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`Case 8:21-cv-00658 Document 1 Filed 04/08/21 Page 1 of 10 Page ID #:1
`
`Jonathan D. Baker (SBN 196062)
`Craig Y. Allison (SBN 161175)
`Dino Hadzibegovic (SBN 267489)
`DICKINSON WRIGHT RLLP
`800 W. California Avenue, Suite 110
`Sunnyvale, California 94086
`Telephone: (408) 701-6200
`Facsimile: (844) 670-6009
`jdbaker@dickinsonwright.com
`callison@dickinsonwright.com
`dhadzibegovic@dickinsonwright.com
`
`Additional counsel on signature page
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff
`Roku, Inc.
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`
`Case No. 8:21-cv-00658
`
`COMPLAINT FOR PATENT
`INFRINGEMENT
`
`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
`
`ROKU, INC.,
`a Delaware Company,
`Plaintiff,
`
`v.
`UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS, INC.,
`a Delaware Company; GEMSTAR
`TECHNOLOGY (QINZHOU) CO.
`LTD., a Chinese Company; GEMSTAR
`TECHNOLOGY (YANGZHOU) CO.
`LTD., a Chinese Company; C.G.
`DEVELOPMENT LTD., a Hong Kong
`Company; UNIVERSAL
`ELECTRONICS BV, a Netherlands
`Company; UEI BRASIL CONTROLES
`REMOTOS LTDA., a Brazilian
`Company; CG MÉXICO REMOTE
`CONTROLS, S. DE R.L. DE C.V., a
`Mexican Company,
`Defendants.
`
`
`
`
`COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
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`
`
`COMPLAINT
`1.
`Plaintiff Roku, Inc. (“Roku” or “Plaintiff”) brings this action against
`Universal Electronics, Inc., Gemstar Technology (Qinzhou) Co. Ltd., Gemstar
`Technology (Yangzhou) Co. Ltd., C.G. Development Ltd., Universal Electronics BV,
`UEI Brasil Controles Remotos Ltda., and CG México Remote controls, S. de R.L. de
`C.V. (collectively, “UEI” or “Defendants”) and alleges as follows.
`
`
`NATURE OF THE ACTION
`2.
`This is an action for patent infringement. Defendant UEI has infringed
`and continues to infringe, contribute to the infringement of, and/or actively induce
`others to infringe U.S. Patent Nos. 8,378,875 (“the ’875 Patent”) and 7,388,511
`(“the ’511 Patent”) (collectively, the “Patents-in-Suit”).
`
`
`THE PARTIES
`3.
`Roku is a public corporation organized and existing under the laws of
`the State of Delaware, with its principal place of business located at 1155 Coleman
`Ave., San Jose, California 95110. Roku was the pioneer of the streaming TV and is
`the leading TV streaming platform in the U.S. by hours streamed. By the end of 2020,
`Roku had more than 51.2 million active accounts. Roku users streamed 58.7 billion
`hours of content in 2020.
`4.
`On information and belief, Universal Electronics Inc. is a Delaware
`corporation with its headquarters at 15147 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite H300,
`Scottsdale, Arizona 85254.
`5.
`On information and belief, Gemstar Technology (Qinzhou) Co. Ltd. is
`a company organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China with its
`principal place of business at Hedong Industrial Park, Qinzhou, Guangxi Province,
`535000 China.
`
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`COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
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`
`6.
`On information and belief, Gemstar Technology (Yangzhou) Co. Ltd.
`is a company organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China with its
`principal place of business at 1 Junsheng Road Industry Park, Fanshui Industrial Zone,
`Baoying, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225800 China.
`7.
`On information and belief, C.G. Development Ltd. is a company
`organized under the laws of the Hong Kong with its principal place of business at One
`Harbourfront, 18 Tak Fung Street, Hung Hom Kowloon, Hong Kong.
`8.
`On information and belief, Universal Electronics BV is a company
`organized under the laws of the Netherlands with its principal place of business at
`Colosseum 2, 7521 PT Enschede, Netherlands.
`9.
`On information and belief, UEI Brasil Controles Remotos Ltda. is a
`company organized under the laws of Brazil with its principal place of business at
`Avenida Torquato Tapajos, no 4010 Galpao 04, Colonia Santo Antonio, CEP:69093-
`018, Manaus – Amazonas – Brasil.
`10.
`On information and belief, CG México Remote Controls, S. de R.L. de
`C.V. is a company organized under the laws of Mexico with its principal place of
`business at Séptima No. 840-B, Parque Industrial Monterrey, Apodaca, NUEVO
`LEON, 66603, Mexico.
`11.
`On information and belief, Gemstar Technology (Qinzhou) Co. Ltd.,
`Gemstar Technology (Yangzhou) Co. Ltd., C.G. Development Ltd., Universal
`Electronics BV, UEI Brasil Controles Remotos Ltda., and CG México Remote
`Controls, S. de R.L. de C.V are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Universal Electronics
`Inc.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`12.
`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§
`1331 and 1338(a).
`13.
`This Court has personal jurisdiction over UEI pursuant to the laws of
`the State of California, including California’s Long Arm Statute, California Code of
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`Civil Procedure § 410.10. UEI has a principal place of business in the state of
`California, and, as a result, UEI is subject to general jurisdiction here. UEI has
`infringed Roku’s asserted patents in California, and, as a result, UEI is subject to
`specific jurisdiction here. In particular, UEI sells, licenses, and offers to sell and
`license hardware and software relating to remote control devices and associated
`products that infringe Roku’s asserted patents in California, and specifically in this
`judicial district. UEI does business in this judicial district relating to UEI’s accused
`products, and has an office located in this district at 201 E. Sandpointe Ave., Santa
`Ana, CA 92707. On information and belief, each of UEI’s foreign subsidiaries is
`subject to specific jurisdiction in this district at least because each of them
`manufactures for import and imports into the United States and particularly into this
`District, remote control devices and associated products that infringe Roku’s patents,
`and, on information and belief, each of them conducts business with parent company
`UEI related to the infringing technology at UEI’s offices at 201 E. Sandpointe Ave.,
`Santa Ana, CA 92707.
`14.
`Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b),
`1391(c) and 1400(b).
`
`THE PATENTS-IN-SUIT
`15.
`On February 19, 2013, United States Patent No. 8,378,875, entitled
`“Method of Programming a Universal Remote Control,” was duly and legally issued
`by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A copy of the ’875 Patent is
`attached hereto as Exhibit A.
`16.
`On June 17, 2008, United States Patent No. 7,388,511, entitled “System
`for Remote Control of Identical Devices,” was duly and legally issued by the United
`States Patent and Trademark Office. A copy of the ’511 Patent is attached hereto as
`Exhibit B.
`17.
`Roku is the owner of all right, title and interest in and to the ’875
`and ’511 Patents, including the right to all remedies for infringement thereof.
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`Case 8:21-cv-00658 Document 1 Filed 04/08/21 Page 5 of 10 Page ID #:5
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`
`COUNT I: INFRINGEMENT OF THE ’875 PATENT
`18.
`The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated by reference as if fully
`restated herein.
`19.
`On information and belief, UEI infringes at least claims 1-5, 8-11 and
`14 of the ’875 patent directly and indirectly, literally and/or under the doctrine of
`equivalents.
`20.
`On information and belief, UEI directly infringes the apparatus claims
`by making, using, offering to sell, selling within the United States, and/or importing
`into the United States remote controls that perform the claimed setup method (“the
`‘875 Accused Products”). UEI directly infringes the method claims by using the ‘875
`Accused Products in an infringing manner within the United States, including in
`testing and demonstrating the UEI Accused Products.
`21.
`UEI has induced, and continues to induce UEI’s customers and/or end
`users to infringe the asserted claims. UEI has taken active steps to encourage and
`facilitate direct infringement by UEI’s customers and/or end users of the ’875
`Accused Products, with knowledge of that infringement, such as providing the ’875
`Accused Products, contracting for the distribution of the ’875 Accused Products, by
`marketing the ’875 Accused Products, and by creating and/or distributing user
`manuals, web pages, marketing materials, and/or similar materials with instructions
`on using the ’875 Accused Products in an infringing manner. The use of the ’875
`Accused Products in accordance with UEI’s instructions results in infringement of the
`asserted claims.
`22.
`UEI has also contributorily infringed, and continues to contributorily
`infringe, the asserted claims by offering to sell, selling, and importing into the United
`States the ’875 Accused Products that perform the claimed methods for setting up a
`remote control, knowing that the ’875 Accused Products are especially made for use
`in infringing the ’875 patent, and are not staple articles of commerce suitable for a
`substantial non-infringing use. In particular, the ’875 Accused Products are remote
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`Case 8:21-cv-00658 Document 1 Filed 04/08/21 Page 6 of 10 Page ID #:6
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`controls that need to be set up by the user in order to be operable to control the target
`devices. The ’875 Accused Products contain components, including executable code,
`that specifically implement the claimed methods for setting up the remote controls.
`Indeed, these components are especially built to perform the accused functionalities.
`23.
`Representative claim charts demonstrating UEI’s infringement of the
`’875 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibits C through F.
`24.
`The ’875 Accused Products include at least the following remote
`controls: URC 6420 OFA Simple 2; URC 7140 OFA Essence 4; URC 8200 Slate;
`Videotron Illico Remote; URC 6820 OFA Zapper+; URC 7115 OFA Evolve TV; URC
`7125 OFA Evolve 2; URC 7145 OFA Evolve 4; URC 7880 OFA Smart Control 8
`(US); URC 7980 OFA Smart Control 8; URC 7935 OFA Streamer Remote; URC 7955
`OFA Smart Control 5; URC 6410 OFA Simple TV; URC 2020BC2 Champ; URC
`2020B0 Champ; URC 2025B1 Champion; URC 2025B2 Champion; URC 2025B1-
`BB Eclypse; URC 2025B2-BB Eclypse; URC 2060 Charter; URC 2060B0 Royal;
`URC 2068 Pulse RF; URC 2069 Pulse IR; URC 2125 Champion Plus; URC 2125
`Rogers; URC 2135 Experience; URC 2135 UEI WOW! Experience Remote; URC
`2464 Optimum; URC 6800 Proton; URC 6810 Neutron; URC 7110 OFA Essence TV;
`URC 7120 OFA Essence 2; URC 7130 OFA Essence 3; URC 8820 Cox; URC 1160
`Charter Spectrum; URC 2220 Cox Mini IR; URC 3220 Cox Mini RF; URC 1035
`Universal A/C Remote.
`25.
`UEI has been on notice of the ’875 Patent and of its infringing conduct
`since at least the filing of this Complaint and the filing of the Complaint in In re
`Certain Televisions, Remote Controls, and Components Thereof in the U.S.
`International Trade Commission on April 8, 2021.
`26.
`Roku has been, is being, and will continue to be injured and has
`suffered, is suffering, and will continue to suffer injury and damages for which it is
`entitled to relief.
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`COUNT II: INFRINGEMENT OF THE ’511 PATENT
`27.
`The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated by reference as if fully
`restated herein.
`28.
`On information and belief, UEI infringes the ’511 patent directly and
`indirectly, literally and/or under the doctrine of equivalents.
`29.
`On information and belief, UEI directly infringes at least claim 5 of the
`’511 patent when UEI or those acting on UEI’s behalf perform the claimed method
`during testing or demonstration of products, including LG and Samsung televisions,
`that incorporate UEI’s QuickSet technology (“the ’511 Accused Products”).
`30.
`UEI also induces infringement of the ’511 Patent under 35 U.S.C.
`§ 271(b) since at least the date of service of this Complaint by actively aiding and
`abetting others (including, for example, LG and Samsung, and their respective
`customers and end users) whose use of the ’511 Accused Products constitutes direct
`infringement. UEI has engaged in these actions with either the specific intent to cause
`infringement or with willful blindness to the infringement that it is causing. For
`example, UEI actively induces its customers, including at least LG and Samsung, to
`directly infringe at least claim 5 of the ‘511 Patent by selling or licensing UEI’s
`QuickSet technology for use with its customers’ products and associated remote
`controls and providing instructions and technical support regarding use of the
`QuickSet technology, where the use of those products infringes at least claim 5 of the
`‘511 Patent.
`31.
`Representative claim charts demonstrating UEI’s infringement of the
`’511 Patent are attached hereto as Exhibits G and H.
`32.
`The ’511 Accused Products include at least the following LG
`televisions that incorporate UEI’s QuickSet technology and their associated remote
`controls: LG NanoCell 80 Series 2020; LG NanoCell 81 Series 2020; LG NanoCell
`85 Series 2020; LG NanoCell 90 Series 2020; LG NanoCell 91 Series 2020; LG
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`NanoCell 99 Series 2020; LG NanoCell 75 Series 2021; LG NanoCell 90 Series 2021;
`LG NanoCell 99 Series 2021; LG NanoCell 81 Series 4K; LG NanoCell 86 Series
`4K; LG NanoCell 90 Series 4K; LG NanoCell 95 Series 4K; LG NanoCell 97 Series;
`LG NanoCell 99 Series 8K; LG QNED MiniLED 90 Series 2021; LG QNED
`MiniLED 99 Series 2021; LG B9 4K Smart OLED TV; LG BX 4K Smart OLED TV;
`LG C1 4K Smart OLED TV; LG C9 4K Smart OLED TV; LG CX 4K Smart OLED
`TV; LG E9 Glass 4K Smart OLED TV; LG G1 4K Smart OLED TV; LG GX 4K
`Smart OLED TV; LG WX 4K Smart OLED TV; LG SIGNATURE W9 Wallpaper 4K
`Smart OLED TV; LG SIGNATURE OLED TV RX; LG Class 4K Smart UHD TV;
`LG UHD 70 Series 4K HDR Smart LED TV; LG UHD 73 Series 4K HDR Smart
`LED TV; LG UHD 85 Series 4K HDR Smart LED TV; LG UN 4K Smart UHD TV;
`LG Class 4K HDR Smart LED TV; 4K HDR Smart LED TV; 4K HDR Smart LED
`UHD TV (at least including UK6090PUA and UK6300PUE); LG SIGNATURE ZX
`8K Smart OLED TV; LG SIGNATURE Z9 8K Smart OLED TV.
`33.
`The ’511 Accused Products include at least the following Samsung
`televisions that incorporate UEI’s QuickSet technology and their associated remote
`controls: QN800A; QN900A; Q800T; Q900; Q900TS; Q950TS; Q60A; Q70A;
`Q80A; QN85A; QN90A; Q60T; Q70T; Q80T; Q90T; Q50R; Q60R; Q80R; Q6DT;
`Q8DT; Q6F; The Frame QLED 4K; The Terrace QLED 4K; The Serif QLED 4K;
`HU6840; JU6000; JU6500; KU6300; MU6070; MU6290; MU6300; NU6080;
`NU6900; TU6950; TU6980; EH6000; F6300; F6400; H6350; K6500; KU7000;
`MU7500; NU7100; RU7100; RU7300; TU7000; TU700D; MU8000; MU8500;
`NU8500; RU8000; TU8000; TU8200; TU8300; TU800D; RU9000; TU9000.
`34.
`UEI has been on notice of the ’511 Patent and of its infringing conduct
`since at least the filing of this Complaint and the filing of the Complaint in In re
`Certain Televisions, Remote Controls, and Components Thereof in the U.S.
`International Trade Commission on April 8, 2021.
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`35.
`Roku has been, is being, and will continue to be injured and has
`suffered, is suffering, and will continue to suffer injury and damages for which it is
`entitled to relief.
`
`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
`WHEREFORE, Roku prays for judgment in its favor against UEI granting
`Roku the following relief:
`A.
`Entry of judgment in favor of Roku that UEI has directly and/or
`indirectly infringed the ’875 and ’511 Patents;
`B.
`An award of compensatory damages in an amount to be determined,
`amounting to no less than reasonable royalties, prejudgment interest, and/or any other
`available damages based on any form of recoverable economic injury sustained by
`Roku as a result of UEI’s infringement, as provided by 35 U.S.C. § 284;
`C.
`An award of UEI’s profits from its patent infringements pursuant at
`least to 35 U.S.C. § 289, together with prejudgment interest and costs and reasonable
`attorney fees, pursuant at least to 35 U.S.C. §§ 284 and 285;
`D.
`A permanent injunction against UEI and its officers, directors,
`employees, agents, consultants, contractors, suppliers, distributors, and all others
`acting in concert or privity with UEI from further infringement of the Patents-in-Suit;
`E.
`If an injunction is denied, an order that UEI pay an ongoing royalty in
`an amount to be determined for any continued infringement after the date judgment
`is entered;
`Treble damages to the extent permissible by law, as provided by 35
`F.
`U.S.C. § 284;
`G.
`To the extent it is determined that this is an exceptional case, an award
`to Roku for its expenses, disbursements, and reasonable attorney’s fees, as provided
`by 35 U.S.C. § 285 and all other applicable statutes, rules, and common law;
`H.
`Roku’s costs of suit;
`I.
`An award of pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the maximum
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`rates allowed by law; and
`J.
`All such other and further relief as this Court may deem just or
`equitable.
`
`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
`Pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Roku respectfully
`demands a trial by jury of all issues so triable in this action.
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`Dated: April 8, 2021
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` /s/ Jonathan D. Baker
`Jonathan D. Baker (SBN 196062)
`Craig Y. Allison (SBN 161175)
`Dino Hadzibegovic (SBN 267489)
`DICKINSON WRIGHT RLLP
`800 W. California Avenue, Suite 110
`Sunnyvale, California 94086
`Telephone: (408) 701-6200
`Facsimile: (844) 670-6009
`jdbaker@dickinsonwright.com
`callison@dickinsonwright.com
`dhadzibegovic@dickinsonwright.com
`Steven R. Daniels (SBN 235398)
`Michael D. Saunders (SBN 259692)
`DICKINSON WRIGHT PLLC
`607 W. 3rd Street, Suite 2500
`Austin, Texas 78701
`Telephone: (512) 770-4200
`Facsimile: (844) 670-6009
`sdaniels@dickinsonwright.com
`msaunders@dickinsonwright.com
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff
`Roku, Inc.
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`COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
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