`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
`
`
`
`
`MICHAEL PHILIP KAUFMAN,
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`v.
`
`SALESFORCE.COM, INC.,
`
`
`Defendant.
`
`
`
`
`
`No. 1:20-cv-6879
`
`
`COMPLAINT FOR PATENT
`INFRINGEMENT
`
`
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Plaintiff MICHAEL PHILIP KAUFMAN (“Plaintiff”), as and for his complaint against
`
`the defendant, salesforce.com, inc. (“Salesforce”), alleges as follows:
`
`NATURE OF THE ACTION
`
`1.
`
`This is an action against Salesforce for patent infringement. The patents asserted
`
`herein concern technology for automatically generating a user interface to work with the data in
`
`a relational database and related systems and methods. Plaintiff alleges herein that Salesforce’s
`
`online CRM (Customer Relationship Management) services infringe the asserted patents.
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`Plaintiff is an individual who resides in this District.
`
`Upon information and belief, Salesforce is a Delaware corporation with several
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`offices in this District, including offices at 1095 Avenue of the Americas and 685 Third Avenue
`
`in New York, New York.
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 2 of 21
`
`
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`Subject Matter Jurisdiction
`
`4.
`
`This action is for patent infringement and arises under 35 U.S.C. § 271 et seq.
`
`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction thereof pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1338(a) and
`
`1367.
`
`Personal Jurisdiction
`
`5.
`
`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Salesforce under 28 U.S.C. § 1694, Rule
`
`4(k)(1)(A) & (C), Fed. R. Civ. P., and the laws of the State of New York, including New York
`
`C.P.L.R. §§ 301, 302(a)(1)-(4).
`
`6.
`
`Jurisdiction over Salesforce exists in this District under 28 U.S.C. § 1694 and
`
`Rule 4(k)(1)(C), Fed. R. Civ. P., in that Salesforce is not a resident of this District, but has a
`
`regular and established place of business in this District, including without limitation each of
`
`Salesforce’s offices in New York City referenced above, at which Salesforce has agents
`
`conducting such business. Through those agents in this District, Salesforce is regularly engaged
`
`in carrying on a substantial part of its ordinary business on a permanent basis from several
`
`physical locations within the District, over which activity Salesforce exercises a substantial
`
`measure of control. The leading one of these Salesforce locations within the District is at 1095
`
`Avenue of the Americas in New York City, in a building overlooking Bryant Park, the
`
`“Salesforce” branding applied to the entire building in giant letters at its top, visible from great
`
`distances as part of the New York City Skyline. Other locations at which Salesforce employs
`
`agents to conduct its business in this District include (without limitation) its offices at 685 Third
`
`Avenue in New York City. Because Salesforce has such a presence in this District, it may be
`
`validly served with process in this District, by serving its agents conducting said business, and
`
`
`
`- 2 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 3 of 21
`
`
`
`such service establishes personal jurisdiction over Salesforce in this District, pursuant to 28
`
`U.S.C. § 1694 (Ruddies v. Auburn Spark Plug Co., 261 F. Supp. 648, 651-52 (S.D.N.Y. 1966)),
`
`and Rule 4(k)(1)(C), Fed. R. Civ. P. (“Serving a summons … establishes personal jurisdiction
`
`over a defendant … (C) when authorized by a federal statute”).
`
`7.
`
`In addition, a wholly separate basis for personal jurisdiction over Salesforce also
`
`exists under New York CPLR 302(a) and Rule 4(k)(1)(A), Fed. R. Civ. P., in that Salesforce
`
`transacts business within New York (e.g., its sales activities within the State), to supply services
`
`that Salesforce performs in an infringing manner as hereinafter set forth (e.g., by operating its
`
`servers that run the accused Salesforce CRM systems). Salesforce thereby commits tortious acts
`
`outside the State causing injury within the State to the person or property of Plaintiff (who
`
`resides in this State as stated above).
`
`Venue
`
`8.
`
`Venue is proper in this judicial District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b), in that
`
`Salesforce (i) has committed acts of infringement in this District, including without limitation as
`
`alleged in paragraph 37 hereof, whereby Salesforce acts through its agents in this District to
`
`induce infringement of Plaintiff’s patents, which induced infringement takes place in this
`
`District, and (ii) has a regular and established place of business in this District (as alleged in
`
`paragraph 6 hereof).
`
`The Asserted Patents
`
`STATEMENT OF FACTS
`
`9.
`
`Plaintiff is the first named inventor and assignee of the entire interest of U.S.
`
`Patent No. 7,885,981 (the “’981 patent”) (Exhibit A hereto), U.S. Patent No. 10,025,801 (the
`
`“’801 patent”) (Exhibit B hereto) and has pending U.S. Patent App. S/N 16/034,696, which was
`
`
`
`- 3 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 4 of 21
`
`
`
`published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2019/0095173 A1 (the ’173 publication) (Exhibit C
`
`hereto) and which, when granted, will be added to this complaint by amendment (the foregoing
`
`being collectively referred to herein as the “Asserted Patents”). Each of the Asserted Patents is
`
`incorporated herein by reference.
`
`Salesforce’s CRM Services
`
`10.
`
`Salesforce sells CRM services over the internet, through server facilities operated
`
`by Salesforce and made accessible by it to the public through Salesforce’s website at the Internet
`
`address salesforce.com. These CRM services include offerings known as Sales Cloud, Service
`
`Cloud, and Marketing Cloud (among others), which are widely used throughout the U.S. and this
`
`District.
`
`11.
`
`Underlying Salesforce’s CRM services are large relational databases, hosted on
`
`facilities operated by Salesforce in the U.S., which house end-user CRM data for the Salesforce
`
`services. On information and belief, these are “multi-tenant” databases which house data for a
`
`large number of unrelated user organizations and end users. Each end-user organization’s CRM
`
`data is organized on Salesforce’s multi-tenant database as a relational database (“user database”),
`
`within relational database tables (hereinafter, “user tables”) defined within the multi-tenant
`
`system. The user databases and their tables are made accessible to and manageable by the end
`
`users through web-based applications designed, managed, and operated by Salesforce in the U.S.
`
`12.
`
`As implemented by Salesforce, user database structures participate in cross-
`
`reference and master-detail relationships (the two types of cross-table relationships in relational
`
`databases) defined by primary and foreign keys within related tables. Salesforce provides a
`
`“Schema Builder” for working with these structures as relational databases:
`
`
`
`
`
`- 4 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 5 of 21
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`13.
`
`Salesforce’s CRM services allow end users to modify the structure of the user
`
`tables in a user database by adding, removing, or altering fields, tables, and/or relationships
`
`between data among tables. The user interface (“UI”) presented by Salesforce’s web
`
`applications, having no advance knowledge of any structural changes that a user may make to the
`
`database, adapts itself dynamically to the these changes, automatically generating an end-user UI
`
`that fits the modified database structure. On information and belief, the entire Salesforce UI for
`
`relational CRM data is generated in the same automatic manner as for the user-modified
`
`portions, that is, for default and pre-existing user database structures as well as for those
`
`modified during the session in which the UI display is generated.
`
`
`
`- 5 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 6 of 21
`
`
`
`14.
`
`As alleged in greater detail below, Salesforce’s CRM UIs provide the ability to
`
`create, revise, update and delete relational CRM data, along with mechanisms for representing,
`
`managing, and navigating relationships between data records across related database tables. On
`
`information and belief, these interface facilities are generated automatically based on a
`
`computerized process provided by Salesforce to scan the CRM database structure for the user
`
`and determine the tables, constraints, and relationships of the data model.
`
`15.
`
`Salesforce has operated and continues to operate its servers in the U.S. as alleged
`
`herein during the respective terms of the Asserted Patents, without authorization by Plaintiff.
`
`Prior Notice
`
`16.
`
`On August 10, 2020, by letter (a copies of which, along with a confirming email,
`
`are attached as Exhibit D hereto) Plaintiff gave written notice to Salesforce of the Asserted
`
`Patents, including without limitation the ’981 patent, the ’801 patent, and the ‘173 publication, of
`
`the manner in which Plaintiff alleges that Salesforce is infringing and inducing infringement
`
`thereof, and that Plaintiff is claiming provisional patent rights under 35 U.S.C. § 154(d) with
`
`respect to the ’173 publication. Salesforce did not respond to Plaintiff’s letter.
`
`COUNT I
`
`(DIRECT INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 7,885,981)
`
`Plaintiff realleges and incorporates paragraphs 1-16 above by reference.
`
`By operating its servers in the U.S. as alleged herein during the term of the ’981
`
`17.
`
`18.
`
`patent, without authorization by Plaintiff, Salesforce directly infringes at least claim 1 of the ’981
`
`patent, literally and/or under the doctrine of equivalents, under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).
`
`19.
`
`In the case of claim 1 of the ’981 patent, Salesforce performs as recited in the
`
`claim preamble, “automatically generating an end-user interface for working with the data within
`
`
`
`- 6 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 7 of 21
`
`
`
`a relational database defined within a relational DBMS … wherein [the] relational database may
`
`be of any arbitrary size or complexity,” and meets the claim limitations by performing the steps
`
`of the claim, literally, and/or under the doctrine of equivalents, as follows:
`
`(a) providing an output stream from said server, for user display and input devices,
`defining a user interface paradigm comprising a set of modes for interacting with a
`given database table, said modes comprising create, retrieve, update and delete, and
`a corresponding display format for each mode
`
`Salesforce provides an output stream from its servers (http protocol stream), for user display and
`
`input devices (the user’s screen, keyboard, mouse, etc.). The http protocol stream defines, for the
`
`user’s web browser, a user interface paradigm providing create, retrieve, update, and delete
`
`modes for interacting with CRM database tables, with corresponding UI display formats.
`
`A “create” mode is reflected in Salesforce screens such as the following:
`
`
`
`- 7 -
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 8 of 21
`
`
`
`A “retrieve” mode is reflected in Salesforce screens such as the following:
`
`An “update” mode is reflected in Salesforce screens such as the following:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`- 8 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 9 of 21
`
`
`
`A “delete” mode is reflected in Salesforce screens such as the following:
`
`
`
`(b) causing said server to scan said database and apply a body of rules to determine
`the table structures, constraints and relationships of said data model, and store
`representations thereof in machine-readable media accessible to said server
`
`To determine the elements to be represented in the user interface, Salesforce’s server scans the
`
`user’s CRM database and applies a body of rules to determine its table structures, constraints,
`
`and relationships, and stores a representation thereof in the server’s machine-readable storage.
`
`While this step is internal to Salesforce’s operations, Plaintiff alleges on information and belief
`
`that it is plausible that this step takes place because the various Salesforce CRMs all allow the
`
`users to alter the table structures, constraints and relationships and the Salesforce CRM
`
`dynamically adapts to such changes. For example, in a user-level database having Account and
`
`Opportunity tables, a user can add a Department table, wherein each Opportunity is assigned to a
`
`Department:
`
`
`
`- 9 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 10 of 21
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 10 of 21
`
`
`
`Before:
`Before:
`
`>
` eee
`ses
`Setup
`Home
`
`.
` ObjectManager v
`
`Search Setup
`
`|r]
`
`9? m a (ey)
`
`Help forthis Page @
`
`GC Schema Builder
`Close Auto-Layout|View Options ©
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Legend
`Lookup Relationship
`—— Master-Detail Relationship
`
`*
`
` Piebetetas dlbet
`
` f
`FROtPea
`Pia
`
`i
`
`Required Field ull
`
` yl heehease
`
`
`
`
`
`-10-
`- 10 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 11 of 21
`
`
`
`After:
`
`The Salesforce CRM applications automatically render the corresponding displays after this new
`
`table is added, reflecting that the applications re-scan the user database upon re-rendering the
`
`user display screens, evidencing performance of this claim step.
`
`(c) causing said server to use said representations to construct a corresponding
`client application for access through said user display and input devices
`
`Salesforce’s servers use the representations they have stored pursuant to step (b) to construct a
`
`client application corresponding to the database, for access through the user display and input
`
`devices in communication with the server. This may be seen, for example, where screens of a
`
`user-modified database are rendered, as above.
`
`
`
`- 11 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 12 of 21
`
`
`
`wherein said client application provides a connection to said database
`
`It is apparent from the fact that user changes to the database data are persistent across repeated
`
`accesses that the generated client application provides a connection to the database.
`
`provides displays of the table contents of said database for each of said modes in
`accordance with the display formats of said paradigm
`
`As illustrated with respect to step (b) above, the client application UI provides displays of the
`
`user-level tables for performing create, retrieve, update, and delete modes, in accordance with the
`
`display formats of the generated UI paradigm.
`
`integrates into each said mode display processes for representing, navigating, and
`managing said relationships across tables, for selecting among said modes, and for
`navigating across said tables and interacting in accordance the selected mode with
`the data in the tables that are reached by said navigation
`
`Each mode display integrates a number of processes, which include processes for representing,
`
`navigating, and managing said relationships across tables, for selecting among the create,
`
`retrieve, update, and delete operations, and for interacting in accordance the selected mode with
`
`the data in the tables that are reached by said navigation. For example,
`
`
`
`- 12 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 13 of 21
`
`
`
`“Representing”:
`
`The display above integrates a process for “representing” a relationship across tables, in this
`
`example by replacing actual the foreign key for an Opportunity’s Account with the Account
`
`name.
`
`
`
`- 13 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 14 of 21
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 14 of 21
`
`
`
`
`Opportunities
`
`Departments
`
`Files w
`
`Contacts ~
`
`Campaigns w
`
`Dashboards ~
`
`Perception Analysis
`New Opportunity
`
`“Navigating”:
`“Navigating”:
`
`All
`ow
`Q.
`Search Opportunities and more...
`Her>sea@yay
`
`
`Leads
`~~
`Tasks w
`Reports w
`Chatter
`*More wo
`
`Sales
`
`Home
`
`Accounts w
`
`
`
`Opportunity
`Express Logistics SLA
`Account Name
`Express Logistics and Transport
`
`Close Date
`5/16/2020
`
`Amount
`$120,000.00
`
`Opportunity Owner
`
`+ Follow
`
`New Case
`
`NewNote
`
`Clone
`
`ow
`
`Proposal/Price...
`
`Negotiation/R...
`
`Chatter
`
`Details
`Activity
`Opportunity Owner
`8Private
`oO
`Opportunity Name
`Express Logistics SLA
`Account Name
`Express Logistics and Transport.
`Type
`Existing Customer - Upgrade
`Lead Source
`External Referral
`
`eartment
`Order Number
`Current Generator(s)
`
`Tracking Number
`
`Created By
`ea 8/24/2020, 3:47 PM
`Description
`
`Delivery Status
`
`Amount
`$120,000.00
`Expected Revenue
`$84,000.00
`Close Date
`5/16/2020
`Next Step
`
`Stage
`Perception Analysis
`Probability (%)
`70%
`Primary Campaign Source
`
`Main Competitor(s)
`
`Delivery/Installation Status
`In progress
`
`Last Modified By
`ea 8/24/2020, 5:47 PM
`
`Related
`
`(7) Products (0)
`
`Notes & Attachments (0)
`
`it Upload Files
`Ordropfiles
`
`(3) contact Roles (0)
`
`Partners (0)
`
`Stage History (2)
`
`Stage:
`Amount:
`Probability (%)
`Expected Reve...
`Close Date:
`Last Modified By:
`Last Modified:
`Stage:
`Amount:
`Prabability (%)
`Expected Reve...
`Close Date:
`
`Perception Analysis
`$120,000.00
`TO%
`$84,000.00
`7/29/2015
`8/24/2020, 3:47 PM
`
`$120,000.00
`TO%
`$84,000.00
`5/16/2020
`
`
`
`or,
`or,
`
`All w
`Q Search...
`Harsa@
`
`
`leads wv
`Tasks
`ow
`Contacts w
`Chatter
`Files v
`
`
`Sales Home=Accounts v Departments Reports
`
`Opportunities
`Campaigns +
`Dashboards ~
`‘More v ¢
`
`
`Department
`Contracts
`
`Related
`
`United Oil & Gas Corp.
`8/12/2020
`
`© Opportunities (6)
`United Oi! SLA
`Account Name:
`Close Date:
`Edge SLA lame:
`Edge Communications
`5/7/2020
`Close Date:
`University of AZ SLA
`Account Name:
`University of Arizona
`Close Date:
`5/25/2020
`
`GenePoint SLA
`Account Name:
`GenePoint
`Close Date:
`8/17/2020
`Express Logistics SLA
`Account Name:
`Close Date:
`Grand Hotels SLA
`Account Name:
`Close Date:
`
`Grand Hotels & Resorts Ltd
`5/14/2020
`
`‘View All
`
`
`
`-14-
`- 14 -
`
`New Contact
`
`Edit
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 15 of 21
`
`
`
`The displays above integrate a process for “navigating” a relationship across tables, in these
`
`examples by providing navigational links to data in a related table.
`
`“Managing”:
`
`The display above integrates a process for “managing” a relationship across tables, in this
`
`example by providing dropdown control to constrain permissible inputs to valid data as provided
`
`in the corresponding column of the related table.
`
`while observing and enforcing relational interdependencies among data across
`tables
`
`Salesforce’s end-user applications provide all of the above features that are operable in a manner
`
`that consistently observes and enforces relational interdependencies among data across tables.
`
`
`
`- 15 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 16 of 21
`
`
`
`20.
`
`In performing as described in paragraph 19, Salesforce also directly infringes
`
`claim 2 of the ’981 patent, under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a), literally, and/or under the doctrine of
`
`equivalents, by providing through its generated user applications the additional feature of user
`
`interface components for revealing and enforcing non-relational constraints (e.g., restricting user
`
`input to conform with applicable data types such as numbers, alphabetical input, and dates, etc.).
`
`21.
`
`In performing as described in paragraph 19, Salesforce also directly infringes
`
`claim 3 of the ’981 patent, under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a), literally, and/or under the doctrine of
`
`equivalents, in that Salesforce’s CRM databases provide the database feature known as
`
`“referential integrity constraints,” as recited in claim 3.
`
`22.
`
`Claim 4 of the ’981 patent is an independent “system” claim corresponding to
`
`claim 1, claiming a computer system that Salesforce runs to perform the process recited in claim
`
`1. Salesforce directly infringes claim 4, under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a), literally, and/or under the
`
`doctrine of equivalents, by making and using it servers, which constitute the claimed system, in
`
`the U.S., during the term of the ’981 patent, without authority from Plaintiff.
`
`23.
`
`Claim 5 of the ’981 patent is an independent “computer-readable media” claim
`
`corresponding to claim 1, claiming a machine-readable medium containing software that
`
`Salesforce runs to perform the process recited in claim 1. Salesforce directly infringes claim 5,
`
`under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a), literally, and/or under the doctrine of equivalents, by making and using
`
`the claimed computer-recorded medium, for example, the computer-readable media on
`
`Salesforce’s servers that a contains recorded copy of the computer programs that run Salesforce’s
`
`servers, in the U.S., during the term of the ’981 patent, without authority from Plaintiff, as well
`
`as any other copies of these computer programs stored on computer-readable media.
`
`
`
`- 16 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 17 of 21
`
`
`
`24.
`
`Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284, Plaintiff is entitled to compensation for said
`
`infringements, in no event less than a reasonable royalty, for the use made of the invention by
`
`Salesforce as herein alleged, together with pre- and post-judgment interest and costs as fixed by
`
`the Court.
`
`25.
`
`The foregoing also reflects infringement of at least claims 1, 5, and 8 published in
`
`the ’173 publication, pursuant to which Salesforce will likewise be liable for damages under 35
`
`U.S.C. 154(d) when a patent issues upon the patent application so published, which will be
`
`added to this complaint by amendment.
`
`COUNT II
`
`(DIRECT INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 10,025,801)
`
`Plaintiff realleges and incorporates paragraphs 1-25 above by reference.
`
`On information and belief, when a first user-level table is related to a second user-
`
`26.
`
`27.
`
`level table through a foreign key, Salesforce’s servers, in rendering the first user-level table in the
`
`CRM UI, automatically supplant the foreign key in the representation of the first user-level table
`
`with a description derived from the column having the name “Name” in the second table, thereby
`
`enhancing the “raw” representation of the data of the first table by replacing what would have
`
`been a numeric value in the display of the first table with a more human-friendly description
`
`derived from the second table. This functionality, separately claimed in the ’801 patent, may be
`
`seen, for example, in the “representing” feature illustrated in ¶ 19 above, with regard to step (c)
`
`of claim 1 of the ’981 patent.
`
`28.
`
`Salesforce derives the data and description for use in the display of foreign
`
`references in primary user-level tables in the Salesforce CRM, in the manner specified in at least
`
`claim 1 of the ’801 patent, literally and/or under the doctrine of equivalents. By using its servers
`
`
`
`- 17 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 18 of 21
`
`
`
`in the U.S. in such manner and otherwise as alleged in paragraph 27, during the term of the ’801
`
`patent, without authorization by Plaintiff, Salesforce has directly infringed and continues to
`
`directly infringe claim 1 of the ’801 patent, under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).
`
`29.
`
`Claim 5 of the ’801 patent is an independent “computer-readable media” claim
`
`corresponding to claim 1, claiming a machine-readable medium containing software that
`
`Salesforce runs to perform the process recited in claim 1. Salesforce directly infringes claim 5,
`
`under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a), literally, and/or under the doctrine of equivalents, by making and using
`
`the claimed computer-recorded medium, for example, the computer-readable media on
`
`Salesforce’s servers that a contains recorded copy of the computer programs that run Salesforce’s
`
`servers, in the U.S., during the term of the ’801 patent, without authority from Plaintiff, as well
`
`as any other copies of these computer programs stored on computer-readable media.
`
`30.
`
`The manner in which Salesforce derives and describes foreign key fields in the
`
`representation of its CRM databases further directly infringes at least claims 9, 11, 16, and 18 of
`
`the ’801 patent, under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a) literally, and/or under the doctrine of equivalents.
`
`31.
`
`Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284, Plaintiff is entitled to compensation for said
`
`infringements, in no event less than a reasonable royalty, for the use made of the invention by
`
`Salesforce as herein alleged, together with pre- and post-judgment interest and costs as fixed by
`
`the court.
`
`COUNT III
`
`(INDUCED INFRINGEMENT OF THE ’981 PATENT)
`
`32.
`
`Plaintiff realleges and incorporates paragraphs 1-31 above by reference.
`
`
`
`- 18 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 19 of 21
`
`
`
`33.
`
`There exist numerous persons in the U.S. and in this District (“Salesforce CRM
`
`Users”) who have used and continue to use the infringing features of the Salesforce CRM as
`
`alleged in Counts I and II herein.
`
`34.
`
`Salesforce CRM users necessarily directly infringe at least claims 4 and 5 of the
`
`’981 patent, and at least claim 5 of the ’801 patent, literally, and/or under the doctrine of
`
`equivalents, by using the system as alleged in paragraph 22, and the media as alleged in
`
`paragraphs 23 and 29, without authorization by Plaintiff, in the U.S., during the terms of the ’981
`
`patent and ’801 patent, constituting direct infringement of at least claims 4 and 5 of the ’981
`
`patent, and claim 5 of the ’801 patent, under 35 U.S.C. § 217(a).
`
`35.
`
`Through its sales and marketing efforts, and user instructions, in this District and
`
`elsewhere in the U.S., Salesforce induces Salesforce CRM Users to use the Salesforce CRM and
`
`thereby directly infringe the ’981 and ’801 patents as alleged in paragraph 34, under 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 271(a).
`
`36.
`
`Salesforce has been on notice of the ’981 and ’801 patents and of the direct and
`
`induced infringement alleged herein, at least by reason of the written notice given to Salesforce
`
`as set forth in paragraph 16, as well as the filing of this complaint.
`
`37.
`
`Notwithstanding such notice, Salesforce continues its own infringement, and by
`
`its acts of sales, marketing, and instruction, which take place at locations in the U.S. including
`
`without limitation Salesforce’s offices in this District, continues its inducement of the Salesforce
`
`CRM Users, including a substantial number of Salesforce CRM Users in this District, to directly
`
`infringe by using the infringing Salesforce CRM, as hereinabove alleged, knowing that the
`
`Salesforce CRM users are thereby directly infringing the ’981 and ’801 patents and intending
`
`
`
`- 19 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 20 of 21
`
`
`
`Salesforce’s acts to cause such infringement, constituting induced infringement, in this District
`
`and elsewhere in the U.S., under 35 U.S.C. § 271(b).
`
`38.
`
`Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284, Plaintiff is entitled to compensation for said
`
`infringements, in no event less than a reasonable royalty, for said inducement as herein alleged,
`
`together with pre- and post-judgment interest and costs as fixed by the court.
`
`39.
`
`The foregoing also reflects induced infringement of at least claim 5 published in
`
`the ’173 publication, pursuant to which Salesforce will likewise be liable for damages under 35
`
`U.S.C. 154(d) when a patent issues upon the patent application so published, which will be
`
`added to this complaint by amendment.
`
`COUNT IV
`
`(WILLFUL INFRINGEMENT)
`
`40.
`
`41.
`
`Plaintiff realleges and incorporates paragraphs 1-39 above by reference.
`
`Salesforce knew of the Asserted Patents since at least the date of the notice set
`
`forth in paragraph 16 (the “Notice Date”).
`
`42.
`
`On information and belief, since the Notice Date, and with knowledge of the
`
`Asserted Patents and of the manner in which it was being accused of infringing the Asserted
`
`Patents, Salesforce has continued its direct and induced infringement thereof. Salesforce has
`
`done so intentionally, and is accordingly a willful infringer.
`
`43.
`
`For reasons including without limitation the foregoing, Plaintiff is entitled to
`
`enhanced damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284.
`
`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
`
`Plaintiff requests that the Court enter judgment against Salesforce as follows:
`
`(A) that Salesforce has infringed the Asserted Patents;
`
`
`
`- 20 -
`
`
`
`Case 5:21-cv-04491-BLF Document 1 Filed 08/25/20 Page 21 of 21
`
`
`
`(B) awarding Plaintiff its damages suffered as a result of Salesforce’s infringement of the
`
`Asserted Patents pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284;
`
`(C) awarding Plaintiff enhanced damages pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284;
`
`(D) permanently enjoining Salesforce, its officers, directors, agents, servants, affiliates,
`
`employees, divisions, branches, subsidiaries and parents, and all others acting in concert or
`
`privity with them, from infringing the Asserted Patents;
`
`(E) awarding Plaintiff its costs, attorneys’ fees, expenses, and interest (including without
`
`limitation pre-judgment interest); and
`
`(F) granting Plaintiff such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
`
`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
`
`Plaintiff hereby demands trial by jury on all issues so triable pursuant to Rule 38, Fed. R.
`
`Civ. P.
`
`Dated: August 25, 2020
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`/s Ronald Abramson
`Ronald Abramson
`David G. Liston
`Ari J. Jaffess
`Alex G. Patchen
`M. Michael Lewis
`Rebecca Rothkopf
`LISTON ABRAMSON LLP
`Attorneys for Plaintiff
`The Chrysler Building
`405 Lexington Avenue, 46th Floor
`New York, NY 10174
`(212) 257-1630
`docket@listonabramson.com
`
`- 21 -
`
`