Recent patent infringement cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas

MARSHALL DIVISION

Oct. 13 

Multiplayer Network Innovations LLC v Activision Blizzard Inc. Case No. 2:14-cv-00946

Multiplayer Network Innovations LLC v Electronic Arts Inc. Case No. 2:14-cv-00947

Multiplayer Network Innovations LLC v Iron Galaxy Studios LLC Case No. 2:14-cv-00948

Multiplayer Network Innovations LLC v Tecmo Koei Games Co. Ltd. and Tecmo Koei America Corp. Case No. 2:14-cv-00949

Multiplayer Network Innovations LLC v Tencent Holdings Ltd. et al Case No. 2:14-cv-00950

Plaintiff Multiplayer Network Innovations (MNI) is a Texas limited liability company.

MNI claims to hold U.S. Patent No. 5,618,045, issued April 8, 1997, for an Interactive Multiple Player Game System and Method of Playing a Game Between at Least Two Players.

The MNI patent was invented by Dr. Michael Kagan and Ian Solomon.

According to the suits, Dr. Kagan is a noted scholar and inventor. He holds a PhD in chemistry from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and is the author of numerous books and journal articles relating to technology, chemistry and religion that have been published in the journal Nature and the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

The complaints state that Dr. Kagan is the inventor of 10 U.S. patents.

Ian Solomon is an inventor and entrepreneur who is the co-founder of medical device makers SteadyMed Therapeutics Inc. and Aespira Ltd.

According to the suits, during the mid-1990s, Kagan and Solomon conceived of a way for electronic devices to communicate with one another for the playing of computer games.

“Dr. Kagan and Mr. Solomon’s idea was conceived in part against the backdrop of the conflicts in the Middle East,” the suits state. “The idea was to use wirelessly connected gaming devices to open up channels of communication between people with divergent views.”

The inventions have useful applications to fields such as video gaming hardware and software, smartphone hardware and software and casino gaming hardware and software, among others.

The plaintiff claims leading technology companies including Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc., Intel Corp., Google Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. have cited the MNI patent numerous times, and more than 325 issued patents cite the MNI patent.

Some of the allegedly infringing products include the games Call of Duty Black Ops: Declassified, Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends, Rock Band Reloaded, Divekick, QQ Games and WeChat including QQ Mahjong, QQ Backgammon and QQ Landlords.

MNI is seeking compensatory damages no less than a reasonable royalty, interest, costs and other relief to which it may be entitled. A jury trial is demanded.

The plaintiff is represented by Elizabeth DeRieux and Jeffrey Rambin of Capshaw DeRieux LLP in Gladewater; and Marc A. Fenster, Dorian Berger and Daniel Hipskind of Russ August & Kabat in Los Angeles, Calif.

 

Oct. 14

Gonzalez v Global Personals LLC Case No. 2:14-cv-00952

Oct. 16

Gonzalez v Elite Marketing Solutions Inc. Case No. 2:14-cv-00863

Plaintiff Emmanuel C. Gonzalez is an individual living in the Philippines.

He claims to be the sole inventor of the patents-in-suit:

U.S. Patent No. 7,558,807 issued July 9, 2009, for a Host Website for Digitally Labeled Websites and Method;

U.S. Patent No. 7,873,665 issued Jan. 18, 2011, for a Method for Digitally Labeling Websites;

U.S. Patent No. 8,065,333 issued Nov. 22, 2011, for a Method for Digitally Labeling Websites; and

U.S. Patent No. 8,296,325 issued Oct. 23, 2012, for a Method for Digitally Labeling Websites.

The invention relates in one respect to a method for multi-parameter digital labeling of Internet content comprising the steps of: (i) gathering unambiguous, multi-parameter qualitative data concerning the content and the contents’ owner or creator; (ii) sourcing, from the owner or creator of the content, each item of qualitative data; (iii) producing a plurality of digital labels for each element of the content, wherein each digital label represents and comprises a unique reference to a specific item of qualitative information, and further comprises encoding of qualitative data in digital form; (iv) storing the digital labels on a computer or network; (v) manipulation of digital labels by generating content that matches parameters stipulated by an entity conducting a search; and (vi) making available the effective use of these multi-parameter digital labels and the means for their manipulation, to the general public through the Internet.

The defendants’ allegedly infringing activities are conducted via defendant’s sites, including but not limited to, those at the following .com addresses: dateacougar; indiansexdates; adultlove; bondagedating; findashemalelover; grannysexpersonals; bikerplanet; maturehookupdating; dateamillionaire; asianmatching; blackscene; findanewlover; dateacowboy; asianmatching; fitnessdates; christianlifestyle; fling.com; wealthymen.com; and blackfling.com, including their respective associated and/or linked websites, according to the suits.

Gonzalez claims he communicated directly with the defendants or their affiliates concerning the patents on Aug. 6, 2014. Therefore, the infringement is willful, according to the suits.

Gonzalez is seeking monetary damages no less than a reasonable royalty, interest, attorneys’ fees and other relief the court deems just and proper. A jury trial is demanded.

M. Scott Fuller, Paul D. Lein and Darrian L. Campbell of Locke Lord LLP in Dallas are representing the plaintiff.

 

Oct. 15

Magnacross LLC v Best Buy Purchasing LLC, dba Insignia Products Case No. 2:14-cv-00953

Magnacross LLC v Blackberry Corp. Case No. 2:14-cv-00954

Magnacross LLC v Fujitsu America Inc. Case No. 2:14-cv-00955

Magnacross LLC v HTC America Inc. Case No. 2:14-cv-00957

Magnacross LLC v LG Electronics USA Inc. Case No. 2:14-cv-00957

Magnacross LLC v Microsoft Corp. Case No. 2:14-cv-00958

Magnacross LLC v Motorola Mobility LLC Case No. 2:14-cv-00959

Magnacross LLC v Samsung Electronics America Inc. Case No. 2:14-cv-00960

Magnacross LLC v Sony Electronics Inc. Case No. 2:14-cv-00961

Magnacross LLC v ZTE (USA) Inc. Case No. 2:14-cv-00962

Plaintiff Magnacross is a Texas limited liability company with its principal place of business in McKinney.

Defendants are accused of infringing U.S. Patent No. 6,917,304 issued July 12, 2005, for a Wireless Multiplex Data Transmission System.

Allegedly infringing products include tablets with wi-fi, Bluetooth headphones, activity trackers, smart watches and proximity/locator devices.

Magnacross is seeking compensatory damages no less than a reasonable royalty, interest, costs, injunctive relief and other relief deemed just and proper. A jury trial is demanded.

Attorney David R. Bennett of Direction IP Law in Chicago, Ill., is representing the plaintiff.