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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`MARSHALL DIVISION
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`Civil Action No. 2:16-cv-1116
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`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
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`LONE STAR SILICON INNOVATIONS LLC,
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`
`Plaintiff,
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`v.
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`MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.,
`MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS,
`INC.,
`MICRON CONSUMER PRODUCTS GROUP,
`INC., and
`MICRON MEMORY JAPAN, INC.
`
`
`Defendants.
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`
`
`
`COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
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`Plaintiff, Lone Star Silicon Innovations LLC (“Lone Star”), complains against
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`Defendants Micron Technology, Inc., Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc., Micron Consumer
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`Products Group, Inc., and Micron Memory Japan, Inc. (individually or collectively “Defendants”
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`or “Micron”) as follows:
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`NATURE OF ACTION
`This is an action for patent infringement of United States Patent Nos. 5,872,038;
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`1.
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`5,912,188; 6,023,085; 6,097,061; 6,103,611; 6,326,231 and 6,388,330 (collectively, the “Patents
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`in Suit”) under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. § 1, et seq.
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`THE PARTIES
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`2.
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`Plaintiff Lone Star is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
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`State of Texas with its principal place of business at 8105 Rasor Blvd., Suite 210, Plano, TX
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`75024. Lone Star is in the business of licensing patented technology. Lone Star is the assignee of
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`the Patents in Suit.
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`3.
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`Defendant Micron Technology, Inc. (“MTI”) is a corporation incorporated under
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`the laws of Delaware with its principal place of business at 8000 South Federal Way, Boise,
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`Idaho 83707. Micron and/or its subsidiaries also maintain offices in Allen, Texas 75031 and
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`Round Rock, Texas 78681. Defendant MTI conducts business in and is doing business in Texas
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`and in this District and elsewhere in the United States, including, without limitation, using,
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`promoting, offering to sell, importing and/or selling memory devices and/or devices that
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`incorporate memory devices that embody the patented technology, and enabling end-user
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`purchasers to use such devices in this District.
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`4.
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`Defendant Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc. (“MSP”) is an Idaho corporation
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`with a principal place of business at 3475 E. Commercial Ct., Meridian, Idaho 83642. MSP’s
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`registered agent for service of process in the State of Texas is Corporation Service Company,
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`211 E. 7th Street, Suite 620, Austin, TX 78701-3218. On information and belief, MSP is a
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`wholly-owned subsidiary of MTI. Defendant MSP conducts business in and is doing business in
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`Texas and in this District and elsewhere in the United States, including, without limitation, using,
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`promoting, offering to sell, importing and/or selling memory devices and/or devices that
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`incorporate memory devices that embody the patented technology, and enabling end-user
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`purchasers to use such devices in this District.
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`5.
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`Defendant Micron Consumer Products Group, Inc. (“MCPG”) is a Delaware
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`corporation with its principal place of business at 47300 Bayside Parkway, Fremont, California
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`94538. On information and belief, MCPG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTI. On information
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`and belief, Defendant MCPG conducts business in and is doing business in Texas and in this
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`2
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`District and elsewhere in the United States, including, without limitation, using, promoting,
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`offering to sell, importing and/or selling memory devices and/or devices that incorporate
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`memory devices that embody the patented technology, and enabling end-user purchasers to use
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`such devices in this District.
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`6.
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`Defendant Micron Memory Japan, Inc. is a corporation with a principal place of
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`business at Sumitomo Seimei Yaesu Bldg., 3F, 2-1 Yaesu 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0028,
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`Japan. On information and belief, Micron Memory Japan, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
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`Micron. Before it was acquired by Micron, Micron Memory Japan, Inc. was known as Elpida
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`Memory, Inc. Micron Memory Japan, Inc., and Elpida Memory, Inc. are referred to collectively
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`herein as “Micron Japan.” Micron Japan is the parent company of Micron Akita, Inc., with a
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`principal place of business at 89-2, Yamada, Yuwaishida, Akita-shi, Akita 010-1222, Japan
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`(“Micron Akita”). Micron Akita, Inc. supplies Micron Japan and MTI with memory devices
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`and/or devices that incorporate memory devices that embody the patented technology. On
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`information and belief, Micron Japan manufactures and sells memory devices and/or devices that
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`incorporate memory devices that embody the patented technology and also sells such DRAM
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`semiconductor devices manufactured by foundries such as Micron Taiwan, and Micron Akita.
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`7.
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`Upon information and belief, MTI controls and is the majority owner of the other
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`Defendants, and Defendants are joint tortfeasors with one another with respect to the matters
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`alleged herein.
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`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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`8.
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`This action arises under the Patent Laws of the United States, Title 35 of the
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`United States Code. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28
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`U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).
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`9.
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`On information and belief, Defendants are subject to this Court’s specific and
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`general personal jurisdiction pursuant to due process and/or the Texas Long Arm Statute, due at
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`least to their substantial business conducted in this forum, directly and/or through intermediaries,
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`including (i) having solicited business in the State of Texas, transacted business within the State
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`of Texas and attempted to derive financial benefit from residents of the State of Texas, including
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`benefits directly related to the instant patent infringement causes of action set forth herein; (ii)
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`having placed their products and services into the stream of commerce throughout the United
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`States and having been actively engaged in transacting business in Texas and in this District; and
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`(iii) either alone or in conjunction with others, having committed acts of infringement within
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`Texas and in this District. On information and belief, Defendants, directly and/or through
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`intermediaries, have advertised (including through websites), offered to sell, sold and/or
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`distributed infringing products, and/or have induced the sale and use of infringing products in the
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`United States and in Texas. Each Defendant has, directly or through its distribution network,
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`purposefully and voluntarily placed such products in the stream of commerce knowing and
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`expecting them to be purchased and used by consumers in Texas and in this District. Each
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`Defendant has either committed direct infringement in Texas or committed indirect infringement
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`based on acts of direct infringement in Texas. Further, on information and belief, Defendants are
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`subject to the Court’s general jurisdiction, including from regularly doing or soliciting business,
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`engaging in other persistent courses of conduct, and/or deriving substantial revenue from goods
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`and services provided to individuals in Texas and in this District.
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`10.
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`On information and belief, Defendants do one or more of the following with
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`memory devices and/or devices that incorporate memory devices that embody the patented
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`technology that they or their foundries manufacture: (a) make these devices in the United States
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`4
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`for sale to customers, including customers in Texas; (b) import these devices into the United
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`States for sale to consumers, including consumers in Texas; (c) sell them or offer them for sale in
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`the United States, including to customers in Texas; (d) sell them to customers who incorporate
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`them into products that such customers import, sell or offer for sale in the United States,
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`including in Texas.
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`11.
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`Venue lies in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b), 1391(c) and 1400(b)
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`because each Defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction in this District, resides in, has
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`regularly conducted business in this District and/or has committed acts of patent infringement in
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`this District. Without limitation, on information and belief, within this District Defendants,
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`directly and/or through intermediaries, have advertised (including through websites), offered to
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`sell, sold and/or distributed infringing products, and/or have induced the sale and use of
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`infringing products.
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`THE PATENTS IN SUIT
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`12.
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`On June 15, 1999, U.S. Patent No. 5,912,188 (“the ‘188 patent”), entitled
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`“Method Of Forming A Contact Hole In An Interlevel Dielectric Layer Using Dual Etch Stops,”
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`a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, was duly and legally issued. The ‘188 patent
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`issued from U.S. patent application Serial Number 08/905,686 filed August 4, 1997 and
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`discloses and relates to the design of and processes for fabricating semiconductor memory
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`devices. The inventors assigned all right, title, and interest in the ‘188 patent to Advanced Micro
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`Devices, Inc. (hereinafter “AMD”). AMD assigned its entire right, title, and interest in the ‘188
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`patent to Lone Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights, title and interest in and to the
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`‘188 patent including the right to sue for and collect past, present and future damages and to seek
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`and obtain injunctive or any other relief for infringement of the ‘188 patent.
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`5
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`13.
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`On February 8, 2000, U.S. Patent No. 6,023,085 (“the ‘085 patent”), entitled
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`“Core Cell Structure And Corresponding Process For NAND-Type High Performance Flash
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`Memory Device,” a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B, was duly and legally issued.
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`The ‘085 patent issued from U.S. patent application Serial Number 08/993,910 filed December
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`18, 1997 and discloses and relates to the design of and processes for fabricating NAND-type
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`flash memory semiconductor devices. The inventors assigned all right, title, and interest in the
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`‘085 patent to AMD. AMD assigned its entire right, title, and interest in the ‘085 patent to Lone
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`Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights, title and interest in and to the ‘085 patent
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`including the right to sue for and collect past, present and future damages and to seek and obtain
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`injunctive or any other relief for infringement of the ‘085 patent.
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`14.
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`On February 16, 1999, U.S. Patent No. 5,872,038 (“the ‘038 patent”), entitled
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`“Semiconductor Device Having an Elevated Active Region Formed in an Oxide Trench and
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`Method of Manufacture Thereof,” a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C, was duly and
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`legally issued. The ‘038 patent issued from U.S. patent application Serial Number 08/780,643,
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`filed January 8, 1997 and discloses and relates to the design of and processes for fabricating
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`semiconductor memory devices. The inventors assigned all right, title, and interest in the ‘038
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`patent to AMD. AMD assigned its entire right, title, and interest in the ‘038 patent to Lone Star,
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`and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights, title and interest in and to the ‘038 patent including
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`the right to sue for and collect past, present and future damages and to seek and obtain injunctive
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`or any other relief for infringement of the ‘038 patent.
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`15.
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`On August 1, 2000, U.S. Patent No. 6,097,061 (“the ‘061 patent”), entitled
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`“Trenched Gate Metal Oxide Semiconductor Device And Method,” a copy of which is attached
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`hereto as Exhibit D, was duly and legally issued. The ‘061 patent issued from U.S. patent
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`6
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`application Serial Number 09/052,051 filed December March 30, 1998 and discloses and relates
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`to the design of and processes for fabricating semiconductor transistor devices. The inventors
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`assigned all right, title, and interest in the ‘061 patent to AMD. AMD assigned its entire right,
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`title, and interest in the ‘061 patent to Lone Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights,
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`title and interest in and to the ‘061 patent including the right to sue for and collect past, present
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`and future damages and to seek and obtain injunctive or any other relief for infringement of the
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`‘061 patent.
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`16.
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`On August 15, 2000, U.S. Patent No. 6,103,611 (“the ‘611 patent”), entitled
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`“Methods And Arrangements For Improved Spacer Formation Within A Semiconductor
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`Device,” a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit E, was duly and legally issued. The ‘611
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`patent issued from U.S. patent application Serial Number 08/993,830 filed December 18, 1997
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`and discloses and relates to the design of and processes for fabricating semiconductor devices.
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`The inventors assigned all right, title, and interest in the ‘611 patent to AMD. AMD assigned its
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`entire right, title, and interest in the ‘611 patent to Lone Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of
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`all rights, title and interest in and to the ‘611 patent including the right to sue for and collect past,
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`present and future damages and to seek and obtain injunctive or any other relief for infringement
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`of the ‘611 patent.
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`17.
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`On December 4, 2001, U.S. Patent No. 6,326,231 (“the ‘231 patent”), entitled
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`“Use Of Silicon Oxynitride Arc For Metal Layers,” a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
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`F, was duly and legally issued. The ‘231 patent issued from U.S. patent application Serial
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`Number 09/207,562 filed December 8, 1998 and discloses and relates to the design of and
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`processes for fabricating semiconductor devices. The inventors assigned all right, title, and
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`interest in the ‘231 patent to AMD. AMD assigned its entire right, title, and interest in the ‘231
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`7
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`patent to Lone Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights, title and interest in and to the
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`‘231 patent including the right to sue for and collect past, present and future damages and to seek
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`and obtain injunctive or any other relief for infringement of the ‘231 patent.
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`18.
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`On May 14, 2002, U.S. Patent No. 6,388,330 (“the ‘330 patent”), entitled “Low
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`Dielectric Constant Etch Stop Layers In Integrated Circuit Interconnects,” a copy of which is
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`attached hereto as Exhibit G, was duly and legally issued. The ‘330 patent issued from U.S.
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`patent application Serial Number 09/776,012 filed February 1, 2001 and discloses and relates to
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`the design of and processes for fabricating semiconductor devices. The inventors assigned all
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`right, title, and interest in the ‘330 patent to AMD. AMD assigned its entire right, title, and
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`interest in the ‘330 patent to Lone Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights, title and
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`interest in and to the ‘330 patent including the right to sue for and collect past, present and future
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`damages and to seek and obtain injunctive or any other relief for infringement of the ‘330 patent.
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`DEFENDANTS’ INFRINGING PRODUCTS AND METHODS
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`19.
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`Defendants make, use, sell, offer for sale and/or import into the United States
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`NAND and NOR Flash memory semiconductor devices and products incorporating such devices.
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`These NAND and NOR Flash memory semiconductor devices are electrically re-writeable, non-
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`volatile semiconductor memory devices that retain content when power is turned off.
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`Defendants’ embedded NAND Flash-based storage devices are utilized in mobile phones,
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`tablets, computers, industrial and automotive applications, networking and other personal and
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`consumer applications. Defendants’ NAND Flash memory modules are also incorporated into
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`removable storage devices, such as USB and Flash memory cards used with applications such as
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`PCs, digital still cameras and mobile phones. Defendants also provide solid state drives (“SSDs”)
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`incorporating their NAND Flash memory modules, which are components of notebooks,
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`desktops, workstations and other consumer computing products, as well as servers and storage
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`devices. Defendants also offer Multi-Chip Package (“MCP”) products, which incorporate their
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`NAND and NOR Flash modules and technology. For example, Defendants’ e-MMC products
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`combine NAND Flash with a logic controller that performs media management and Error Code
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`Correction, and their e-MCP products combine e-MMC with LPDRAM on the same substrate.
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`By way of example, and without limitation, Defendants sell such products under brand names
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`that include Micron, IM Flash, Lexar, Crucial, SpecTek, Elpida and private labels, in packaged
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`form, unpackaged form, die form and wafer form, and as solid state drives, memory modules,
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`managed NAND, multi-chip packages, memory cards and USB devices. Despite not having a
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`license to the ‘188 patent, Defendants have used the semiconductor fabrication methods claimed
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`therein in making NAND and NOR Flash memory devices. Despite not having a license to the
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`‘085 patent, Defendants Flash memory products adopt the designs claimed in the ‘085 patent.
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`20.
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`Defendants also make, use, sell, offer for sale and/or import into the United States
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`DRAM memory semiconductor devices and products incorporating these devices. These
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`products are high-density, random access memory devices that provide high-speed data storage
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`and retrieval. Defendants’ DRAM memory devices are provided as wafers, chips, and memory
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`modules and are integrated as components of desktop computer memories, mobile device
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`memories, networking devices, servers, consumer electronics, communications equipment,
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`computer peripherals, automotive systems and other applications. Defendants’ LPDRAM
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`products offer lower power consumption relative to other DRAM products and are used in
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`mobile phones, tablets, embedded applications, ultra-thin laptop computers and other mobile
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`consumer devices that require low power consumption. By way of example, and without
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`limitation, Defendants sell such DRAM products under brand names that include Micron, Lexar,
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`Crucial, SpecTek, Elpida and private labels, in packaged form, unpackaged form, die form and
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`wafer form, and as memory modules and multi-chip packages. Despite not having a license to
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`the ‘611, ‘038 or ‘231 patents, Defendants have used the semiconductor fabrication methods
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`claimed therein in making DRAM memory devices. Despite not having a license to the ‘330 or
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`‘061 patents, Defendants DRAM memory products adopt the designs claimed in these patents.
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`FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION – INFRINGEMENT OF THE ‘188 PATENT
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`21.
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`Plaintiff hereby repeats and re-alleges the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 to
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`20, as if fully set forth herein.
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`22.
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`Defendants MTI, MSP and MCPG, directly and/or through their subsidiaries,
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`affiliates, agents, and/or business partners, have in the past and continue to directly infringe the
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`‘188 patent, including at least claims 1-5, 7-13, 15-23 and 25-30, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271(a)
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`by making and using the methods claimed in the ‘188 patent in the manufacture of NAND Flash
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`memory semiconductor devices within the United States, for example by practicing the steps of:
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`(a) providing a semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a gate over the substrate; (c) forming a
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`source/drain region in the substrate; (d) providing a source/drain contact electrically coupled to
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`the source/drain region; (e) forming an interlevel dielectric layer that includes first, second and
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`third dielectric layers over the source/drain contact; (f) forming an etch mask over the interlevel
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`dielectric layer; (g) applying a first etch which is highly selective of the first dielectric layer with
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`respect to the second dielectric layer through an opening in the etch mask using the second
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`dielectric layer as an etch stop, to form a first hole in the first dielectric layer that extends to the
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`second dielectric layer without extending to the third dielectric layer; (h) applying a second etch
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`which is highly selective of the second dielectric layer with respect to the third dielectric layer
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`through the opening in the etch mask using the third dielectric layer as an etch stop, to form a
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`second hole in the second dielectric layer that extends to the third dielectric layer without
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`extending to the source/drain contact; and (i) applying a third etch which is highly selective of
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`the third dielectric layer with respect to the source/drain contact through the opening in the etch
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`mask, form a third hole in the third dielectric layer that extends to the source/drain contact, such
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`that the first, second and third holes in combination provide a contact hole in the interlevel
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`dielectric layer.
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`23.
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`Defendants directly and/or through their subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, and/or
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`business partners, have also in the past and continue to directly infringe the ‘188 patent,
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`including at least claims 1-5, 7-13, 15-23 and 25-30, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271(g) by
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`importing, using, selling or offering to sell NAND Flash memory semiconductor devices in the
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`United States made using the methods claimed in the ‘188 patent. NAND Flash memory
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`semiconductor devices manufactured by Defendants and/or other entities owned and controlled
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`by Defendants or by third-party partner foundries under contract with Defendants, are made
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`using a process that practices the claims of the ‘188 patent. Defendants directly infringe when
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`they import, use, sell or offer for sale in the United States NAND Flash memory semiconductor
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`devices made using the claimed methods.
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`24.
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`Defendants have been and are engaged in one or more of these direct infringing
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`activities related to their NAND Flash memory semiconductor devices, including at least their
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`NAND Flash Products, including SLC NAND, MLC NAND, TLC NAND and Serial NAND
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`products, whether sold in packaged form, unpackaged form, die form or wafer form; managed
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`NAND Flash Products incorporating such NAND flash products, such as their e-MMC and
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`Embedded USB products; multichip packages incorporating such NAND Flash Products, such as
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`their e.MMC-Based MCP and NAND-Based MCP products; solid state drives incorporating such
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`NAND Flash Products, such as their 9100 PCIe® NVMe™ SSD, S600DC, M600, M500DC, and
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`M510DC solid state drives; and any other NAND Flash memory devices made by a substantially
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`similar process (“‘188 Accused NAND Flash Products”).
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`25.
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`Defendants, directly and/or through their subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, and/or
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`business partners, have been and are now indirectly infringing the ‘188 patent, including at least
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`claims 1-5, 7-13, 15-23 and 25-30, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) by actively inducing acts of
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`direct infringement performed by others. Defendants have actual notice of the ‘188 patent and
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`the infringement alleged herein at least upon the service of this Complaint. Upon information
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`and belief, MTI has numerous lawyers and other active agents of MTI and of its owned and
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`controlled subsidiaries who regularly review patents and published patent applications relevant
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`to technology in the fields of the Patents in Suit, specifically including patents directed to
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`semiconductor memory devices issued to competitors such as AMD, the original assignee of the
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`‘188 patent. Upon information and belief, MTI itself has been issued over 24,000 patents,
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`including over 900 patents prosecuted in the USPTO in the same classifications as the ‘188
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`patent, giving Defendants intimate knowledge of the art in fields relevant to this civil action. The
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`timing, circumstances and extent of MTI and its subsidiaries MSP, MCPG and Micron Japan
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`obtaining actual knowledge of the ‘188 patent prior to the commencement of this lawsuit will be
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`confirmed during discovery.
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`26.
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`Upon gaining knowledge of the ‘188 patent, it was, or became, apparent to
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`Defendants that the manufacture, sale, importing, offer for sale, and use of their ‘188 Accused
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`NAND Flash Products results in infringement of the ‘188 patent. Upon information and belief,
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`Defendants have continued and will continue to engage in activities constituting inducement of
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`12
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`infringement, notwithstanding their knowledge, or willful blindness thereto, that the activities
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`they induce result in infringement of the ‘188 patent.
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`27.
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`The ‘188 Accused NAND Flash Products are intended for integration into
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`products known to be sold widely in the United States. MTI and its subsidiaries make NAND
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`Flash semiconductor devices using methods claimed in the ‘188 patent, which devices infringe
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`when they are imported into, or sold, used, or offered for sale in, the United States. Defendants
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`indirectly infringe by inducing customers (such as makers of mobile devices, desktop computers
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`and other devices that use NAND Flash memory) to import products that integrate NAND Flash
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`semiconductor devices made using the methods claimed in the ‘188 patent, or to sell or use such
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`products, or offer them for sale, in the United States. For example, Defendants induce third-party
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`manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), importers, resellers, and other
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`customers who purchase devices manufactured at Micron Japan’s and other overseas facilities of
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`MTI’s owned and controlled subsidiaries, or supplied under agreements with partner foundries,
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`to import devices made using the methods claimed in the ‘188 patent, or to sell or use such
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`devices, or offer them for sale in the United States without authority.
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`28.
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`Defendants encourage customers, resellers, OEMs, or others to import into the
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`United States and sell and use in the United States the ‘188 Accused NAND Flash Products
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`made using the methods claimed in the ‘188 patent with knowledge and the specific intent to
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`cause the acts of direct infringement performed by these third parties. On information and belief,
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`after Defendants obtained knowledge of the ‘188 patent, the ‘188 Accused NAND Flash
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`Products have been and will continue to be imported into the United States and sold in large
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`volumes by themselves and by others, such as customers, distributors and resellers. Defendants
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`are aware that the ‘188 Accused NAND Flash Products are always made using the same
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`fabrication methods under Defendants’ direction and control such that Defendants’ customers
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`will infringe one or more claims of the ‘188 patent by incorporating such NAND Flash
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`semiconductor devices in other products, and that subsequent importation, sale and use of such
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`products in the United States would be a direct infringement of the ‘188 patent. Therefore,
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`Defendants are aware that their customers will infringe the ‘188 patent by importing, selling and
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`using the products supplied by Defendants.
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`29.
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`Defendants directly benefit from and actively and knowingly encourage
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`customers, resellers, and users’ importation of these products into the United States and sale and
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`use within the United States. Defendants actively encourage customers and downstream users,
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`OEMs, and resellers to import, use, and sell in the United States the ‘188 Accused NAND Flash
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`Products that they manufacture and supply, including through advertising, marketing and sales
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`activities directed at United States sales. On information and belief, MTI and its subsidiaries are
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`aware of the size and importance of the United States market for customers of Defendants’
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`products, and also distribute or supply these products intended for importation, use, and sale in
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`the United States. Defendants routinely market their infringing NAND Flash memory products to
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`third parties for inclusion in products that are sold to customers in the United States, as well as
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`directly to end user customers. MTI has publicly stated that its Flash products are primarily
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`targeted for mobile phones, SSDs, tablets, computers, industrial and automotive applications,
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`removable storage devices, SSDs and MCP products, all of which are widely sold and used in the
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`United States. Defendants have numerous direct sales, distributors and reseller outlets for these
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`products in the United States. Defendants’ marketing efforts show that they have specifically
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`intended to and have induced direct infringement in the United States.
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`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 15 of 58 PageID #: 15
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`30.
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`Defendants also provide OEMs, manufacturers, importers, resellers, customers,
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`and end users instructions, user guides and technical specifications on how to incorporate the
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`‘188 Accused NAND Flash Products into electronics products that are made, used, sold, offered
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`for sale in and/or imported into the United States. When OEMs, manufacturers, importers,
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`resellers, customers, and end users follow such instructions, user guides, and technical
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`specifications and embed the products in end products and make, use, offer to sell, sell, or import
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`them into the United States, they directly infringe one or more claims of the ‘188 patent.
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`Defendants know that by providing such instructions, user guides, and technical specifications,
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`OEMs, manufacturers, importers, resellers, customers, and end users follow them, and therefore
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`directly infringe one or more claims of the ‘188 patent. Defendants thus know that their actions
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`actively induce infringement.
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`31.
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`Defendants have engaged and will continue to engage in additional activities to
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`specifically target the United States market for the ‘188 Accused NAND Flash products and
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`actively induce OEMs, manufacturers, importers, resellers, customers, and end users to directly
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`infringe one or more claims of the ‘188 patent in the United States. For example, Defendants
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`have showcased their NAND Flash memory technologies at various industry events and through
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`written materials distributed in the United States, in an effort to encourage various OEMs,
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`manufacturers, importers, resellers, customers, and end users to include the infringing
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`technology in their computers, mobile devices, removable storage devices and other products.
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`These events are attended by the direct infringers mentioned above and generally by companies
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`that make, use, offer to sell, sell, or import in the United States products that use NAND Flash
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`memory components such as those made by Defendants.
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`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 16 of 58 PageID #: 16
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`32.
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`Defendants derive significant revenue by selling their NAND Flash memory
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`products to third parties who directly infringe the ‘188 patent in the United States. Further, MTI
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`has stated publicly that it has partnered with Intel for design, development, and manufacture of
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`NAND Flash semiconductor devices and sells its NAND Flash products to Intel through its
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`partnership with Intel. Defendants know that by selling NAND Flash to Intel, Intel will
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`incorporate the NAND Flash and directly infringe one or more claims of the ‘188 patents.
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`Defendants thus know that these actions actively induce infringement.
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`33.
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`Defendants’ extensive sales and marketing efforts, sales volume, and partnerships
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`all evidence their intent to induce companies to infringe one or more claims of the’188 patent by,
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`using, offering to sell, selling, or importing products that incorporate the ‘188 Accused NAND
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`Flash Products in the United States. Defendants have had specific intent to induce infringement
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`or have been willfully blind to the direct infringement they are inducing.
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`34.
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`Defendants’ direct and indirect infringement of the ‘188 patent has injured Lone
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`Star, and Lone Star is entitled to recover damages adequate to compensate for such infringement
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`pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284. Unless they cease their infringing activities, Defendant