, LLC,
Plaintiff-Appellant
v.
AMAZON.COM, INC., AMAZON WEB SERVICES,
INC.,
Defendants-Appellees
AMAZON DIGITAL SERVICES, INC., AMAZON
DIGITAL SERVICES, LLC, AMAZON
FULFILLMENT SERVICES, INC., AMAZON WEB
SERVICES, LLC, HTC CORPORATION, RESIDEO
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
Defendants
______________________
2021-2111
______________________
Appeal from the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Texas in Nos. 4:18-cv-00474-ALM, 4:18-
cv-00475-ALM, 4:18-cv-00476-ALM, Judge Amos L. Maz-
zant, III.
______________________
Decided: July 20, 2022
______________________
Case: 21-2111 Document: 45 Page: 2 Filed: 07/20/2022
2 INNOVATION SCIENCES, LLC v. AMAZON.COM, INC.
DONALD LEE JACKSON, Davidson Berquist Jackson &
Gowdey, LLP, McLean, VA, argued for plaintiff-appellant.
Also represented by JAMES DANIEL BERQUIST.
J. DAVID HADDEN, Fenwick & West, LLP, Mountain
View, CA, argued for defendants-appellees. Also repre-
sented by RAVI RAGAVENDRA RANGANATH, SAINA S.
SHAMILOV; TODD RICHARD GREGORIAN, San Francisco, CA.
______________________
Before MOORE, Chief Judge, PROST and HUGHES, Circuit
Judges.
MOORE, Chief Judge.
Innovation Sciences (IS) appeals two orders from the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Texas. The first order denied IS’ post-trial motion for judg-
ment as a matter of law or, alternatively, a new trial. The
second order granted-in-part and denied-in-part Amazon’s
motion for costs. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the
first order and affirm-in-part and reverse-in-part the sec-
ond order.
BACKGROUND
IS owns U.S. Patent Nos. 9,912,983, 9,729,918, and
9,942,798, which all claim priority to U.S. Patent Applica-
tion No. 11/501,747 and share a common written descrip-
tion. The patents generally relate to “[m]ethods and
apparatus for efficiently directing communications” in a
communication network. ’983 patent at Abstract.
In one embodiment, the network includes a mobile ter-
minal signal conversion module (MTSCM) configured to
wirelessly receive a multimedia signal from a mobile ter-
minal (e.g., a cell phone), convert it to a format or signal
power level appropriate for an external display terminal,
and provide the converted signal to the external display
terminal. Id. at 15:52–17:18. The MTSCM may include a
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INNOVATION SCIENCES, LLC v. AMAZON.COM, INC. 3
decoder for decompressing multimedia signals that are in
a compressed format (e.g., MPEG–4). Id. at 18:56–67.
In another embodiment, the network includes a task
management system for delivering alerts when a task re-
quires completion. Id. at 12:33–13:23. The task manage-
ment system comprises, for example, a diaper condition
sensing module and a central receiver. Id. The diaper con-
dition sensing module monitors the condition of a diaper
and wirelessly transmits a signal to the central receiver
when the diaper is wet. Id. The central receiver then
transmits an indication of the diaper’s status to, e.g., a
caregiver’s phone. Id.
Claim 22 of the ’983 patent is representative for this
appeal and combines the above embodiments. It recites:
22. A wireless HUB system for managing infor-
mation communications comprising:
an input interface configured to receive a
wireless signal through a wireless commu-
nication network;
a decoder; and
a network interface configured to provide a
communication through a network commu-
nication channel,
wherein the wireless HUB system is config-
ured to perform a conversion of the wireless
signal to accommodate production of a cor-
responding information content, the wire-
less signal comprising a compressed signal,
the conversion comprising decompressing
the compressed signal;
wherein the decoder is configured to de-
compress the compressed signal;
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4 INNOVATION SCIENCES, LLC v. AMAZON.COM, INC.
wherein the wireless HUB system is fur-
ther configured to communicate, through
the network communication channel, infor-
mation for managing an item status of an
item in connection with a short range wire-
less communication regarding an updated
status of the item; and
wherein the network communication chan-
nel is separate from a wireless channel for
the short range wireless communication.
IS sued Amazon in the Eastern District of Texas, ac-
cusing Amazon’s Echo, Fire Tablet, Fire TV, and Alexa
Voice Service of directly infringing various claims of the
’983, ’918, and ’798 patents. At trial, Amazon presented
multiple independent grounds for finding the asserted
claims invalid and not infringed. A jury returned general
verdicts of invalidity and noninfringement. IS moved for
(1) judgment as a matter of law (JMOL) that the claims are
not invalid and that Amazon infringes them or (2) a new
trial. Amazon moved for costs under 28 U.S.C. § 1920(4).
The district court denied IS’ motion and granted Amazon’s
motion in part. Innovation Scis., LLC v. Amazon.com, Inc.,
No. 4:18-cv-00474-ALM, 2021 WL 2075677 (E.D. Tex. May
24, 2021); Innovation Scis., LLC v. Amazon.com, Inc., No.
4:18-cv-00474-ALM, 2021 WL 2075676 (E.D. Tex. May 24,
2021) (Costs Order). IS appeals both orders. We have ju-
risdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(1).
DISCUSSION
I
We first address IS’ challenge to the district court’s de-
nial of JMOL. We review a district court’s denial of JMOL
under the law of the regional circuit. Apple Inc. v. Wi-LAN
Inc., 25 F.4th 960, 969 (Fed. Cir. 2022) (citing Godo Kaisha
IP Bridge 1 v. TCL Commc’n Tech. Holdings Ltd., 967 F.3d
1380, 1382 (Fed. Cir. 2020)). The Fifth Circuit reviews the
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INNOVATION SCIENCES, LLC v. AMAZON.COM, INC. 5
denial of JMOL de novo, applying the same standard as the
district court. Baisden v. I’m Ready Prods., Inc., 693 F.3d
491, 498 (5th Cir. 2012) (citing Flowers v. S. Reg’l Physician
Servs. Inc., 247 F.3d 229, 235 (5th Cir. 2001)). In general,
a district court grants JMOL if substantial evidence does
not support a fact finding that is necessary, as a matter of
law, to establish a claim or defense. Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(a)(1).
When a jury returns a general verdict for which there
are multiple independent factual bases, however, a lack of
substantial evidence for some of those bases does not war-
rant JMOL. Walther v. Lone Star Gas Co., 952 F.2d 119,
126 (5th Cir. 1992) (“[W]e will not reverse a verdict simply
because the jury might have decided on a ground that was
supported by insufficient evidence.”); Northpoint Tech.,
Ltd. v. MDS Am., Inc., 413 F.3d 1301, 1311 (Fed. Cir. 2005)
(“[E]ven if some of the proposed factual grounds for liability
are not legally sufficient to support a verdict, that is not
fatal, because the critical question is whether the evidence,
taken as a whole, was sufficient to support the jury’s ver-
dict.” (collecting cases)). Rather, we must uphold the ver-
dict if substantial evidence supports any of the proffered
factual bases.
Here, Amazon presented multiple factual bases for the
jury’s general verdict of invalidity, including anticipation
under 35 U.S.C. § 102. Microsoft Corp. v. Biscotti, Inc., 878
F.3d 1052, 1068 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (“[A]nticipation is a ques-
tion of fact . . . .” (collecting cases)). Accordingly, although
IS raises a panoply of issues, it concedes that we may af-
firm the denial of JMOL of no invalidity if substantial evi-
dence supports a finding of anticipation. Oral Arg. at 9:48–
10:09. 1 We conclude that it does.
1 Available at https://oralarguments.cafc.uscourts.
gov/default.aspx?fl=21-2111_07052022.mp3.
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6 INNOVATION SCIENCES, LLC v. AMAZON.COM, INC.
To prove anticipation, Amazon relied on home automa-
tion software called HAL. HAL’s creator, Tim Shriver, tes-
tified that the software was configured to operate a smart-
home system comprising various devices, such as wireless
cameras, thermostats, and light bulbs. J.A. 1940–49, 1961.
He also testified that HAL existed before August 10, 2006,
J.A. 1970–72, which the parties stipulated is the priority
date of the asserted claims, J.A. 2810 ¶ 18. Corroborating
Mr. Shriver’s testimony, Amazon presented documentary
and video evidence of HAL’s existence and capabilities be-
fore the priority date, including a 2003 user manual,
J.A. 3743, and a 2000 clip of The Oprah Winfrey Show in
which Mr. Shriver demonstrated a HAL system, J.A. 1924,
2009–10; see also J.A. 3733–42, 4138, 2127–28.
IS does not dispute that HAL is prior art. Instead, it
argues that Amazon’s expert witness, Dr. David Johnson,
improperly based his invalidity opinion on a reconstructed
HAL system that is not prior art. As explained below, sub-
stantial evidence supports a finding that the HAL system
on which Dr. Johnson based his opinion was representative
of prior-art HAL systems. Accordingly, Dr. Johnson
properly relied on the reconstructed HAL system to deter-
mine how prior-art HAL systems operated.
In response to a subpoena requesting a HAL system “as
it would have existed on or before August 9, 2006,” Mr.
Shriver provided a system comprising the HAL software
and various pieces of hardware, including a wireless cam-
era and lamp modules. J.A. 1963–67. IS seizes on Mr.
Shriver’s testimony that each customer’s system was
“unique,” J.A. 1967–68, and that he did not know whether
a customer “would have set up a system like this on August
9th of 2006,” J.A. 1969–70. Yet he also testified that, ex-
cept for some light bulbs, all the system’s components pre-
dated the priority date, J.A. 1965–66, 1970, that his
customers’ systems had the same components, J.A. 1967–
68, and that the system operated the way prior-art HAL
systems did, see, e.g., J.A. 1952 (testifying that an
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INNOVATION SCIENCES, LLC v. AMAZON.COM, INC. 7
operation of the reconstructed system “would have been
performed by HAL2000 prior to August 10, 2006”),
J.A. 1957 (testifying that the reconstructed system oper-
ated as a system “would have operated prior to August 10,
2006”), J.A. 1958 (testifying that a configuration of the re-
constructed system “was used by users of HAL2000 prior
to August 10, 2006”). IS does not identify any element of
the reconstructed HAL system that was allegedly absent
from prior-art HAL systems.
IS further cites Mr. Shriver’s testimony that he sold
only software, not “turnkey systems.” J.A. 1968. He later
clarified, however, that he did indeed sell the HAL software
along with certain smart-home hardware. J.A. 1969. He
also testified that customers would complete the system by
“buy[ing] a computer and install[ing]” the software. Id. Fi-
nally, IS contends that Dr. Johnson admitted he altered
Mr. Shriver’s system, but the cited testimony merely dis-
cusses modifying “simple configuration settings,” e.g., add-
ing his email address, so he would receive the system’s
email notifications. J.A. 2185–86. Considering the evi-
dence as a whole, a reasonable juror could find that the sys-
tem Mr. Shriver provided was representative of prior-art
HAL systems. 2
IS raises a laundry list of cursory challenges to the suf-
ficiency of Dr. Johnson’s expert testimony. IS Br. 19–30.
For example, IS argues it was improper for Dr. Johnson to
rely on the videos showing HAL’s existence and capabilities
before the priority date. Id. at 28. IS fails, however, to
provide any reasoning or relevant authority supporting
2 We reject IS’ argument that the district court
abused its discretion in not excluding Mr. Shriver’s testi-
mony, Dr. Johnson’s invalidity opinion, and the videos
demonstrating HAL. Mr. Shriver had personal knowledge
of HAL’s existence and operation before the priority date,
and Amazon presented corroborating evidence.
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8 INNOVATION SCIENCES, LLC v. AMAZON.COM, INC.
that conclusion. IS also argues Dr. Johnson did not iden-
tify anything in the HAL system that satisfies the “infor-
mation for managing an item status” limitation. Yet his
testimony included the following:
Q. So, can you explain what you’re illustrating
here with respect to that X10 camera and the HAL
system?
A. Sure. The camera detects the motion, and then
the computer running HAL2000 communicates
through the network communication channel infor-
mation for managing that item status. The . . . up-
dated status is the presence of motion where there
was no motion. And the HAL2000 system sends
[an] e-mail. . . . [T]he subject line is HAL notifica-
tion, and the body of the e-mail says: Motion de-
tected on backyard wireless X10 camera.
J.A. 2135 (emphasis added). Dr. Johnson testified at
length that HAL satisfies each limitation of the asserted
claims. J.A. 2128–58. IS’ scattershot arguments do not es-
tablish inadequacy in Dr. Johnson’s testimony.
In sum, substantial evidence supports the jury’s find-
ing of anticipation. We therefore affirm the denial of JMOL
and need not reach Amazon’s alternative factual bases for
the general verdicts of invalidity and noninfringement.
II
We now turn to IS’ request for a new trial. We review
the district court’s denial of a new trial under regional cir-
cuit law. Apple, 25 F.4th at 971 (citing Lucent Techs., Inc.
v. Gateway, Inc., 580 F.3d 1301, 1309 (Fed. Cir. 2009)). The
Fifth Circuit reviews such a denial for abuse of discretion.
Baisden, 693 F.3d at 504 (citing Alaniz v. Zamora–Que-
zada, 591 F.3d 761, 770 (5th Cir. 2009)).
In seeking a new trial, IS largely relies on the same
slew of arguments it raised regarding the denial of JMOL.
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INNOVATION SCIENCES, LLC v. AMAZON.COM, INC. 9
See IS Br. 52. We reject those arguments for the reasons
already explained. The only separate argument IS ad-
vances is that Amazon’s counsel made improper remarks
to the jury regarding one of its other invalidity defenses.
Id. at 52–55. IS forfeited this argument, however, by fail-
ing to object at trial. Novo Nordisk A/S v. Becton Dickin-
son & Co., 304 F.3d 1216, 1220 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (“[C]ounsel
. . . cannot as a rule remain silent, interpose no objections,
and after a verdict has been returned seize for the first time
on the point that the comments to the jury were prejudi-
cial.” (quoting United States v. Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., 310
U.S. 150, 238–39 (1940))). To be sure, forfeiture does not
preclude us “from taking remedial action when it is appar-
ent that prejudice or unfairness entered the trial and the
interest of justice requires.” Id. But IS has not provided
argument as to the interest of justice. Moreover, there is
no prejudice given IS’ concession that Amazon’s other inva-
lidity defenses would be moot if we conclude, as we have,
that substantial evidence supported the jury’s anticipation
finding. Oral Arg. at 9:48–10:09. Accordingly, we affirm
the denial of a new trial.
III
IS challenges the district court’s award of graphics and
printing costs. We review an award of costs under the law
of the regional circuit. Kohus v. Toys ‘R’ Us, Inc., 282 F.3d
1355, 1357 (Fed. Cir. 2002). The Fifth Circuit reviews an
award of costs for abuse of discretion. Edwards v. 4JLJ,
LLC, 976 F.3d 463, 466 (5th Cir. 2020) (citing Pacheco v.
Mineta, 448 F.3d 783, 793 (5th Cir. 2006)).
We agree that the district court abused its discretion in
awarding Amazon $126,399.19 in graphics costs. The dis-
trict court relied on 28 U.S.C. § 1920(4), which allows the
award of “[f]ees for exemplification and the costs of making
copies of any materials where the copies are necessarily ob-
tained for use in the case.” The district court interpreted
this language to “include[] graphics support.” Costs Order,
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10 INNOVATION SCIENCES, LLC v. AMAZON.COM, INC.
2021 WL 2075676, at *4. That was error. Graphics do not
meet the definition of exemplification, i.e., “[a]n official
transcript of a public record, authenticated as a true copy
for use as evidence.” Summit Tech., Inc. v. Nidek Co., 435
F.3d 1371, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (quoting Kohus, 282 F.3d
at 1359); see also id. at 1376 (noting Fifth Circuit follows
this definition). And, as Amazon concedes, “creating
graphics is not copying.” Oral Arg. at 26:53–56. Because
the district court erred in its construction of § 1920(4), we
reverse its award of $126,399.19 in graphics costs.
The district court did not, however, abuse its discretion
in awarding Amazon $25,698.85 for printing two sets of
trial exhibits. Costs Order, 2021 WL 2075676, at *3. IS
argues Amazon’s exhibit list was unreasonably long and
improperly included expert reports, which it asserts are in-
admissible. IS’ own exhibit list, however, also included ex-
pert reports and had over 600 exhibits, only 79 of which
were admitted into evidence. J.A. 3248–98; IS’ Admitted
Trial Exhibit List, Innovation Scis., LLC v. Amazon.com,
Inc., No. 4:18-cv-00474-ALM (E.D. Tex. Sept. 2, 2020), ECF
No. 888. The district court did not abuse its discretion in
awarding Amazon its printing costs.
CONCLUSION
Because substantial evidence supports the jury’s find-
ing that the asserted claims were anticipated, we affirm
the district court’s denial of JMOL. For similar reasons,
we also affirm its denial of IS’ motion for a new trial. And
we affirm its award of Amazon’s printing costs. We re-
verse, however, the district court’s award of $126,399.19 in
graphics costs as outside the scope of 28 U.S.C. § 1920(4).
AFFIRMED-IN-PART AND REVERSED-IN-PART
COSTS
No Costs.