DocketNumber： Case 04 CV 1053 JLS (AJB)
Judges： Janis L. Sammartino
Filed Date： 8/11/2010
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 11/7/2024
United States District Court, S.D. California.
*1085 John P. Passarelli, Nicholas N. Clatterbuck, Kutak Rock LLP, Omaha, NE, Stephen L. Schreiner, Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith, LLP, San Diego, CA, Paul Douglas Chancellor, Ocean Law, Simi Valley, CA, for Plaintiff.
Callie A. Bjurstrom, Michelle Ann Herrera, Peter K. Hahn, Luce Forward Hamilton and Scripps, San Diego, CA, for Defendant.
JANIS L. SAMMARTINO, District Judge.
Presently before the Court is Defendant and Counter Claimant Multimedia Games, Inc.'s ("MGAM") motion for summary judgment of non-infringement (Doc. No. 269.) and motion for summary judgment of invalidity. (Doc. No. 268.) Also before the Court is Plaintiff International Gamco, Inc.'s ("Gamco") and Counter Defendant Oasis Technology, Inc.'s ("Oasis") oppositions to both motions (Doc. Nos. 293, 294), and MGAM's replies. (Doc. Nos. 314, 321.) For the reasons stated below, the Court HEREBY GRANTS MGAM's motion for summary judgment of non-infringement and DENIES MGAM's motion for summary judgment of invalidity.
MGAM is a publicly traded company with its principal place of business located in Austin, Texas. (Lannert Decl. ISO MSJs, ¶ 1.) Gamco is a gaming company with its principal place of business in Omaha, Nebraska. The patent at issue in this case is United States Patent Number 5,324,035, filed December 1, 1992, entitled "Video Gaming System with Fixed Pool of Winning Plays and Global Pool Access." (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO MSJs, Ex. E (the "'035 Patent").) The '035 Patent was originally rejected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") for anticipation and obviousness over prior art not at issue in this case.[1] (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO MSJs, Ex. F at 109-115; Passarelli Decl. ISO Opp., Ex. H at 224-25.) During an interview with the USPTO, the Patent Examiner cited another relevant prior art, United States Patent Number 4,494,197, referred to as the "Troy" patent. (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO MSJs, Ex. F at 116-127; see also Passarelli Decl., Ex. H at 238-39 (hereinafter "Preliminary Amendment").) Thereafter, Gamco submitted a Preliminary Amendment on January 10, 1994, amending each *1086 claim of the '035 Patent. (Id.) The '035 Patent issued on June 28, 1994.
In 2002, MGAM was awarded the contract to provide a central lottery system (the "Central System" or "MGAM System") for the New York State Lottery ("NYSL"). (Lannert Decl. ISO MSJs, ¶ 4.) On May 25, 2004, Gamco filed its original complaint against MGAM for infringement of the '035 Patent based on the MGAM System for the NYSL.[2] (Doc. No. 1.) The operative complaint, the Third Amended Complaint, was filed on January 9, 2008. (Doc. No. 167.) A claim construction hearing was held before this Court on January 13, 2009. (See Doc. Nos. 235, 252.)
The present motions for summary judgment were filed on February 23, 2010. (See Doc. Nos. 268, 269.) Gamco filed oppositions to both motions on April 20, 2010. (See Doc. Nos. 293, 294.) MGAM filed its replies to both oppositions on May 13, 2010. (See Doc. Nos. 314, 321.) On May 25, 2010, the Court gave Gamco leave to file sur-replies to both motions for summary judgment and further granted MGAM leave to respond in opposition to these sur-replies. (Doc. No. 333.) All four briefs were timely filed. Furthermore, with its original reply, MGAM filed objections to the declarations of Gamco's expert witness under Federal Rules of Evidence 702 and 703 and Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 592-93, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993). The Court thereafter granted Gamco leave to respond to these objections and for MGAM to reply to Gamco's opposition. (Doc. No. 333.) Both briefs were timely filed. A hearing on all motions was held on Thursday, July 22, 2010 and the matter was thereafter taken under submission.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 permits a court to grant summary judgment where (1) the moving party demonstrates the absence of a genuine issue of material fact and (2) entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). "Material," for purposes of Rule 56, means that the fact, under governing substantive law, could affect the outcome of the case. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Freeman v. Arpaio, 125 F.3d 732, 735 (9th Cir.1997). For a dispute to be "genuine," a reasonable jury must be able to return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505.
The initial burden of establishing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact falls on the moving party. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The movant can carry his burden in two ways: (1) by presenting evidence that negates an essential element of the nonmoving party's case; or (2) by demonstrating that the nonmoving party "failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of her case with respect to which she has the burden of proof." Id. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548. "Disputes over irrelevant or unnecessary facts will not preclude a grant of summary judgment." T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pacific Elec. Contractors Ass'n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir.1987).
*1087 Once the moving party establishes the absence of genuine issues of material fact, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party to set forth facts showing that a genuine issue of disputed fact remains. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The nonmoving party cannot oppose a properly supported summary judgment motion by "rest[ing] on mere allegations or denials of his pleadings." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256, 106 S.Ct. 2505. When ruling on a summary judgment motion, the court must view all inferences drawn from the underlying facts in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986).
"Summary judgment is as appropriate in a patent case as in any other case." Cabot Safety Intermediate Corp. v. Arkon Safety Equip., Inc., 44 F.Supp.2d 375, 376 (D.Mass. 1999) (quoting Avia Group Int'l Inc. v. L.A. Gear Cal., Inc., 853 F.2d 1557, 1561 (Fed.Cir.1988)). However, a determination of infringement is a question of fact. Insituform Techs., Inc. v. Cat Contracting, Inc., 161 F.3d 688, 692 (Fed.Cir.1998). Accordingly, summary judgment is proper only if the court finds that "no reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505; see also Lockheed Martin Corp. v. Space Systems/Loral, Inc., 324 F.3d 1308, 1318 (Fed.Cir.2003); CAE Screenplates Inc. v. Heinrich Fiedler GmbH & Co. KG, 224 F.3d 1308, 1319 (Fed.Cir.2000). Furthermore, a patent is presumed valid, see 35 U.S.C. § 282, so the invalidity of patent claims must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. See Apotex USA, Inc. v. Merck & Co., Inc., 254 F.3d 1031, 1036 (Fed.Cir.2001); WMS Gaming, Inc. v. Int'l Game Tech., 184 F.3d 1339, 1355 (Fed.Cir.1999).
MGAM objects to Gamco's expert witness Susan Spielman under the standard qualifying expert witnesses set forth in Federal Rules of Evidence 702 and 703 and Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm., Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993). (Doc. No. 323).
"A trial court can only consider admissible evidence in ruling on a motion for summary judgment." Orr v. Bank of Am., 285 F.3d 764, 773 (9th Cir.2002); Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(e)(1). Expert evidence therefore must meet the standard of relevance and reliability articulated in Daubert:
Faced with a proffer of expert scientific testimony ... the trial judge must determine... whether the expert is proposing to testify to (1) scientific knowledge that (2) will assist the trier of fact to understand or determine a fact in issue. This entails a preliminary assessment of whether the reasoning or methodology underlying the testimony is scientifically valid and of whether that reasoning or methodology properly can be applied to the facts in issue.
509 U.S. at 592-93, 113 S.Ct. 2786; see also Fed.R.Evid. 702 (permitting expert to testify only if: "(1) the testimony is based upon sufficient facts or data, (2) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods and (3) the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case."); Fed.R.Evid. 703 (requiring the facts or data upon which the expert relies to be "of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field"). The Court has a gatekeeping responsibility to determine whether such expert testimony complies with Rules 702 and 703. Daubert, 509 U.S. at 592, 113 S.Ct. 2786; see also Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 148-49, 119 S.Ct. 1167, 143 L.Ed.2d 238 (1999).
*1088 Further, issues related to patent infringement and invalidity "are analyzed in great part from the perspective of a person of ordinary skill in the art, and testimony explaining the technical evidence from that perspective may be of great utility to the factfinder." Sundance, Inc. v. DeMonte Fabricating Ltd., 550 F.3d 1356, 1361-62 (Fed.Cir.2008). Accordingly, the Federal Circuit has held that a trial court abuses its discretion if it allows testimony from an expert witness who has "no skill in the pertinent art." Id. This, the Federal Circuit observed, "serves only to cause mischief and confuse the factfinder." Id. at 1362.
It is undisputed that Ms. Spielman has substantial experience with distributed computer networking systems. However, Ms. Spielman admittedly has no expertise or experience in the field of gaming or lottery systems. (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO Reply, Ex. X (Spielman Depo.) at 19:20-20:8; see also id. at 5:9-12.) In fact, Ms. Spielman's deposition clearly evidences that Ms. Spielman cannot define an instant lottery game and lacks a genuine understanding of gaming and lottery systems. (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO Reply, Ex. X at 73:1-75:3.) Further, MGAM contends that distributed computing experience "is only tangentially related to the relevant field of gaming and lottery systems" and that Ms. Spielman's lack of experience in gaming and lottery systems renders Ms. Spielman from offering a reliable opinion in this case. (Obj. at 5.) The Court disagrees. While Ms. Spielman may lack the context in which these patents and technologies at issue are designed and implemented, i.e. a gaming or lottery system, the main component of the '035 patent and its technologies at issue is clearly the distributed computing system. The '035 Patent uses well-known computer processes which are found not only in gaming systems but distributed computer networking systems in general. Further, while MGAM conclusively argues that Ms. Spielman's lack of experience in gaming and lottery systems renders her opinions unreliable as a whole, MGAM does not specifically point to any claims or interpretation of those claims where experience in these systems is essential to offering a valid, reliable expert opinion which will aid the factfinder. To the contrary, as will become more apparent throughout this Order, the claims are based almost entirely on the distributed computer system elements used to implement the gaming and lottery systems at issue and not the gaming aspects of the lottery system itself. In other words, experience in gaming and lottery systems is not necessary to aid the factfinder in making determinations of invalidity and infringement of the '035 Patent's distributed computer networking system and its claims.[3] Thus, the Court OVERRULES MGAM's objection.
Gamco argues in its sur-replies that MGAM's expert witness Stacy Friedman's opinions should be discredited due to his alleged improper reliance on extrinsic evidence and faulty constructions of the '035 Patent.[4] MGAM further argues that *1089 MGAM's counsel interfered with discovery and improperly influenced Mr. Friedman's opinions on non-infringement.[5] Accordingly, Gamco contends that his opinions should be given little or no weight and cannot properly serve as the basis for finding an absence of genuine issues of fact. The Court finds no merit to these assertions and, regardless, at the motion for summary judgment stage, the Court does not make credibility determinations or "weigh" the evidence. See Musick v. Burke, 913 F.2d 1390, 1394 (9th Cir.1990). Moreover, any discovery disputes are properly brought up before the magistrate judge, not this Court. As such, the Court will not discredit or disqualify Mr. Friedman's opinions on these grounds.
In its opening motion for summary judgment of non-infringement, MGAM brings to the Court's attention for the first time a prior Nevada federal district court's construction of the terms "game play record" and "game play records." This opinion was not before the Court at this litigation's claim construction hearing and MGAM now moves the Court to reconsider its construction of these claim terms and adopt the Nevada court's construction under the doctrine of collateral estoppel. (See Infringement MSJ at 3-6, 7-10.) For the reasons explained below, the Court grants reconsideration of the construction of the terms "game play record" and "game play records"; adopts the Nevada court's construction; and hereby construes these terms to mean: "electronic game play record(s) which includes graphic data transmitted to the player terminal."
The Nevada litigation involved the Sierra Design Group ("SDG") and Oasis Technology, Inc. ("Oasis"). SDG had acquired the Troy patent referenced above and developed a video lottery system in Washington State. (Lannert Decl. ISO MSJs, ¶ 2.) In March 1999, Oasis (the then-current owner of the '035 Patent) asserted that SDG's system was infringing the '035 Patent.[6] On November 12, 1999, SDG filed a declaratory relief and preliminary injunction action against Oasis in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada to determine if the SDG system infringed the '035 patent. (See id., Ex. I (Complaint).) As a result, the district court conducted a three-day claim construction hearing which included numerous witnesses and live testimony. (See id., Ex. J (excerpts from hearing).)
On June 20, 2000, the district court issued its decision from the bench. (See id., Ex. L.) The court construed the terms "game play record" and "game play records" as used in Claim 1 of the '035 Patent to mean:
[T]he bundle of information or signal transmitted from the master computer to the player or slave terminal at the time a player requests a play. The *1090 ['035] Patent provides for transmission from the master computer to the slave terminal of an indication whether the particular play constitutes a winning or losing play, and the amount won.
(Id., Ex. L at 175.)
The court went on to review the specifications and the prosecution history. The court found that, from the specification, "it is clear under the ['035] patent that to the extent the game play record involves graphic data and game play information, that data is generated by the central computer, not by the slave terminal, and it is transmitted to the slave terminal by means of the master computer." (Id., Ex. L at 177.) The court then analyzed the prosecution history of the '035 patent, including the Patent Examiner's comments regarding the Troy patent, and concluded that the amendments made "must be viewed as intended to distinguish the ['035] invention from Troy and other prior inventions." (Id., Ex. L at 182.) Thus, the court found that the only way to distinguish the amended claims from Troy was to find that "the bundle of information transmitted by the master computer to the slave terminal must include graphics to be displayed in the slave terminal." (Id., Ex. L at 183.) "Claim 1 of the ['035] patent, in order to be valid, must be read to include the requirements that the graphic information that will be displayed in the player terminal be generated by the master computer or higher in the network." (Id., Ex. L at 185.)
After the district court's construction, the litigation was dismissed, with prejudice, in March 2001 pursuant to a settlement reached between SDG and Oasis. (See id., Ex. M.) The court's opinion construing Claim 1 was not vacated.
While this opinion was admittedly in the possession of both parties at the time of the claim construction hearing before this Court, neither party brought it to the Court's attention.[7] Accordingly, without the benefit of this construction or the potential estoppel effect of this decision, the Court construed "game play record" to mean "electronic game play record." (Doc. No. 252 at 6.) If the Court had had this opinion before it, it would have undoubtedly considered this opinion and would have ultimately adopted its construction under the doctrine of collateral estoppel. Because it would have done so then, it will do so now.
As a threshold matter, Collateral estoppel may apply to claim construction determinations. See In re Freeman, 30 F.3d 1459, 1465-69 (Fed.Cir.1994); see also TM Patents, LP v. IBM Corp., 72 F.Supp.2d 370 (S.D.N.Y.1999). Under Ninth Circuit law, collateral estoppel applies if: "(1) the issue necessarily decided at the previous proceeding is identical to the one which is sought to be relitigated; (2) the first proceeding ended with a final judgment on the merits; and (3) the party against whom collateral estoppel is asserted was a party or in privity with a party in the first proceeding." Hydranautics v. FilmTec Corp., 204 F.3d 880, 885 (9th Cir.2000). The first and third factors are clearly met in this action and are not disputed by the parties.
As for the second factor, Gamco argues that the Nevada district court's decision is not a "final judgment on the *1091 merits" sufficient to apply summary judgment.[8] Under Ninth Circuit law, a court approved settlement is a final judgment on the merits for purposes of collateral estoppel. See Reyn's Pasta Bella, LLC v. Visa USA, Inc., 442 F.3d 741, 746 (9th Cir. 2006). Gamco, however, contends that Federal Circuit law should control and that the Federal Circuit requires that the claim construction must have been "the reason for the loss on the issue of infringement" in the prior case in order to apply collateral estoppel See In re Freeman, 30 F.3d at 1466; see also A.B. Dick Co. v. Burroughs Corp., 713 F.2d 700, 704 (Fed. Cir.1983) ("[J]udicial statements regarding the scope of patent claims are entitled to collateral estoppel effect in a subsequent infringement suit only to the extent that determination of scope was essential to a final judgment on the question of validity and infringement."); Graco Children's Prods., Inc. v. Regalo Intern., LLC, 77 F.Supp.2d 660, 664 (E.D.Pa.1999). This contention is misguided. Collateral estoppel is not a matter exclusively within the Federal Circuit's jurisdiction. See Source Search Tech., LLC v. LendingTree, LLC, 588 F.3d 1063, 1071 (Fed.Cir.2009). Thus, the Federal Circuit must construe the relevant circuit law when determining collateral estoppel issues; in this case, Ninth Circuit law. See id.; see also Bayer AG v. Biovail Corp., 279 F.3d 1340, 1345 (Fed. Cir.2002).
To be sure, the Federal Circuit has recognized that some circuits require for purposes of collateral estoppel that the "previous determination [be] necessary to the decision," see Source Search Tech., 588 F.3d at 1074 (applying Third Circuit law), or that "the determination of the issue in the prior litigation must have been a critical and necessary part of the judgment in that action," see Bayer AG, 279 F.3d at 1345 (applying Eleventh Circuit law). However, such a requirement is not an element in the Ninth Circuit. See, e.g., Af-Cap, Inc. v. Chevron Overseas (Congo) Ltd., 475 F.3d 1080, 1086 (9th Cir.2007); Hydranautics, 204 F.3d at 885. Accordingly, Gamco's contention that the Federal Circuit has held that the construction must be essential to the final determinations under the applicable circuit law in those cases, this has no bearing on this Court's collateral estoppel determination under Ninth Circuit precedent.
As such, applying Ninth Circuit law, the Court finds that the settlement in the Nevada litigation is appropriately considered a final judgment on the merits for purposes of collateral estoppel. See Reyn's, 442 F.3d at 746; see also Rein v. Providian Financial Corp., 270 F.3d 895, 903 (9th Cir.2001); In re Dominelli, 820 F.2d 313, 316-17 (9th Cir.1987). In fact, the Central District of California has explicitly recognized the position that
*1092 A party who cuts off his right to review by settling a disputed matter cannot complaint that the question was never reviewed on appeal. The Markman rulings were not vacated as part of the settlement. They therefore remain preclusive.
See Curtiss-Wright, 563 F.Supp.2d at 1121-22 (citing TM Patents, 72 F.Supp.2d at 378). As such, the court found that the claim was "thoroughly litigated" in the prior litigation and therefore precluded the parties from relitigating the construction of that claim. See id. at 1121-22. The court further noted that the decision in Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 517 U.S. 370, 116 S.Ct. 1384, 134 L.Ed.2d 577 (1996), emphasized the promotion of uniformity in construing a patent claim and that "it is inconceivable that a fully-litigated determination after a first Markman [claim construction] hearing would not be preclusive in subsequent actions involving the same disputed claims under the same patent." Id. (quoting TM Patents, 72 F.Supp.2d at 377).[9]
As such, the Court exercises its discretion and grants reconsideration of its claim construction in light of the Nevada court's opinion now before the Court. See Fed. R.Civ.P. 60(b). Further, having found that all three requirements of Ninth Circuit's doctrine of collateral estoppel apply in this case, the Court adopts the Nevada district court's construction of "game play record" and "game play records" to include graphic data transmitted to the player terminal.[10]
The '035 Patent discloses four independent claims (Claims 1, 15, 16, and 18) and 14 dependant claims. Gamco asserts that the MGAM System for the NYSL infringes multiple claims of the '035 Patent. MGAM moves for summary judgment of non-infringement of each independent and dependant claim. Thus, the Court must determine whether independent Claims 1, 15, 16, and 18 are not infringed by the MGAM System as a matter of law sufficient to grant summary judgment of non-infringement.[11]
"To prove literal infringement, the patentee must show that the accused device contains every limitation in the asserted claims." Leggett & Platt, Inc. v. Hickory Springs Mfg. Co., 285 F.3d 1353, 1358 (Fed.Cir.2002) (quoting Mas-Hamilton Group v. LaGard, Inc., 156 F.3d 1206, 1211 (Fed.Cir.1998)). "If even one limitation is missing or not met as claimed, there is no literal infringement." Mas-Hamilton Group, 156 F.3d at 1211.
Even where the accused device does not literally infringe, the patentee may prove infringement under the doctrine of equivalents. See Kemco Sales, Inc. v. Control Papers Co., 208 F.3d 1352, 1364 (Fed.Cir.2000). The doctrine of equivalents prevents a defendant from avoiding infringement by making unimportant or insubstantial changes to the claimed invention. See Festo Corp. v. Shoketsu Kinzoku Kabushiki Co., 535 U.S. 722, 730-32, 122 S.Ct. 1831, 152 L.Ed.2d 944 (2002); Lear Siegler, Inc. v. Sealy Mattress Co. of Michigan, Inc., 873 F.2d 1422, 1425 (Fed.Cir.1989). Thus, under the doctrine of equivalents, infringement occurs when the allegedly infringing device and claimed limitation perform "substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result." Warner-Jenkinson Co. v. Hilton Davis Chem. Co., 520 U.S. 17, 38, 117 S.Ct. 1040, 137 L.Ed.2d 146 (1997); Lockheed Martin, 324 F.3d at 1317. Courts apply the function-way-result analysis to each limitation of a claim, and "there can be no infringement if even one limitation of a claim or its equivalent is not present in the accused device." Lockheed Martin, 324 F.3d at 1321; see also Pennwalt Corp. v. Durand-Wayland, Inc., 833 F.2d 931, 935-36 (Fed.Cir.1987). The patentee must provide evidence and argument for each element of the function-way-result analysis and on a "limitation-by-limitation basis." See Lear Siegler, 873 F.2d at 1425; Hewlett-Packard Co. v. Mustek Sys., 340 F.3d 1314, 1323 (Fed.Cir.2003); see also Malta v. Schulmerich Carillons, Inc., 952 F.2d 1320, 1327 (Fed.Cir.1991).
In proving infringement under the doctrine of equivalents, a patentee may be limited by the doctrine of prosecution history estoppel. "Prosecution history estoppel requires that a claim of a patent be interpreted in light of the proceedings in the PTO during the application process." Festo Corp., 535 U.S. at 733, 122 S.Ct. 1831. The Federal Circuit has "recognized that prosecution history estoppel can occur ... in one of two ways, either (1) by making a narrowing amendment to the claim ("amendment-based estoppel") or (2) by surrendering claim scope through argument to the patent examiner ("argument-based estoppel")." Conoco, Inc. v. Energy & Envtl. Int'l., L.C., 460 F.3d 1349, 1363 (Fed.Cir.2006) (citation omitted); see also PODS, Inc. v. Porta Stor, Inc., 484 F.3d 1359, 1367 (Fed.Cir.2007). If a claim is narrowed for any reason related to patentability, "the inventor is deemed to concede that the patent does not extend as far as the original claim." Id.; see also Glaxo Wellcome, Inc. v. Impax Labs., Inc., 356 F.3d 1348, 1352 (Fed.Cir.2004) (stating that if a claim is so narrowed, it is presumed "that the patentee surrendered the territory between the original claims and the amended claims"). The patentee bears the burden of establishing that the amendment does not surrender the territory between the original claim and amended claim. See Festo Corp., 535 U.S. at 740, 122 S.Ct. 1831.
Finally, "there can be no infringement under the doctrine of equivalents if the asserted scope of equivalency would encompass prior art." DeMarini Sports, Inc. v. Worth, Inc., 239 F.3d 1314, 1332 (Fed.Cir.2001); see also Wilson Sporting *1094 Goods Co. v. David Geoffrey & Assoc., 904 F.2d 677, 684 (Fed.Cir.1990).
The MGAM System is a three-tier system with the first tier made up of a Primary Data Center and Backup Data Center, the second tier made up of Site Controllers, and the third tier made up of player terminals referred to as video lottery terminals ("VLTs").[13] (Enzminger Decl. ISO MSJs, ¶ 16.) The Site Controller(s) are the "master processing unit" as set forth in the Claims.[14] The Site Controller is made up of several computers, the primary of which is the Site Controller Database, which communicates with the Primary Data Center. (Id., ¶ 19.) Each Site Controller also includes several VLT Services, which are the computers that distribute the electronic ticket data to the VLTs. (Id.) Each VLT is connected to one VLT Service. (Id.) The VLTs are manufactured by third party venders such as IGT and are "generally designed to look like modern video slot machines." (Id., ¶ 20.) These video games are played at seven different "racinos" in New York, and one Site Controller is located at each racino. (Id., ¶ 28.)
Once all the tickets for a game set (a complete lottery ticket pool) have been randomized, the Primary Data Center divides the tickets into subsets prior to encrypting them and storing them in a hard drive at the Primary Data Center. (Id., ¶ 24.) Ticket subsets are then held in reserve at the Primary Data Center as well as at individual Site Controllers for distribution to the VLT Services. (Id., ¶ 25, 26.) "When the number of subsets held in reserve drops below the predetermined number, the Site Controller requests and receives additional game subsets from the Primary Data Center." (Id., ¶ 26.) The VLT Service also copies and reserves subsets from the Site Controller, which in turn decompresses, unencrypts, and loads the subset into RAM memory. (Id., ¶ 27.) Therefore, when a player initiates game play on his or her VLT, that VLT requests a ticket from the VLT Service's subset to which it is connected (it is only connected to one). (Id., ¶ 29.) "The ticket information that is sent to the VLT includes the prize value, the prize index and the extended information." (Id.)
All claims of the '035 Patent require the master processing unit to distribute "game plays" to "a plurality of slave terminals" from the "finite pool" of game plays. The Court has construed "finite pool" to mean "a determinable complete set." (Doc. No. 252 at 6 (hereinafter "Order").) MGAM contends that this limitation is not infringed, literally or by equivalents, *1095 by the MGAM System because the MGAM System does not distribute its game plays from "a finite pool" as construed by this Court; rather, the MGAM System distributes game plays from a subset of game plays. The Court agrees.
The MGAM System randomizes and immediately divides the complete set of game plays into subsets prior to storing those subsets at the Primary Data Center. (Enzminger Decl. ISO MSJs at ¶ 24.) A number of these subsets are then distributed to the Site Controllers, which then store the subsets and distribute game plays to the player terminals from the subset. (Id., ¶ 25, 26.) The parties do not dispute the fact that the set of game plays is broken up into random subsets and stored on the Site Controller. Further, it is clear that the master processing unit (the Site Controller) does not literally distribute game plays from the determinate complete set as disclosed in the '035 Patent; it distributes the game plays from the subset. As such, the Court finds no genuine issue as to whether the MGAM System literally infringes this claim limitation.
Gamco contends, however, that even though the game plays are broken up into subsets, the subsets in the MGAM System are derived from the same determinable complete set and thus are substantially the same under the doctrine of equivalents. In support of its infringement claim, Gamco relies entirely on the declaration of its expert witness Ms. Spielman to create a genuine issue of material fact whether the limitation is infringed under the doctrine of equivalents. Ms. Spielman opines:
[W]hen the determinable complete set of game plays is created, whether or not these game plays are further broken down into subsets and distributed and/or stored on various other servers has no effect on the properties of the determinable complete set as a whole. Once the determinable complete set of game plays is created, whether or not that set is ``chopped up' or spread out and distributed across various other machines or systems is not limited by the claims of the '035 Patent. All the subset are created from the one determinable complete set, with a predetermined number of wining and losing tickets, regardless of where the subsets reside or where they are distributed.
(Spielman Decl. ISO Infringement Opp., ¶ 12 (internal footnote omitted).) Thus, Ms. Spielman concludes that the MGAM System performs "substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve substantially the same result" as this claim limitation in the '035 Patent. (Id. ¶ 15.)
The Court finds this opinion conclusory, unhelpful, and insufficient to defeat summary judgment. Ms. Spielman fails to connect how the conclusion that the properties of the complete set remain unchanged when divided and distributed into subsets meets each element of the function-way-result analysis; i.e. how the Site Controller distributing game plays from subsets achieves substantially the same function, the same means, and the same result as distribution from a determinable complete set. See Lear Siegler, 873 F.2d at 1425. "[I]t is well settled that an expert's unsupported conclusion on the ultimate issue of infringement is insufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact." Arthur A. Collins, Inc. v. Northern Telecom Ltd., 216 F.3d 1042, 1046 (Fed.Cir. 2000) (citing Zelinski v. Brunswick Corp., 185 F.3d 1311, 1317 (Fed.Cir.1999)); see also Stumbo v. Eastman Outdoors, Inc., 508 F.3d 1358 (Fed.Cir.2007) (recognizing that an expert's conclusory statements that claims are "substantially equivalent" without specificity or particularized evidence or testimony is insufficient to defeat summary judgment based on the doctrine of equivalents). To the contrary, multiple *1096 players drawing from a subset which has a random number of wins/losses and prize values and where each subset contains different portions of that complete set is fundamentally distinguishable from multiple players drawing from the complete set of predetermined losses, wins and prize values. (See Friedman Decl. ISO Infringement MSJ, ¶¶ 14, 15.) Further, Gamco submits insufficient evidence as to how distribution from a subset is the equivalent of distributing from the complete set simply because the properties remain unchanged. (See Friedman Decl. ISO Infringement Reply, ¶¶ 4-8.) As such, the Court finds that Gamco has not submitted evidence sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether this claim limitation was infringed either literally or by equivalents.[15]
Each of the claims of the '035 Patent requires a "memory device" "coupled" to the "master processing unit," the memory device "operative to store" at least "one finite pool" of "game plays." (See '035 Patent Claims 1, 15, 16, and 18.) The Court has construed "memory device" to mean "computer memory for storing and retrieving data, such as random access memory [RAM] and disk drive memory." (Order at 6.) The Court has construed "coupled" as "directly or indirectly connected." (Id.)
MGAM first contends that the memory device connected to the Site Controllers, the master processing units, do not store a complete set of game plays, but only subsets sent to them by the Primary Data Center. (Infringement MSJ at 17 (citing Enzminger Decl. ISO MSJs, ¶¶ 24-27, 30-31).) Furthermore, MGAM contends that a specific Site Controller cannot access the memory devices at other Site Controllers and the Primary Data Center, and therefore those memories are not "directly or indirectly connected" to the requesting Site Controller. (Id., ¶¶ 30, 35; see also Friedman Decl. ISO Infringement MSJ, ¶ 29.)
In response, Gamco contends that the limitation that the complete game set be stored in memory is met because the complete set is stored in RAM while the game set is being built and randomized. (See Passarelli Decl. ISO Opps., Ex. G (Enzminger Depo.) at 91, 38-39.) Gamco contends that, even if this storage in RAM is temporary, it meets the requirement of the claim that the "finite pool" be stored in a "memory device." The Court agrees. The Court specifically construed "memory device" to include, for example, RAM. Thus, pursuant to the claim and its construction, the "memory device" may be RAM, and the RAM in the MGAM System does, at one point, store the determinable complete set, prior to being divided into subsets and prior to sending those subsets to the Site Controllers. As such, this element is met by the MGAM System.
However, the limitation that the "memory device" be "coupled" with the master processing unit remains at issue. While conceding the memory devices located at the Site Controller stores only subsets of *1097 game plays, Gamco contends that the memory devices located at the Primary Data Center are nevertheless directly or indirectly connected to the Site Controller. To that, MGAM maintains that the memory devices at the Primary Data Center are not connected to the Site Controllers because they are not "directly accessed" or "visible" to the Site Controller. Instead, Gamco contends that the memory device is "indirectly connected" to the Site Controller even though it is located on another machine in the system and that MGAM is attempting to read limitations into the claim and expand the Court's construction. To this, MGAM contends that Gamco's definition of "indirectly connects" is too expansive and does not consider that the "coupled with" language, versus simply being connected to any computer in the network, must mean something. The Court finds both interpretations plausible in light of the claims, this Court's construction, and expert opinions and therefore finds that Gamco has sufficiently defeated summary judgment of non-infringement of this claim limitation. Thus, the Court denies Defendants' motion for summary judgment insofar as it pertains to this limitation.
Each claim of the '035 Patent also requires that "each game play record contain[] an indication of whether the particular play constitutes a winning or losing play and the amount won." (Patent Claims 1, 15, 16, and 18.) The Court has construed "contains an indication of" to mean "including information specifying." (Order at 6.) This claim limitation involves the Nevada litigation discussed above. MGAM contends that, pursuant to the Nevada district court's construction, the game play record must include the dollar value won as well as "graphic data" indicating whether the play was a winning or losing play. As discussed above, the Nevada court found that, in order to distinguish the '035 patent from Troy, additional information other than a numerical number must be transmitted between the Site Controllers and the VLTs. (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO MSJs, Ex. L at 183-84.) This additional information, according to the Nevada court, is graphic data to be displayed on the player terminals, the VLTs. (Id.; see also Friedman Decl. ISO Infringement MSJ, ¶ 34.) Because the Court applies collateral estoppel and adopts the Nevada court's construction, the Court agrees that each game play record must include graphic data transmitted to the player terminal pursuant to this claim limitation.[16]
It is undisputed that the MGAM System's game play records do not transmit symbols or other graphic data to the VLTs and that the manufacturers of the VLTs independently determine the display of the outcome of the game. (Enzminger Decl. ¶ 37.) As such, this claim limitation as construed by the Nevada court and reconstrued by this Court is not met as a matter of law and the Court finds that the MGAM System does not infringe this limitation either literally or by equivalents. (See Enzminger Decl. ISO MSJs, ¶¶ 36-38.)
MGAM further contends that Claims 1, 16, and 18 and those claims that depend on these independent claims, are *1098 not infringed by the MGAM System. The '035 Patent claim discloses, in pertinent part: "each slave terminal ... to receive game play records in response to a game play request received from the player." (See '035 Patent Claims 1, 16, and 18.) The Court construed "in response to a game play request received from a player" to mean "each time a player makes a single request for a game play." (Order at 6.) As such, the '035 Patent requires two or more game play records in response to a single game play request. MGAM contends, however, that in its system, when the VLT makes a single game play request, it receives only one game play record in response; specifically, either a RequestPlayResponse or RequestPlayVoucherResponse, but no other message or ticket. (See Enzminger Decl. ISO MSJs, ¶¶ 31-32.)
In its opposition, Gamco contends that MGAM incorrectly construes the claim to require multiple "game plays" in response to a request from a VLT when in fact the claim requires multiple "game play records" in response to a request from a player. Gamco explains:
In common database terminology, a "record" can be referred to as a row within a single database table. Thus a record used within the '035 Patent or the MGAM Central System would be recognized, by anyone skilled in the art, as a single field or piece of information, or a group of related fields of information that are treated as a unit. As a result, MGAM's transmission of multiple pieces of information in response to a single request made by a player satisfies the language of the patent claims.
(Opp. to Infringement MSJ at 18 (citing Spielman Decl. ISO Infringement Opp., ¶ 30) (internal citations omitted).) The Court disagrees and instead finds that "game plays" and "game play records" are synonymous.[17] To adopt Ms. Spielman's interpretation of "record" would be to impermissibly drag extrinsic evidence and redefine "record" separate and apart from this Court's construction of that claim element. The Court will not do so. Instead, looking at the claims in the patent, it is apparent that these terms are used interchangeably. For example, claim element 1(b) reads:
[A] memory device coupled to the master processing unit, the memory device operative to store at least one finite pool of game plays, each finite pool containing a predefined number of winning and [losing] play records wherein, each game play record contains an indication of whether the particular play constitutes a winning or losing play and the amount won.
('035 Patent, Claim 1 (emphases added).)[18]
Gamco further contends that "multiple communication ``requests' may be triggered within the system by a single game play request made by a player." (Id.) A single request may gather multiple records if the information requested is found on one or more components, servers or databases in the system. (See Spielman Decl. ISO Infringement Opp., ¶ 30.) Gamco contends that "even in the rare case that the database schema was structured in such a way as to have all related information in a single database table and row, it would be *1099 unusual to have a single record of information that would contain all of the information required to satisfy the complex logic necessary in determining game plays." (Id.) Gamco then presents an example where it contends the "MGAM system sends a number of different game play records in response to particular winning plays." (See Opp. to Infringement MSJ at 19.) Specifically, Gamco contends that, in response to a single request, the MGAM System sets both a response indicating prize index, prize value and progressive prize value parameters, as well as a separate "progressive_winner" command to the video lottery terminal. (See Passarelli Decl. ISO Infringement Opp., Ex. M at 309-13, 323-25; see also Spielman Decl., ¶ 29, 30.)
Again, the Court finds that this argument imports limitations into the Claim that are not there and were not construed by this Court. The Court originally construed "game play record" to mean "electronic game play record" and did not further construe those various elements. The Court's reconsideration and adoption of a new construction does not change this aspect of the original construction. Furthermore, Gamco's example of when one game play request may result in multiple records being gathered does not change this result. The '035 Patent, as construed by this Court, requires game plays records to be sent in response "each time a player makes a single request for a game play." (See Order. at 6.) Even adopting Ms. Spielman's definition and application of "records," there is no evidence before this Court that both a RequestPlayReponse or RequestPlayVoucherReponse and a progressive_winner (or any other purported record) are sent each time a player requests a game play. As such, the Court finds that Gamco has not sufficiently met its burden to defeat summary judgment of non-infringement of this claim limitation.
Each independent claim also requires a "plurality of player-controlled selection devices" and a "plurality of output devices" with each device "coupled to a slave terminal."[19] (See '035 Patent, Claims 1, 15, 16, 18.) MGAM asserts that there is insufficient evidence in the record establishing that the MGAM system's VLTs contain two or more selection devices and two or more output devices. (See Reply ISO Infringement MSJ at 10.)[20] MGAM contends that Gamco's most knowledgeable witness Mr. Michaelson, the staff engineer at IGT, has never seen the VLTs placed in the New York racinos and had never played the New York video lottery. (See Bjurstrom Decl., Ex. Y at 38:6-15.) Further, Ms. Spielman also has no direct knowledge of the VLTs' input and output devices employed in the NYSL. (See Id., Ex. X at 182-186.) Thus, MGAM contends that there is simply no evidence that the VLTs of the MGAM System meet the input and output elements of Claims 1, 15, 16, and 18 sufficient to defeat summary judgment of non-infringement of this limitation. The Court agrees.[21]
While Gamco offers evidence of various input devices that can, and in the case of touchscreens "should," be present in the MGAM System's VLTs, there is simply no evidence that the actual VLTs used by the MGAM System for the NYSL contain a plurality of these input and output devices as required by the '035 Patent. (See Sur-reply to Infringement MSJ at 3-8.) Gamco bears the burden of establishing a genuine issue of material fact that the VLTs infringe upon the '035 Patent because each and every limitation is met. However, without a single document or testimony establishing what input and output devices the VLTs used in the MGAM System, the Court simply cannot find that any dispute is genuine.
Further, to the extent Gamco relies on the testimony of Mr. Michaelson as to what input devices "should" be present on the VLTs, this evidence only establishes that one input devicea touchscreen should be present, not that a plurality of devices should be present much less that they are present. (See Clatterbuck Decl. ISO Sur-Reply, Ex. B ("Michaelson Depo.") at 41:9-12.) In fact, Mr. Michaelson explicitly testified that he did not know whether the IGT VLTs in the NYSL do contain the various devices that can be included on the VLTs; in fact, he has never played the NYSL, visited the sites, nor seen the VLTs specifically placed in New York. (See Michaelson Depo. at 33:6-15.) Gamco also relies on the document provided by IGT entitled "New York Gaming Agent Training Guide" which provides an illustration and explanation of parts of the VLTs provided by IGT. (See Clatterbuck Decl. ISO Sur-Reply, Ex. A ("Training Guide").) However, Mr. Michaelson testified that he had never seen this document prior to litigation, that he did not know what the document was used for, and that he did not know if the diagram accurately reflected the VLTs provided for the NYSL and that IGT has "different models of top boxes and so forth and we have different themes." (Michaelson Depo. at 26:11-27:23.) In other words, there is no evidence in the record connecting the VLT diagramed in the document to the VLTs actually provided (or even which should be provided) to the NYSL. With only this evidence before the Court and mere conjecture as to what the MGAM System actually or even likely contains, the Court cannot draw any reasonable inferences sufficient to defeat summary judgment. In other words, the Court cannot find that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party based on the evidence before the Court. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. Thus, the Court grants MGAM's motion for summary judgment on non-infringement insofar as it applies to this claim limitations.
For the same reasons, the Court finds no evidence sufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact, even after drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of Gamco, as to the whether the MGAM System infringes the required output device limitation disclosed in the '035 Patent. Again, MGAM did not admit that a plurality of output devices are found in the VLTs used by the MGAM System, nor does Mr. Michaelson's testimony or the training guide document produced by IGT establish evidence of a plurality of output devices used in the NYSL sufficient to defeat summary judgment. Moreover, the '035 Patent discloses output devices which include information specifying whether the play was a winning or losing play and the amount won, as discussed above. (See '035 Patent Claims 1, 15, 16 and 18.) There is no evidence that any of the output devices which the MGAM System may or can contain includes this information (much less graphic symbols). (See Michaelson *1101 Depo. at 46:3-20) (testifying to only a numeral indication); 30:7-10 (testifying generally about various musical cues depending on outcome and game theme); see also Training Guide at 12 (describing ticket which prints only win amount); id. at 9 (describing, without specificity, "as an output, incadescent lights"). As such, the Court grants MGAM's motion for summary judgment of non-infringement of this claim limitation.
Claim 15 includes all but one of the limitations discussed above.[22] Thus, because the Court finds no genuine issue of material fact as to whether the MGAM system meets these limitations, Claim 15 is not infringed as a matter of law. The Court therefore GRANTS MGAM's motion for summary judgment of non-infringement of Claim 15. As such, the Court declines to address whether the MGAM system does not "employ the same or equivalent algorithmic structures identified for elements 15(a) and (d) for requesting and receiving an electronic ticket." (See Friedman Decl. ISO Infringement MSJ, §§ 39, 41.)
MGAM also moves for summary judgment of invalidity of the '035 Patent based on theories of anticipation and/or obviousness. For the reasons below, the Court DENIES MGAM's motion for summary judgment of invalidity under both theories.
35 U.S.C. § 102 states in pertinent part that "a person shall be entitled to a patent" unless the invention has been anticipated because:
(a) the invention was known or used by others in this country, or patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country, before the invention thereof by the applicant for patent, or
(e) the invention was described in ... (2) a patent granted on an application for patent by another filed in the United States before the invention by the applicant for patent ...
35 U.S.C. § 102(a) and (e)(2).[23] "It is well settled that a claim is anticipated if each and every limitation [of the claim] is found either expressly or inherently in a single prior art reference." Celeritas Techs., Ltd. v. Rockwell Intern. Corp., 150 F.3d 1354, 1361 (Fed.Cir.1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1106, 119 S.Ct. 874, 142 L.Ed.2d 774 (1999); see also Nystrom v. TREX Co., Inc., 424 F.3d 1136, 1149 (Fed.Cir.2005).
The prior art references MGAM contends invalidate the '035 Patent as anticipated are Troy and Koza.
MGAM concedes that, if the Court adopts the Nevada court opinion, the '035 Patent is not invalid as anticipated under either Troy or Koza. There is no dispute that the limitation requiring game play records to include graphics or symbolic data transmitted to the player terminals is not met by these prior art references. As explained above, the Court adopts this construction and thus denies Defendants' motion for summary judgment of invalidity on the theory of anticipation on this basis alone.[24]
*1102 However, even if the Court were to deny reconsideration and decline to adopt the Nevada court's construction, the Court would nevertheless deny MGAM's motion for summary judgment of invalidity. For the reasons explained below, the Court finds a genuine issue of material fact as to whether all claim limitations in the '035 Patent are met by the single prior art reference of Troy or Koza pursuant to section 102 sufficient to defeat summary judgment of invalidity.
The system disclosed in the '035 Patent is a three-tiered gaming system comprised of a central game processor, a plurality of multiple processing units coupled to the central game processor, and a plurality of player terminals, each player terminal receiving game play records from the master processing unit in response to a game play request from a player. (See generally '035 Patent.) Gamco contends that Troy does not include a third-tier equivalent of the master processing unit, but instead is a two-tiered distributed lottery system comprised of a central processor and a plurality of "player means remote from the central processor but communicating therewith." (See Spielman Decl. ISO Invalidity Opp., ¶ 9; see also Passarelli Decl. ISO Opps., Ex. R. (hereinafter "Troy Patent").) The Court finds that Defendant has sufficiently established a genuine issue of material fact as to this limitation.
MGAM contends that Troy's "multiplexers/preprocessors" constitute the middle-tier equivalent to the '035 Patent's master processing unit. Specifically, MGAM contends that in Troy the central processor creates the game set, which in turn distributes the game play to the multiplexer which then distributes that game play to the attached player terminal. (Friedman Decl. ISO Invalidity, ¶ 6.) MGAM contends that the central processor stores the complete set of game plays, but the multiplexer stores a subset of the game plays. (Id. ¶ 7.)
However, Ms. Spielman testifies that "[i]t is technically incorrect to include or reference the multiplex/preprocessor as a separate tier in a distributed system" because it provides merely a "data exchange and transformational function" which is not considered a tier level in a distributed application. (Spielman Decl. ISO Invalidity Opp., ¶¶ 10, 11.) In support of this, Ms. Spielman cites to Troy, which teaches: "The multiplexer/preprocessor 142 function would be to funnel data received from the player consoles 100 at a slow rate and retransmit it at a high rate to the central processor 144." (Troy Patent at Col. 6:7-16.) Furthermore, Troy states that a win message "be sent to the player console 100 via the multiplexer," and Gamco contends the word "via" indicates "by way of" or passing through. (See id. at Col. 15:67-68; Spielman Decl. ISO Invalidity Opp., ¶ 11.) Accordingly, Gamco contends that the multiplexers "are not a separate tier of the system responsible for receiving, storing and transmitting game plays" and therefore are not the equivalent to the master processing units disclosed in the '035 Patent. (Opp. to Invalidity MSJ at 10.)
MGAM contends, however, that the Troy patent's multiplexer/preprocessor does receive, store and transmit game plays. Claim 22 of the Troy patent claims the multiplexer and its function as follows:
A system in accordance with claims 15, 16, or 17 which includes a multiplexing processing means connected to said playing means and said central processor, with said multiplexing processing *1103 means capable of receiving data from said playing means and transmitting it to said central processor, and said multiplexing processing means capable of receiving data from said central processor and transmitting it to said playing means.
(Troy Patent, Claim 22.) Furthermore, according to Troy, the multiplexer/preprocessor would have "a RAM ... with sufficient storage for operation and to store data for retransmissions between the player console 100 and the central processor 144." (Id. at Col. 6:50-53.)
The Court finds a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the multiplexer disclosed in Troy has a transformational function or is in fact a separate tier equivalent to the master processing unit disclosed in the '035 Patent. As such, the Court denies MGAM's motion for summary judgment of invalidity as anticipated by Troy on this basis. See Celeritas Techs., 150 F.3d at 1361 ("It is well settled that a claim is anticipated if each and every limitation [of the claim] is found either expressly or inherently in a single prior art reference.")
Claim 1(b), as construed by this Court, requires a "memory device operative to store at least one finite pool [determinable complete set] of game plays, each finite pool containing a predefined [defined in advance] number of winning and [losing] play records."[25] ('035 Patent, Claim 1; see also Order at 6.) Gamco contends that Troy does not employ determinable complete sets of game plays, but rather an open-ended pool with an infinite number of game plays. Ms. Spielman explains:
The game plays in Troy are created in a register counter. This is referenced in Figure 6, boxes 300 and 304, of Troy. The register counter incrementing continues for each game play. The nature of using a register, common to anyone with ordinary skill in the art, indicates that the repeating of numbers will roll over when the register overflows. As a simple example, if a register was meant to hold 9999 values, after the value 9999, the next value will be 0 and the incrementing will repeat. Therefore, the use of a register for game play pools is, by its definition, infinite and does not constitute a finite pool of game plays as defined in the claims of the '035 Patent because there is no limit imposed on how many times the register overflows.
(Spielman Decl. ISO Invalidity Opp., ¶ 12; see also id., ¶ 13.)
MGAM disputes that the use of a register counter does not create an infinite pool of lottery tickets as Gamco contends. The Troy patent discloses the use of "pools" in connection with its instant lottery game system. (See Troy Patent, Col. 18:56-58, Col. 23:4-7.) Mr. Friedman asserts that instant lottery pools are, by definition, finite pools. (See Friedman Decl. ISO Invalidity Reply, ¶ 12-16.) The register counter is not this "pool," but works with the pool to identify the next ticket to be played. (Troy Patent, Col. 23:4-7.) After the ticket pool is played in its entirety, the register then allows the ticket pool to be restarted and played through again. Thus, the register allows the same pool to be used an infinite number of times, but does not create an infinite ticket pool insofar as it does not create new or additional tickets. (See Friedman Decl. ISO Invalidity Reply, ¶¶ 16-17.) Accordingly, MGAM contends that Troy discloses the use of a *1104 determinable complete set of electronic game plays.
Based on this evidence before the Court, the Court finds a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Troy discloses a complete determinable set of game plays despite the use of the register counter and thus meets this limitation of the '035 Patent. As such, the Court denies MGAM's motion for summary judgment of invalidity on this ground, as well.
Turning to Koza, the Court also finds a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Koza meets the requirement of a three-tiered distribution system as disclosed in the '035 Patent sufficient to defeat summary judgment of invalidity as anticipated by Koza.
Instead of a three-tiered system, Gamco contends that Troy discloses a two tiered system; the first tier is the central controller and the second tier is the remote terminal, which is comprised of both the game controller and the terminal controller.[26] To the contrary, MGAM contends that the game controller and the terminal controller are separate tiers with independent functions. The patent claims and specification support both interpretations sufficient to defeat summary judgment.
Claim 1 of Koza states: "In a gaming system having a central controller and a plurality of remote terminals each operable for playing a game ..." (Passarelli Decl. ISO Opps., Ex. S (hereinafter "Koza Patent") at 24:52-54.) The claims go on to disclose the requirements of the "central controller" and the "remote terminals" or "terminals," but do not specifically distinguish or describe the game controller and the terminal controller. The game controller and terminal controller are discussed only within the specification. Further, Gamco relies in large part on the fact that the game controller and the terminal controller reside in the same box, i.e. the remote terminal. (See Spielman Decl. ISO Invalidity Opp., ¶ 19, 20; see also Koza Patent, Figures 1, 2 and 3A.)
MGAM, however, contends that the specification describes that game controller and terminal controller as having two different functions.[27] Specifically, MGAM argues that the terminal controller receives the mini-pools from the central computer and distributes game play records from those mini-pools (see Koza Patent, Fig. 3A, Box 70 and Col. 6:19-34), whereas the game controller requests and receives *1105 the game play records from the terminal controller and displays those records to multiple player terminals simultaneously (see id., Fig. 3A, Box 50, Col. 4:2-52, Col. 3:32-39; see also id. Col. 6:19-20 (describing the terminal controller as a "separate, secure unit within the remote terminal housing").)
As such, given the claim language and specification of the Koza patent and Ms. Spielman's opinion as supported by Koza that it discloses a two-tiered system, the Court finds a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Koza discloses a two-tier or a three-tier distributed system. Thus, the Court denies MGAM's motion for summary judgment of invalidity based on anticipation by Koza.[28]
In the alternative, MGAM contends that the '035 Patent is invalid as obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103.
35 U.S.C. § 103 provides that a patent may be invalid if it is "obvious":
A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains.
35 U.S.C. § 103(a).
To determine whether a patent is "obvious," courts look to the following factors: (1) the scope and content of prior art; (2) the differences between the prior art and the claims; (3) the level of ordinary skill in the art; and (4) second or objective evidence of non-obviousness, such as commercial success and satisfaction of long-felt need. Graham v. John Deere Co. of Kansas City, 383 U.S. 1, 17, 86 S.Ct. 684, 15 L.Ed.2d 545 (1966); see also Ecolochem, Inc. v. S. Cal. Edison Co., 227 F.3d 1361, 1376-79 (Fed.Cir.2000), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 974, 121 S.Ct. 1607, 149 L.Ed.2d 473 (2001).
In its motion papers, MGAM did not distinguish its invalidity arguments based on the separate theories of anticipation and obviousness, instead electing to argue them together. However, Mr. Friedman's declaration submitted in support of the motion for summary judgment of invalidity does address the standards separately and he set forth his opinion as to whether certain differences between the '035 Patent and the prior art references of Troy, Koza, and industry knowledge of paper pull-tab games would be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. MGAM has the burden of proving invalidity based on obviousness. The Court finds a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the '035 Patent is invalid as obvious.[29] Specifically, Gamco has offered evidence *1106 of secondary considerations which the Court may consider in evaluating obviousness, yet there is a genuine issue regarding these secondary considerations sufficient to preclude a determination by this Court that the '035 Patent is invalid as obvious as a matter of law.[30]See Ruiz v. A.B. Chance Co., 234 F.3d 654, 667 (Fed. Cir.2000) ("[S]econdary considerations, when present, must be considered in determining obviousness."). These considerations include "commercial success, long felt but unsolved needs, [and] failure of others." Ecolochem, Inc. v. Southern CA Edison Co., 227 F.3d 1361, 1376 (Fed.Cir. 2000). Such evidence of these secondary considerations may give rise to genuine issues of material fact and preclude summary judgment of obviousness. Id.; see also Pro-Mold and Tool Co. v. Great Lakes Plastics, Inc., 75 F.3d 1568, 1573 (Fed.Cir.1996).
In its opposition, Gamco submits evidence, "particularly with regard to the commercial success of the '035 Patent," which the Court finds precludes summary judgment of invalidity due to obviousness. See Ecolochem, Inc. v. Southern CA Edison Co., 227 F.3d 1361, 1376 (Fed.Cir.2000) (finding that evidence of secondary consideration such as "commercial success, long felt but unsolved needs, [and] failure of others" may give rise to genuine issues of material fact and preclude summary judgment of obviousness); see also Pro-Mold and Tool Co. v. Great Lakes Plastics, Inc., 75 F.3d 1568, 1573 (Fed.Cir.1996). Specifically, Gamco submits evidence of placements in Native American jurisdictions, royalties paid by Bally for development of a system using the '035 Patent, a license purchased by Bally concerning products using the '035 Patent, and a purchase agreement which included the '035 Patent between Gamco and IGT.[31] (See Opp. to Invalidity MSJ at 23-25.) As such, the Court finds a genuine issue of material fact as to the relevant commercial success as an indication of non-obviousness sufficient to defeat summary judgment and therefore denies MGAM's motion for summary judgment of invalidity based on the theory of obviousness.
For those reasons, the Court GRANTS Multimedia Games, Inc.'s ("MGAM") motion for summary judgment of non-infringement and DENIES MGAM's motion for summary judgment of invalidity.
[1] United States Patent Numbers 4,856,787 ("Itkis"), 2,148,135A ("Dickenson"), and 5,042, 809 ("Richardson").
[2] On December 3, 2001, Oasis assigned all of its right, title and interest in the '035 Patent to Gamco as a result of Oasis' foreclosure, (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO MSJs, Ex. D.) In 2003, Gamco assigned its rights, title and interests to International Game Technology ("IGT"). (See Passarelli Decl. ISO Opps., Ex. X; Bjurstrom Decl. ISO MSJs, Ex. O.) Gamco, however, retained the right to bring suit against MGAM for infringement of the '035 Patent pursuant to this assignment. (Id.)
[3] MGAM further argues that Ms. Spielman's testimony is inconsistent, is based on inaccurate interpretations and citations of the authorities upon which she relies, and is based on faulty assumptions, thus rendering her opinion as a whole unreliable. To this, the Court finds that any such inconsistencies or inaccuracies do not disqualify Ms. Spielman's testimony outright, but rather are more properly addressed as applied to the merits of those claims. At this stage, however, the Court does not weigh evidence nor does it make credibility determinations.
[4] Gamco cites to four sources allegedly improperly relied on: (1) Gamco's alleged interpretation of the '035 Patent; (2) the legal opinion of IGT's former outside patent counsel regarding the infringement of the '035 Patent by Sierra Design Group's gaming system; (3) the incorrect construction ruling of the Nevada District Court; and (4) Mr. Friedman's broad interpretation of this Court's claim construction. (Invalidity Sur-Reply at 2.)
[5] Notably, the sur-reply to the invalidity motion for summary judgment contained arguments related to Mr. Friedman's opinions on infringement in an effort to circumvent this Court's order limiting the sur-replies to both motions to 10 pages each.
[6] In response, SDG's counsel opined that the SDG system did not infringe, literally or by equivalents, the '035 Patent. (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO MSJs, Ex. G.) In addition, IGT, a provider of video lottery and game themes to SDG, obtained an opinion letter from its patent counsel as to whether the SDG system infringed the '035 patent. IGT's counsel also opined that it did not. (See id., Ex. H.)
[7] MGAM admits that "just recently," it located the decision within the documents produced by Gamco during discovery "cleverly buried in a large pile of ``prior art' references" for devices having nothing to do with the patent at issue in this case. (Id.; see also Ex. W (irrelevant prior art).) The Court admonishes both parties for failing to bring this opinion to the Court's attention and finds that fault is properly attributed to both parties, though more so to Gamco considering its role in and awareness of the Nevada litigation.
[8] Further, Gamco incorrectly contends that collateral estoppel is not applicable because MGAM did not have the opportunity to appeal the prior district court's construction order. See Kollmorgen Corp. v. Yaskawa Elec. Corp., 147 F.Supp.2d 464 (W.D.Va.2001); see also Rambus Inc. v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., 569 F.Supp.2d 946, 968 (N.D.Cal.2008) ("The inability to obtain appellate review bars the application of issue preclusion.") In Kollmorgen, the court found:
As the Wisconsin Court never reached a decision as to the patent infringement claim, the order necessarily could not prove essential to a non-existent final judgment, and thus, collateral estoppel will not apply to the determination of patents ...
Id. at 469-70. While it is true that a claim construction is not immediately appealable, the Nevada opinion and construction was pursuant to a declaratory relief and preliminary injunction action and therefore was immediately appealable. The parties, however, chose to settle the case rather than appeal the decision. Thus, this argument is without merit.
[9] Gamco cites to the Western District of Virginia case of Kollmorgen, which noted that while Markman emphasized consistency and uniformity, this "presupposes that the court's construction of the patent is correct ... [and] does not stand for the blanketed adoption of patent constructions without first undergoing the Federal Circuit's rigorous review." Kollmorgen, 147 F.Supp.2d at 468-69. Kollmorgen, however, is a district court decision from Virginia and therefore does not trump the Central District of California's opinion to the contrary.
[10] In doing so, the Court takes heed of the fact that this construction is adopted after all discovery has been completed in the matter and that Gamco asserts prejudice because it was not able to conduct discovery based on this construction. However, Gamco did not argue prejudice in its opposition and has not substantiated what prejudice will actually occur. As explained below, Gamco does not dispute in his papers or at oral argument that the MGAM System's game play records do not include graphic data transmitted to the player terminals. As such, there appears to be no amount of discovery which will aid Gamco in attempting to argue that the MGAM System did in fact include such graphic data sufficient to infringe the '035 Patent under this construction. Thus, while recognizing the potential impact of such a late construction, no prejudice has been established and, regardless, any resulting prejudice is largely due to Gamco's failure to bring the Nevada court's decision to this Court's attention at the time of the claim construction hearing.
[11] If the Court finds that Claim 1 is not infringed as a matter of law, then Claims 2-14, which depend from and include all limitations of Claim 1, are not infringed as well. Further, if the Court finds that Claim 16 is not infringed, so is the dependent Claim 17. See Wahpeton Canvas Co., Inc. v. Frontier, Inc., 870 F.2d 1546, 1552 n. 9 (Fed.Cir.1989).
[12] The following description is from Joe Enzminger and generally undisputed unless otherwise noted. Mr. Enzminger is a technical consultant to MGAM who "was the lead system architect charged with designing, developing, and implementing" the MGAM system for the NYSL. (Enzminger Decl. ISO MSJs, ¶ 9.)
[13] The terms VLTs, player terminals, and slave terminals are used interchangeably throughout this Order.
[14] There is some argument as to whether the Site Controllers, collectively, make up the "master processing unit," as asserted in Gamco's Final Infringement Contentions. (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO MSJs, Ex. R.) This argument is not reasserted in the papers and is not dispositive.
[15] As such, the Court declines to address in detail MGAM's argument that Gamco is precluded from arguing equivalents based on the doctrine of prosecution history estoppel. However, the Court notes that the '035 Patent was amended to include the distribution of tickets from a "finite pool," admittedly to address patentability concerns by the USPTO, including the prior art reference Troy. (See Opp. to Invalidity MSJ at 3; see also Preliminary Amendment at 230.) It is Gamco's burden to establish that this amendment was not related to patentability. See Pioneer Magnetics, Inc. v. Micro Linear Corp., 330 F.3d 1352, 1356 (Fed.Cir.2003); see also Festo Corp., 535 U.S. at 740-41, 122 S.Ct. 1831.
[16] Interestingly, IGT sought an opinion of counsel in connection to the SDG litigation who agreed with the Nevada district court and its finding that the game play record of the '035 Patent discloses that graphics or symbols must be displayed on the player terminal. (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO MSJs, Ex. H at 133-135.)
[17] The Court did not construe, nor was it asked to construe, "game play" or "record" but only "game play record."
[18] Furthermore, to define "game play records" to mean multiple records of information constituting a response to a player's single request does not jibe with the patent's requirement that each "game play record" include an "indication of a winning or losing play and the amount won." As MGAM puts it: "Why would a player receive two different amounts won for a single game outcome? They wouldn't."
[19] Claim 15 does not disclose "a plurality" of selection and output devices, but rather discloses "player-controlled selection means" and "output means" in the plural form.
[20] MGAM raised this argument for the first time in its reply brief, but the Court granted Gamco leave to file a sur-reply to address this newly-raised issue. (See Doc. No. 333.)
[21] MGAM makes much of the fact that the evidence submitted by Gamco establishes, at best, evidence relating to the IGT VLTs, but no evidence as to the other manufacturers who provide VLTs for the MGAM System. This is irrelevant for purposes of this motion because if Gamco establishes a genuine dispute as to whether even one VLT infringes this claim limitation, summary judgment is defeated.
[22] Claim 15 does not require multiple game play records to be sent in response to a single game play request.
[23] There are six subsections, but only sections (a) and (e)(2) are applicable to the present motion. (See Invalidity MSJ at 4; Invalidity Opp. at 6.)
[24] However, this finding does not preclude the Court from rendering the '035 Patent invalid based on the theory of obviousness; thus, the Court will discuss this below.
[25] This same limitation is an element of claims 1(a), 15(a), 15(b), 16(a), 18(a) and 18(b). (See generally '035 Patent.)
[26] Gamco further contends that this two-tiered structure not only brings Koza outside the bounds of Claim 18, but Claims 1, 15, and 16 and their dependant claims as well. "For example, because the game plays in the Koza system reside on the remote terminals and not on an intermediate third tier as disclosed in the '035 Patent and in the MGAM System, players are prevented from competing with one another over common pools of tickets." (Opp. to Invalidity MSJ at 16) (citing Spielman Decl. ISO Invalidity Opp., ¶ 21.) "Furthermore, because the game plays already reside at the lowest tier of the system, there is no need for game play requests or game play records to be transmitted across various tiers of the system as required by claims 1(d) and 1(e) of the '035 Patent." (Id.)
[27] Further, MGAM contends that Gamco's argument that because the two controllers reside in the same box, this indicates a single tier, is undercut by Ms. Spielman's assertion that all three tiers could reside on the same machine. (See Bjurstrom Decl. ISO Invalidity Reply, Ex. X at 36:2-10.) This is not dispositive. While Ms. Spielman's testimony regarding the Koza patent may be undermined by her other testimony, the Court does not weigh evidence nor make credibility determinations at this stage in the litigation. Thus, the Court will not discredit Ms. Spielman's testimony regarding her interpretation of the Koza patent and her opinion that it discloses a two-tier system.
[28] Furthermore, whether several other claim limitations of the '035 Patent are met by Koza rely on whether Koza discloses a two-tiered or a three-tiered distributed system and the communications between these purported tiers. (See Opp. to Invalidity MSJ at 16-18.) As such, to the extent the other claim limitations rely on this tiered system as argued by Gamco and recognized by MGAM in its reply, the Court would find genuine issues of material fact as to these claim limitations, as well.
[29] Furthermore, there is fundamental dispute as to who constitutes a person of ordinary skill in the art. Mr. Friedman's opinion as to what a person of ordinary skill in the art differs greatly from Ms. Spielman's, yet both of their opinions based on obviousness relies on this person of ordinary skill in the art. Mr. Friedman opines that a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the '035 Patent would have an understanding of paper pull-tab games, an understanding of distributed computing, and 3 to 5 years experience in the gaming industry. (See Friedman Decl. ISO Invalidity MSJ, ¶ 11.) Ms. Spielman, however, asserts that gaming experience may be helpful, but is not necessary. (See Spielman Decl. ISO Opp. to Invalidity MSJ, ¶ 4.) Considering this Court has found Ms. Spielman qualified as an expert despite this lack of experience, Mr. Friedman's opinions related to what one of ordinary skill in the art would consider obvious renders his opinions concerning obviousness in dispute.
[30] Notably, MGAM did not even address relevant secondary considerations in its opening motion, nor specifically address the factors generally considered by the Court.
[31] To this, MGAM generally disputes the commercial success based on Native American placements, asserting that this was in fact a "catastrophic failure." (See Reply ISO Invalidity MSJ at 9; see also Bjurstrom Decl. ISO Reply, Ex. C. at 51-64.) Moreover, MGAM contend that these gaming systems placed did not draw from the complete set of tickets but from subsets, like in Troy and Koza. Thus, "the required nexus for establishing commercial success is lacking." (Reply ISO Invalidity MSJ at 10.) Neither of these arguments defeat the genuine issue created by Gamco's evidence of secondary considerations.
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