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`
`Steven Ritcheson
`Insight, PLC
`578 Washington Boulevard #503
`Marina del Rey, California 90291
`Phone: (424) 289-9191
`swritcheson@insightplc.com
`
`Howard L. Wernow
`(pro hac vice forthcoming)
`Sand, Sebolt & Wernow Co., LPa
`Aegis Tower - Suite 1100
`4940 Munson Street, N. W.
`Canton, Ohio 44718
`Phone: (330) 244-1174
`howard.wernow@sswip.com
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff
`FURY TECHNOLOGIES LLC
`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`
`FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`
`FURY TECHNOLOGIES LLC,
`
`
`Civil Action No.:
` Plaintiff,
`
`
`
`TRIAL BY JURY DEMANDED
` v.
`
`DJI TECHNOLOGY, INC.,
`
` Defendant.
`
`
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
`
`Now comes Plaintiff, Fury Technologies LLC (“Plaintiff” or “Fury”), by and
`
`through undersigned counsel, and respectfully alleges, states, and prays as follows:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 2 of 14 Page ID #:2
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`
`NATURE OF THE ACTION
`
`1.
`
`This is an action for patent infringement under the Patent Laws of the
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`United States, Title 35 United States Code (“U.S.C.”) to prevent and enjoin
`
`Defendant DJI Technology, Inc. (hereinafter “Defendant”), from infringing and
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`profiting, in an illegal and unauthorized manner, and without authorization and/or
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`consent from Plaintiff from U.S. Patent No 8,965,598 (“the ‘598 Patent”) and U.S.
`
`Patent No. 9,352,833 (“the ‘833 Patent”) (collectively the “Patents-in-Suit”), which
`
`are attached hereto as Exhibits A and B, respectively, and incorporated herein by
`
`reference, and pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §271, and to recover damages, attorney’s fees,
`
`and costs.
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`2.
`
`Plaintiff is a Texas limited liability company with its principal place of
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`business at 6009 West Parker Road – Suite 149-1089, Plano, Texas 75093.
`
`3.
`
`Upon information and belief, Defendant is a corporation organized
`
`under the laws of California, having a principal place of business at 201 South
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`Victory Boulevard, Burbank, California 91502. Upon information and belief,
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`Defendant may be served with process c/o CT Corporation System, 818 West
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`Seventh Street – Suite 930, Los Angeles, California 90017.
`
`4.
`
`Plaintiff is further informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that
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`Defendant operates the website enterprise.dji.com. Defendant derives a portion of
`
`its revenue from sales and distribution via electronic transactions conducted on and
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 3 of 14 Page ID #:3
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`using at least, but not limited to, its Internet website located at enterprise.dji.com,
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`and its incorporated and/or related systems (collectively the “DJI Website”).
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`Plaintiff is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that, at all times relevant
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`hereto, Defendant has done and continues to do business in this judicial district,
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`including, but not limited to, providing products/services to customers located in
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`this judicial district by way of the DJI Website.
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`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`5.
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`This is an action for patent infringement in violation of the Patent Act
`
`of the United States, 35 U.S.C. §§1 et seq.
`
`6.
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`The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28
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`U.S.C. §§1331 and 1338(a).
`
`7.
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`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant by virtue of its
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`systematic and continuous contacts with this jurisdiction and its residence in this
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`District, as well as because of the injury to Plaintiff, and the cause of action Plaintiff
`
`has risen in this District, as alleged herein.
`
`8.
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`Defendant is subject to this Court’s specific and general personal
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`jurisdiction pursuant to its substantial business in this forum, including: (i) at least a
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`portion of the infringements alleged herein; (ii) regularly doing or soliciting
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`business, engaging in other persistent courses of conduct, and/or deriving substantial
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`revenue from goods and services provided to individuals in this forum state and in
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`this judicial District; and (iii) being incorporated in this District.
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`
`
`
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`3
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
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`
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`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 4 of 14 Page ID #:4
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`9.
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`Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1400(b)
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`because Defendant resides in this District under the Supreme Court’s opinion in TC
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`Heartland v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, 137 S. Ct. 1514 (2017) through its
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`incorporation, and regular and established place of business in this District.
`
`FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
`
`10. On February 24, 2015, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
`
`(“USPTO”) duly and legally issued the ‘598 Patent, entitled “AUTOMATIC
`
`FLIGHT CONTROL FOR UAV BASED SOLID MODELING” after a full and fair
`
`examination. The ‘598 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated
`
`herein as if fully rewritten.
`
`11. Plaintiff is presently the owner of the ‘598 Patent, having received all
`
`right, title and interest in and to the ‘598 Patent from the previous assignee of
`
`record. Plaintiff possesses all rights of recovery under the ‘598 Patent, including the
`
`exclusive right to recover for past infringement.
`
`12. To the extent required, Plaintiff has complied with all marking
`
`requirements under 35 U.S.C. § 287.
`
`13. The invention claimed in the ‘598 Patent comprises an automatic
`
`unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight control system for solid modeling.
`
`14. Claim 1 of the ‘598 Patent recites an automatic aerial vehicle (UAV)
`
`flight control system for solid modeling.
`
`15. Claim 1 of the ‘598 Patent states:
`
`
`
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`4
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
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`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 5 of 14 Page ID #:5
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`“1. An automatic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight
`control system for Solid modeling, the system comprising:
`a UAV with an onboard camera;
`a controller capable of communication with a flight control
`module of the UAV, the controller configured to:
`determine an initial movement path based on an estimate
`of a structure to be modeled;
`capture images of the structure to be modeled;
`form surface hypotheses for unobserved surfaces based
`on the captured images;
`determine missing Surface information from the Surface
`hypotheses; and
`determine a least impact path for the UAV based on the
`missing Surface information and desired flight param-
`eters.” See Exhibit A.
`
`
`16. Defendant commercializes, inter alia, methods that perform all the steps
`
`recited in at least one claim of the ‘598 Patent. More particularly, Defendant
`
`commercializes, inter alia, methods that perform all the steps recited in Claim 1 of
`
`the ‘598 Patent. Specifically, Defendant makes, uses, sells, offers for sale, or
`
`imports a UAV device that encompasses that which is covered by Claim 1 of the
`
`‘598 Patent.
`
`17. On May 31, 2016, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
`
`(“USPTO”) duly and legally issued the ‘833 Patent, entitled “AUTOMATIC
`
`FLIGHT CONTROL FOR UAV BASED SOLID MODELING” after a full and fair
`
`examination. The ‘833 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated
`
`herein as if fully rewritten.
`
`
`
`
`
`5
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
`
`
`
`
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`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 6 of 14 Page ID #:6
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`18. Plaintiff is presently the owner of the ‘833 Patent, having received all
`
`right, title and interest in and to the ‘833 Patent from the previous assignee of
`
`record. Plaintiff possesses all rights of recovery under the ‘833 Patent, including the
`
`exclusive right to recover for past infringement.
`
`19. To the extent required, Plaintiff has complied with all marking
`
`requirements under 35 U.S.C. § 287.
`
`20. The invention claimed in the ‘833 Patent comprises an automatic
`
`unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight control system for solid modeling.
`
`21. Claim 11 of the ‘833 Patent recites an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
`
`system for 3D modeling.
`
`22. Claim 11 of the ‘833 Patent states:
`
`“11. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for 3D
`modeling, the system comprising:
`a UAV capable of communication with a controller, the
`UAV configured to:
`receive an initial movement path from the controller,
`wherein the initial movement path is based on an
`estimate of a structure to be modeled;
`capture one or more images of the structure to be mod-
`eled, wherein the one or more images are captured by
`one or more cameras onboard the UAV:
`transmit the captured one or more images to the control-
`ler, wherein the captured one or more images are used
`to form a surface hypotheses for unobserved surfaces,
`and wherein missing surface information is deter-
`mined from the surface hypotheses; and
`receive a least impact path for the UAV from the con-
`
`
`
`
`
`6
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 7 of 14 Page ID #:7
`
`
`
`
`
`troller, wherein the least impact path is based on the
`missing surface information and desired flight param-
`eters.” See Exhibit B.
`
`23. Defendant commercializes, inter alia, methods that perform all the steps
`
`recited in at least one claim of the ‘833 Patent. More particularly, Defendant
`
`commercializes, inter alia, methods that perform all the steps recited in Claim 11 of
`
`the ‘833 Patent. Specifically, Defendant makes, uses, sells, offers for sale, or
`
`imports a UAV device that encompasses that which is covered by Claim 11 of the
`
`‘833 Patent.
`
`DEFENDANT’S PRODUCT(S)
`
`24. Defendant offers solutions, such as the “DJI Construction Solution”
`
`(the “Accused System”), flight control system for solid modeling.
`
`25. A non-limiting and exemplary claim chart comparing the Accused
`
`System to Claim 1 of the ‘598 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibit C and is
`
`incorporated herein as if fully rewritten.
`
`26. As recited in Claim 1, a system, at least in internal testing and usage,
`
`utilized by the Accused System practices an automatic unmanned aerial vehicle
`
`(UAV) flight control system for solid modeling. See Exhibit C.
`
`27. As recited in one step of Claim 1, the system, at least in internal testing
`
`and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a UAV with an onboard
`
`camera. See Exhibit C.
`
`
`
`
`
`7
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
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`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 8 of 14 Page ID #:8
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`28. As recited in another step of Claim 1, the system, at least in internal
`
`testing and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a controller capable of
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`communications with a flight control module of the UAV. See Exhibit C.
`
`29. As recited in another step of Claim 1, the system, at least in internal
`
`testing and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a controller which
`
`determines an initial movement path based on an estimate of a structure to be
`
`modeled. See Exhibit C.
`
`30. As recited in another step of Claim 1, the system, at least in internal
`
`testing and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a controller which
`
`capture images of the structure to be modeled. See Exhibit C.
`
`31. As recited in another step of Claim 1, the system, at least in internal
`
`testing and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a controller which
`
`forms surface hypotheses for unobserved surfaces based on the captured images and
`
`determines missing surface information from the surface hypotheses. See Exhibit C.
`
`32. As recited in another step of Claim 1, the system, at least in internal
`
`testing and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a controller which
`
`determines a least impact path for the UAV based on the missing surface
`
`information and desired flight parameters. See Exhibit C.
`
`33. The elements described in the preceding paragraphs are covered by at
`
`least Claim 1 of the ‘598 Patent. Thus, Defendant’s use of the Accused System is
`
`enabled by the method described in the ‘598 Patent.
`
`
`
`
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`8
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
`
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`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 9 of 14 Page ID #:9
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`34. A non-limiting and exemplary claim chart comparing the Accused
`
`System to Claim 11 of the ‘833 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibit D and is
`
`incorporated herein as if fully rewritten.
`
`35. As recited in Claim 11, a system, at least in internal testing and usage,
`
`utilized by the Accused System is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for 3D
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`modeling. See Exhibit D.
`
`36. As recited in one step of Claim 11, the system, at least in internal
`
`testing and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a UAV capable of
`
`communication with a controller. See Exhibit D.
`
`37. As recited in another step of Claim 11, the system, at least in internal
`
`testing and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a UAV which receives
`
`an initial movement path from the controller wherein the initial movement path is
`
`based on an estimate of a structure to be modeled. See Exhibit D.
`
`38. As recited in another step of Claim 11, the system, at least in internal
`
`testing and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a UAV which captures
`
`one or more images of the structure to be modeled wherein the one or more images
`
`are captured by one or more cameras onboard the UAV. See Exhibit D.
`
`39. As recited in another step of Claim 11, the system, at least in internal
`
`testing and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a UAV which
`
`transmits the captured one or more images to the controller, wherein the captured
`
`one or more images are used to form a surface hypotheses for unobserved surfaces,
`
`
`
`
`
`9
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
`
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`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 10 of 14 Page ID #:10
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`and wherein missing surface information is determined from the surface hypotheses.
`
`See Exhibit D.
`
`40. As recited in another step of Claim 11, the system, at least in internal
`
`testing and usage, utilized by the Accused System comprises a UAV which receives
`
`a least impact path for the UAV from the controller, wherein the least impact path is
`
`based on the missing surface information and desired flight parameters. See Exhibit
`
`D.
`
`41. The elements described in the preceding paragraphs are covered by at
`
`least Claim 11 of the ‘833 Patent. Thus, Defendant’s use of the Accused System is
`
`enabled by the method described in the ‘833 Patent.
`
`INFRINGEMENT OF THE PATENTS-IN-SUIT
`
`42. Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference all of the allegations
`
`set forth in the preceding paragraphs
`
`43.
`
` In violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271, Defendant is now, and has been
`
`directly infringing the ‘598 Patent and the ‘833 Patent.
`
`44. Defendant has had knowledge of infringement of the ‘598 Patent and
`
`the ‘833 Patent at least as of the service of the present Complaint.
`
`45.
`
` Defendant has directly infringed and continues to directly infringe at
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`least one claim of the ‘598 Patent and the ‘833 Patent by using, at least through
`
`internal testing or otherwise, the Accused Product without authority in the United
`
`States, and will continue to do so unless enjoined by this Court. As a direct and
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
`
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`
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`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 11 of 14 Page ID #:11
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`proximate result of Defendant’s direct infringement of the ‘598 Patent and the ‘833
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`Patent, Plaintiff has been and continues to be damaged.
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`46. Defendant has induced others to infringe the ‘598 Patent and the
`
`‘833Patent by encouraging infringement, knowing that the acts Defendant induced
`
`constituted patent infringement, and its encouraging acts actually resulted in direct
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`patent infringement.
`
`47. By engaging in the conduct described herein, Defendant has injured
`
`Plaintiff and is thus liable for infringement of the ‘598 Patent and the ‘833 Patent,
`
`pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271.
`
`48. Defendant has committed these acts of infringement without license or
`
`authorization.
`
`49. As a result of Defendant’s infringement of the ‘598 Patent and the ‘833
`
`Patent, Plaintiff has suffered monetary damages and is entitled to a monetary
`
`judgment in an amount adequate to compensate for Defendant’s past infringement,
`
`together with interests and costs.
`
`50. Plaintiff will continue to suffer damages in the future unless
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`Defendant’s infringing activities are enjoined by this Court. As such, Plaintiff is
`
`entitled to compensation for any continuing and/or future infringement up until the
`
`date that Defendant is finally and permanently enjoined from further infringement.
`
`51. Plaintiff reserves the right to modify its infringement theories as
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`discovery progresses in this case; it shall not be estopped for infringement
`
`
`
`
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`11
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
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`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 12 of 14 Page ID #:12
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`contention or claim construction purposes by the claim charts that it provides with
`
`this Complaint. The claim charts depicted in Exhibits C and D are intended to
`
`satisfy the notice requirements of Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rule of Civil
`
`Procedure and does not represent Plaintiff’s preliminary or final infringement
`
`contentions or preliminary or final claim construction positions.
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`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
`
`52. Plaintiff demands a trial by jury of any and all causes of action.
`
`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
`
`
`
`WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for the following relief:
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`a. That Defendant be adjudged to have directly infringed the ‘598 Patent and
`
`the ‘833 Patent either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents;
`
`b. An accounting of all infringing sales and damages including, but not
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`limited to, those sales and damages not presented at trial;
`
`c. That Defendant, its officers, directors, agents, servants, employees,
`
`attorneys, affiliates, divisions, branches, parents, and those persons in active concert
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`or participation with any of them, be permanently restrained and enjoined from
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`directly infringing the ‘598 Patent and the ‘833 Patent;
`
`d. An award of damages pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §284 sufficient to compensate
`
`Plaintiff for the Defendant’s past infringement and any continuing or future
`
`infringement up until the date that Defendant is finally and permanently enjoined
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`from further infringement, including compensatory damages;
`
`
`
`
`
`12
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
`
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`
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`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 13 of 14 Page ID #:13
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`e. An assessment of pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and costs
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`against Defendant, together with an award of such interest and costs, in accordance
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`with 35 U.S.C. §284;
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`f. That Defendant be directed to pay enhanced damages, including Plaintiff’s
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`attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with this lawsuit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §285;
`
`and
`
`g. That Plaintiff be granted such other and further relief as this Court may
`
`deem just and proper.
`
`Dated: April 27, 2020
`
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`/s/
`Steven Ritcheson
`Insight, PLC
`578 Washington Boulevard #503
`Marina del Rey, California 90291
`Phone: (424) 289-9191
`swritcheson@insightplc.com
`
`
`ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF
`
`
`Together with:
`
`SAND, SEBOLT & WERNOW CO.,
`LPA
`
`Howard L. Wernow
`(pro hac vice forthcoming)
`
`Aegis Tower - Suite 1100
`4940 Munson Street, N. W.
`Canton, Ohio 44718
`
`
`
`
`
`13
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
`
`
`
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`Case 2:20-cv-03827-SVW-RAO Document 1 Filed 04/27/20 Page 14 of 14 Page ID #:14
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`Phone: 330-244-1174
`Fax: 330-244-1173
`Email: Howard.Wernow@sswip.com
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`14
`COMPLAINT FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT
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