throbber
Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 1 of 58 PageID #: 1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`MARSHALL DIVISION
`
`Civil Action No. 2:16-cv-1116
`
`
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`
`
`
`LONE STAR SILICON INNOVATIONS LLC,
`
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`v.
`
`MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.,
`MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS,
`INC.,
`MICRON CONSUMER PRODUCTS GROUP,
`INC., and
`MICRON MEMORY JAPAN, INC.
`
`
`Defendants.
`
`
`
`
`COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
`
`Plaintiff, Lone Star Silicon Innovations LLC (“Lone Star”), complains against
`
`Defendants Micron Technology, Inc., Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc., Micron Consumer
`
`Products Group, Inc., and Micron Memory Japan, Inc. (individually or collectively “Defendants”
`
`or “Micron”) as follows:
`
`NATURE OF ACTION
`This is an action for patent infringement of United States Patent Nos. 5,872,038;
`
`1.
`
`5,912,188; 6,023,085; 6,097,061; 6,103,611; 6,326,231 and 6,388,330 (collectively, the “Patents
`
`in Suit”) under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. § 1, et seq.
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`2.
`
`Plaintiff Lone Star is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the
`
`State of Texas with its principal place of business at 8105 Rasor Blvd., Suite 210, Plano, TX
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 2 of 58 PageID #: 2
`
`75024. Lone Star is in the business of licensing patented technology. Lone Star is the assignee of
`
`the Patents in Suit.
`
`3.
`
`Defendant Micron Technology, Inc. (“MTI”) is a corporation incorporated under
`
`the laws of Delaware with its principal place of business at 8000 South Federal Way, Boise,
`
`Idaho 83707. Micron and/or its subsidiaries also maintain offices in Allen, Texas 75031 and
`
`Round Rock, Texas 78681. Defendant MTI conducts business in and is doing business in Texas
`
`and in this District and elsewhere in the United States, including, without limitation, using,
`
`promoting, offering to sell, importing and/or selling memory devices and/or devices that
`
`incorporate memory devices that embody the patented technology, and enabling end-user
`
`purchasers to use such devices in this District.
`
`4.
`
`Defendant Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc. (“MSP”) is an Idaho corporation
`
`with a principal place of business at 3475 E. Commercial Ct., Meridian, Idaho 83642. MSP’s
`
`registered agent for service of process in the State of Texas is Corporation Service Company,
`
`211 E. 7th Street, Suite 620, Austin, TX 78701-3218. On information and belief, MSP is a
`
`wholly-owned subsidiary of MTI. Defendant MSP conducts business in and is doing business in
`
`Texas and in this District and elsewhere in the United States, including, without limitation, using,
`
`promoting, offering to sell, importing and/or selling memory devices and/or devices that
`
`incorporate memory devices that embody the patented technology, and enabling end-user
`
`purchasers to use such devices in this District.
`
`5.
`
`Defendant Micron Consumer Products Group, Inc. (“MCPG”) is a Delaware
`
`corporation with its principal place of business at 47300 Bayside Parkway, Fremont, California
`
`94538. On information and belief, MCPG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTI. On information
`
`and belief, Defendant MCPG conducts business in and is doing business in Texas and in this
`
`
`
`2
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 3 of 58 PageID #: 3
`
`District and elsewhere in the United States, including, without limitation, using, promoting,
`
`offering to sell, importing and/or selling memory devices and/or devices that incorporate
`
`memory devices that embody the patented technology, and enabling end-user purchasers to use
`
`such devices in this District.
`
`6.
`
`Defendant Micron Memory Japan, Inc. is a corporation with a principal place of
`
`business at Sumitomo Seimei Yaesu Bldg., 3F, 2-1 Yaesu 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0028,
`
`Japan. On information and belief, Micron Memory Japan, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
`
`Micron. Before it was acquired by Micron, Micron Memory Japan, Inc. was known as Elpida
`
`Memory, Inc. Micron Memory Japan, Inc., and Elpida Memory, Inc. are referred to collectively
`
`herein as “Micron Japan.” Micron Japan is the parent company of Micron Akita, Inc., with a
`
`principal place of business at 89-2, Yamada, Yuwaishida, Akita-shi, Akita 010-1222, Japan
`
`(“Micron Akita”). Micron Akita, Inc. supplies Micron Japan and MTI with memory devices
`
`and/or devices that incorporate memory devices that embody the patented technology. On
`
`information and belief, Micron Japan manufactures and sells memory devices and/or devices that
`
`incorporate memory devices that embody the patented technology and also sells such DRAM
`
`semiconductor devices manufactured by foundries such as Micron Taiwan, and Micron Akita.
`
`7.
`
`Upon information and belief, MTI controls and is the majority owner of the other
`
`Defendants, and Defendants are joint tortfeasors with one another with respect to the matters
`
`alleged herein.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`8.
`
`This action arises under the Patent Laws of the United States, Title 35 of the
`
`United States Code. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28
`
`U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).
`
`
`
`3
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 4 of 58 PageID #: 4
`
`9.
`
`On information and belief, Defendants are subject to this Court’s specific and
`
`general personal jurisdiction pursuant to due process and/or the Texas Long Arm Statute, due at
`
`least to their substantial business conducted in this forum, directly and/or through intermediaries,
`
`including (i) having solicited business in the State of Texas, transacted business within the State
`
`of Texas and attempted to derive financial benefit from residents of the State of Texas, including
`
`benefits directly related to the instant patent infringement causes of action set forth herein; (ii)
`
`having placed their products and services into the stream of commerce throughout the United
`
`States and having been actively engaged in transacting business in Texas and in this District; and
`
`(iii) either alone or in conjunction with others, having committed acts of infringement within
`
`Texas and in this District. On information and belief, Defendants, directly and/or through
`
`intermediaries, have advertised (including through websites), offered to sell, sold and/or
`
`distributed infringing products, and/or have induced the sale and use of infringing products in the
`
`United States and in Texas. Each Defendant has, directly or through its distribution network,
`
`purposefully and voluntarily placed such products in the stream of commerce knowing and
`
`expecting them to be purchased and used by consumers in Texas and in this District. Each
`
`Defendant has either committed direct infringement in Texas or committed indirect infringement
`
`based on acts of direct infringement in Texas. Further, on information and belief, Defendants are
`
`subject to the Court’s general jurisdiction, including from regularly doing or soliciting business,
`
`engaging in other persistent courses of conduct, and/or deriving substantial revenue from goods
`
`and services provided to individuals in Texas and in this District.
`
`10.
`
`On information and belief, Defendants do one or more of the following with
`
`memory devices and/or devices that incorporate memory devices that embody the patented
`
`technology that they or their foundries manufacture: (a) make these devices in the United States
`
`
`
`4
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 5 of 58 PageID #: 5
`
`for sale to customers, including customers in Texas; (b) import these devices into the United
`
`States for sale to consumers, including consumers in Texas; (c) sell them or offer them for sale in
`
`the United States, including to customers in Texas; (d) sell them to customers who incorporate
`
`them into products that such customers import, sell or offer for sale in the United States,
`
`including in Texas.
`
`11.
`
`Venue lies in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b), 1391(c) and 1400(b)
`
`because each Defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction in this District, resides in, has
`
`regularly conducted business in this District and/or has committed acts of patent infringement in
`
`this District. Without limitation, on information and belief, within this District Defendants,
`
`directly and/or through intermediaries, have advertised (including through websites), offered to
`
`sell, sold and/or distributed infringing products, and/or have induced the sale and use of
`
`infringing products.
`
`THE PATENTS IN SUIT
`
`12.
`
`On June 15, 1999, U.S. Patent No. 5,912,188 (“the ‘188 patent”), entitled
`
`“Method Of Forming A Contact Hole In An Interlevel Dielectric Layer Using Dual Etch Stops,”
`
`a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, was duly and legally issued. The ‘188 patent
`
`issued from U.S. patent application Serial Number 08/905,686 filed August 4, 1997 and
`
`discloses and relates to the design of and processes for fabricating semiconductor memory
`
`devices. The inventors assigned all right, title, and interest in the ‘188 patent to Advanced Micro
`
`Devices, Inc. (hereinafter “AMD”). AMD assigned its entire right, title, and interest in the ‘188
`
`patent to Lone Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights, title and interest in and to the
`
`‘188 patent including the right to sue for and collect past, present and future damages and to seek
`
`and obtain injunctive or any other relief for infringement of the ‘188 patent.
`
`
`
`5
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 6 of 58 PageID #: 6
`
`13.
`
`On February 8, 2000, U.S. Patent No. 6,023,085 (“the ‘085 patent”), entitled
`
`“Core Cell Structure And Corresponding Process For NAND-Type High Performance Flash
`
`Memory Device,” a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B, was duly and legally issued.
`
`The ‘085 patent issued from U.S. patent application Serial Number 08/993,910 filed December
`
`18, 1997 and discloses and relates to the design of and processes for fabricating NAND-type
`
`flash memory semiconductor devices. The inventors assigned all right, title, and interest in the
`
`‘085 patent to AMD. AMD assigned its entire right, title, and interest in the ‘085 patent to Lone
`
`Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights, title and interest in and to the ‘085 patent
`
`including the right to sue for and collect past, present and future damages and to seek and obtain
`
`injunctive or any other relief for infringement of the ‘085 patent.
`
`14.
`
`On February 16, 1999, U.S. Patent No. 5,872,038 (“the ‘038 patent”), entitled
`
`“Semiconductor Device Having an Elevated Active Region Formed in an Oxide Trench and
`
`Method of Manufacture Thereof,” a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C, was duly and
`
`legally issued. The ‘038 patent issued from U.S. patent application Serial Number 08/780,643,
`
`filed January 8, 1997 and discloses and relates to the design of and processes for fabricating
`
`semiconductor memory devices. The inventors assigned all right, title, and interest in the ‘038
`
`patent to AMD. AMD assigned its entire right, title, and interest in the ‘038 patent to Lone Star,
`
`and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights, title and interest in and to the ‘038 patent including
`
`the right to sue for and collect past, present and future damages and to seek and obtain injunctive
`
`or any other relief for infringement of the ‘038 patent.
`
`15.
`
`On August 1, 2000, U.S. Patent No. 6,097,061 (“the ‘061 patent”), entitled
`
`“Trenched Gate Metal Oxide Semiconductor Device And Method,” a copy of which is attached
`
`hereto as Exhibit D, was duly and legally issued. The ‘061 patent issued from U.S. patent
`
`
`
`6
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 7 of 58 PageID #: 7
`
`application Serial Number 09/052,051 filed December March 30, 1998 and discloses and relates
`
`to the design of and processes for fabricating semiconductor transistor devices. The inventors
`
`assigned all right, title, and interest in the ‘061 patent to AMD. AMD assigned its entire right,
`
`title, and interest in the ‘061 patent to Lone Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights,
`
`title and interest in and to the ‘061 patent including the right to sue for and collect past, present
`
`and future damages and to seek and obtain injunctive or any other relief for infringement of the
`
`‘061 patent.
`
`16.
`
`On August 15, 2000, U.S. Patent No. 6,103,611 (“the ‘611 patent”), entitled
`
`“Methods And Arrangements For Improved Spacer Formation Within A Semiconductor
`
`Device,” a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit E, was duly and legally issued. The ‘611
`
`patent issued from U.S. patent application Serial Number 08/993,830 filed December 18, 1997
`
`and discloses and relates to the design of and processes for fabricating semiconductor devices.
`
`The inventors assigned all right, title, and interest in the ‘611 patent to AMD. AMD assigned its
`
`entire right, title, and interest in the ‘611 patent to Lone Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of
`
`all rights, title and interest in and to the ‘611 patent including the right to sue for and collect past,
`
`present and future damages and to seek and obtain injunctive or any other relief for infringement
`
`of the ‘611 patent.
`
`17.
`
`On December 4, 2001, U.S. Patent No. 6,326,231 (“the ‘231 patent”), entitled
`
`“Use Of Silicon Oxynitride Arc For Metal Layers,” a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
`
`F, was duly and legally issued. The ‘231 patent issued from U.S. patent application Serial
`
`Number 09/207,562 filed December 8, 1998 and discloses and relates to the design of and
`
`processes for fabricating semiconductor devices. The inventors assigned all right, title, and
`
`interest in the ‘231 patent to AMD. AMD assigned its entire right, title, and interest in the ‘231
`
`
`
`7
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 8 of 58 PageID #: 8
`
`patent to Lone Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights, title and interest in and to the
`
`‘231 patent including the right to sue for and collect past, present and future damages and to seek
`
`and obtain injunctive or any other relief for infringement of the ‘231 patent.
`
`18.
`
`On May 14, 2002, U.S. Patent No. 6,388,330 (“the ‘330 patent”), entitled “Low
`
`Dielectric Constant Etch Stop Layers In Integrated Circuit Interconnects,” a copy of which is
`
`attached hereto as Exhibit G, was duly and legally issued. The ‘330 patent issued from U.S.
`
`patent application Serial Number 09/776,012 filed February 1, 2001 and discloses and relates to
`
`the design of and processes for fabricating semiconductor devices. The inventors assigned all
`
`right, title, and interest in the ‘330 patent to AMD. AMD assigned its entire right, title, and
`
`interest in the ‘330 patent to Lone Star, and Lone Star is the sole owner of all rights, title and
`
`interest in and to the ‘330 patent including the right to sue for and collect past, present and future
`
`damages and to seek and obtain injunctive or any other relief for infringement of the ‘330 patent.
`
`DEFENDANTS’ INFRINGING PRODUCTS AND METHODS
`
`19.
`
`Defendants make, use, sell, offer for sale and/or import into the United States
`
`NAND and NOR Flash memory semiconductor devices and products incorporating such devices.
`
`These NAND and NOR Flash memory semiconductor devices are electrically re-writeable, non-
`
`volatile semiconductor memory devices that retain content when power is turned off.
`
`Defendants’ embedded NAND Flash-based storage devices are utilized in mobile phones,
`
`tablets, computers, industrial and automotive applications, networking and other personal and
`
`consumer applications. Defendants’ NAND Flash memory modules are also incorporated into
`
`removable storage devices, such as USB and Flash memory cards used with applications such as
`
`PCs, digital still cameras and mobile phones. Defendants also provide solid state drives (“SSDs”)
`
`incorporating their NAND Flash memory modules, which are components of notebooks,
`
`
`
`8
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 9 of 58 PageID #: 9
`
`desktops, workstations and other consumer computing products, as well as servers and storage
`
`devices. Defendants also offer Multi-Chip Package (“MCP”) products, which incorporate their
`
`NAND and NOR Flash modules and technology. For example, Defendants’ e-MMC products
`
`combine NAND Flash with a logic controller that performs media management and Error Code
`
`Correction, and their e-MCP products combine e-MMC with LPDRAM on the same substrate.
`
`By way of example, and without limitation, Defendants sell such products under brand names
`
`that include Micron, IM Flash, Lexar, Crucial, SpecTek, Elpida and private labels, in packaged
`
`form, unpackaged form, die form and wafer form, and as solid state drives, memory modules,
`
`managed NAND, multi-chip packages, memory cards and USB devices. Despite not having a
`
`license to the ‘188 patent, Defendants have used the semiconductor fabrication methods claimed
`
`therein in making NAND and NOR Flash memory devices. Despite not having a license to the
`
`‘085 patent, Defendants Flash memory products adopt the designs claimed in the ‘085 patent.
`
`20.
`
`Defendants also make, use, sell, offer for sale and/or import into the United States
`
`DRAM memory semiconductor devices and products incorporating these devices. These
`
`products are high-density, random access memory devices that provide high-speed data storage
`
`and retrieval. Defendants’ DRAM memory devices are provided as wafers, chips, and memory
`
`modules and are integrated as components of desktop computer memories, mobile device
`
`memories, networking devices, servers, consumer electronics, communications equipment,
`
`computer peripherals, automotive systems and other applications. Defendants’ LPDRAM
`
`products offer lower power consumption relative to other DRAM products and are used in
`
`mobile phones, tablets, embedded applications, ultra-thin laptop computers and other mobile
`
`consumer devices that require low power consumption. By way of example, and without
`
`limitation, Defendants sell such DRAM products under brand names that include Micron, Lexar,
`
`
`
`9
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 10 of 58 PageID #: 10
`
`Crucial, SpecTek, Elpida and private labels, in packaged form, unpackaged form, die form and
`
`wafer form, and as memory modules and multi-chip packages. Despite not having a license to
`
`the ‘611, ‘038 or ‘231 patents, Defendants have used the semiconductor fabrication methods
`
`claimed therein in making DRAM memory devices. Despite not having a license to the ‘330 or
`
`‘061 patents, Defendants DRAM memory products adopt the designs claimed in these patents.
`
`FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION – INFRINGEMENT OF THE ‘188 PATENT
`
`21.
`
`Plaintiff hereby repeats and re-alleges the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 to
`
`20, as if fully set forth herein.
`
`22.
`
`Defendants MTI, MSP and MCPG, directly and/or through their subsidiaries,
`
`affiliates, agents, and/or business partners, have in the past and continue to directly infringe the
`
`‘188 patent, including at least claims 1-5, 7-13, 15-23 and 25-30, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271(a)
`
`by making and using the methods claimed in the ‘188 patent in the manufacture of NAND Flash
`
`memory semiconductor devices within the United States, for example by practicing the steps of:
`
`(a) providing a semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a gate over the substrate; (c) forming a
`
`source/drain region in the substrate; (d) providing a source/drain contact electrically coupled to
`
`the source/drain region; (e) forming an interlevel dielectric layer that includes first, second and
`
`third dielectric layers over the source/drain contact; (f) forming an etch mask over the interlevel
`
`dielectric layer; (g) applying a first etch which is highly selective of the first dielectric layer with
`
`respect to the second dielectric layer through an opening in the etch mask using the second
`
`dielectric layer as an etch stop, to form a first hole in the first dielectric layer that extends to the
`
`second dielectric layer without extending to the third dielectric layer; (h) applying a second etch
`
`which is highly selective of the second dielectric layer with respect to the third dielectric layer
`
`through the opening in the etch mask using the third dielectric layer as an etch stop, to form a
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 11 of 58 PageID #: 11
`
`second hole in the second dielectric layer that extends to the third dielectric layer without
`
`extending to the source/drain contact; and (i) applying a third etch which is highly selective of
`
`the third dielectric layer with respect to the source/drain contact through the opening in the etch
`
`mask, form a third hole in the third dielectric layer that extends to the source/drain contact, such
`
`that the first, second and third holes in combination provide a contact hole in the interlevel
`
`dielectric layer.
`
`23.
`
`Defendants directly and/or through their subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, and/or
`
`business partners, have also in the past and continue to directly infringe the ‘188 patent,
`
`including at least claims 1-5, 7-13, 15-23 and 25-30, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271(g) by
`
`importing, using, selling or offering to sell NAND Flash memory semiconductor devices in the
`
`United States made using the methods claimed in the ‘188 patent. NAND Flash memory
`
`semiconductor devices manufactured by Defendants and/or other entities owned and controlled
`
`by Defendants or by third-party partner foundries under contract with Defendants, are made
`
`using a process that practices the claims of the ‘188 patent. Defendants directly infringe when
`
`they import, use, sell or offer for sale in the United States NAND Flash memory semiconductor
`
`devices made using the claimed methods.
`
`24.
`
`Defendants have been and are engaged in one or more of these direct infringing
`
`activities related to their NAND Flash memory semiconductor devices, including at least their
`
`NAND Flash Products, including SLC NAND, MLC NAND, TLC NAND and Serial NAND
`
`products, whether sold in packaged form, unpackaged form, die form or wafer form; managed
`
`NAND Flash Products incorporating such NAND flash products, such as their e-MMC and
`
`Embedded USB products; multichip packages incorporating such NAND Flash Products, such as
`
`their e.MMC-Based MCP and NAND-Based MCP products; solid state drives incorporating such
`
`
`
`11
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 12 of 58 PageID #: 12
`
`NAND Flash Products, such as their 9100 PCIe® NVMe™ SSD, S600DC, M600, M500DC, and
`
`M510DC solid state drives; and any other NAND Flash memory devices made by a substantially
`
`similar process (“‘188 Accused NAND Flash Products”).
`
`25.
`
`Defendants, directly and/or through their subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, and/or
`
`business partners, have been and are now indirectly infringing the ‘188 patent, including at least
`
`claims 1-5, 7-13, 15-23 and 25-30, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) by actively inducing acts of
`
`direct infringement performed by others. Defendants have actual notice of the ‘188 patent and
`
`the infringement alleged herein at least upon the service of this Complaint. Upon information
`
`and belief, MTI has numerous lawyers and other active agents of MTI and of its owned and
`
`controlled subsidiaries who regularly review patents and published patent applications relevant
`
`to technology in the fields of the Patents in Suit, specifically including patents directed to
`
`semiconductor memory devices issued to competitors such as AMD, the original assignee of the
`
`‘188 patent. Upon information and belief, MTI itself has been issued over 24,000 patents,
`
`including over 900 patents prosecuted in the USPTO in the same classifications as the ‘188
`
`patent, giving Defendants intimate knowledge of the art in fields relevant to this civil action. The
`
`timing, circumstances and extent of MTI and its subsidiaries MSP, MCPG and Micron Japan
`
`obtaining actual knowledge of the ‘188 patent prior to the commencement of this lawsuit will be
`
`confirmed during discovery.
`
`26.
`
`Upon gaining knowledge of the ‘188 patent, it was, or became, apparent to
`
`Defendants that the manufacture, sale, importing, offer for sale, and use of their ‘188 Accused
`
`NAND Flash Products results in infringement of the ‘188 patent. Upon information and belief,
`
`Defendants have continued and will continue to engage in activities constituting inducement of
`
`
`
`12
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 13 of 58 PageID #: 13
`
`infringement, notwithstanding their knowledge, or willful blindness thereto, that the activities
`
`they induce result in infringement of the ‘188 patent.
`
`27.
`
`The ‘188 Accused NAND Flash Products are intended for integration into
`
`products known to be sold widely in the United States. MTI and its subsidiaries make NAND
`
`Flash semiconductor devices using methods claimed in the ‘188 patent, which devices infringe
`
`when they are imported into, or sold, used, or offered for sale in, the United States. Defendants
`
`indirectly infringe by inducing customers (such as makers of mobile devices, desktop computers
`
`and other devices that use NAND Flash memory) to import products that integrate NAND Flash
`
`semiconductor devices made using the methods claimed in the ‘188 patent, or to sell or use such
`
`products, or offer them for sale, in the United States. For example, Defendants induce third-party
`
`manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), importers, resellers, and other
`
`customers who purchase devices manufactured at Micron Japan’s and other overseas facilities of
`
`MTI’s owned and controlled subsidiaries, or supplied under agreements with partner foundries,
`
`to import devices made using the methods claimed in the ‘188 patent, or to sell or use such
`
`devices, or offer them for sale in the United States without authority.
`
`28.
`
`Defendants encourage customers, resellers, OEMs, or others to import into the
`
`United States and sell and use in the United States the ‘188 Accused NAND Flash Products
`
`made using the methods claimed in the ‘188 patent with knowledge and the specific intent to
`
`cause the acts of direct infringement performed by these third parties. On information and belief,
`
`after Defendants obtained knowledge of the ‘188 patent, the ‘188 Accused NAND Flash
`
`Products have been and will continue to be imported into the United States and sold in large
`
`volumes by themselves and by others, such as customers, distributors and resellers. Defendants
`
`are aware that the ‘188 Accused NAND Flash Products are always made using the same
`
`
`
`13
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 14 of 58 PageID #: 14
`
`fabrication methods under Defendants’ direction and control such that Defendants’ customers
`
`will infringe one or more claims of the ‘188 patent by incorporating such NAND Flash
`
`semiconductor devices in other products, and that subsequent importation, sale and use of such
`
`products in the United States would be a direct infringement of the ‘188 patent. Therefore,
`
`Defendants are aware that their customers will infringe the ‘188 patent by importing, selling and
`
`using the products supplied by Defendants.
`
`29.
`
`Defendants directly benefit from and actively and knowingly encourage
`
`customers, resellers, and users’ importation of these products into the United States and sale and
`
`use within the United States. Defendants actively encourage customers and downstream users,
`
`OEMs, and resellers to import, use, and sell in the United States the ‘188 Accused NAND Flash
`
`Products that they manufacture and supply, including through advertising, marketing and sales
`
`activities directed at United States sales. On information and belief, MTI and its subsidiaries are
`
`aware of the size and importance of the United States market for customers of Defendants’
`
`products, and also distribute or supply these products intended for importation, use, and sale in
`
`the United States. Defendants routinely market their infringing NAND Flash memory products to
`
`third parties for inclusion in products that are sold to customers in the United States, as well as
`
`directly to end user customers. MTI has publicly stated that its Flash products are primarily
`
`targeted for mobile phones, SSDs, tablets, computers, industrial and automotive applications,
`
`removable storage devices, SSDs and MCP products, all of which are widely sold and used in the
`
`United States. Defendants have numerous direct sales, distributors and reseller outlets for these
`
`products in the United States. Defendants’ marketing efforts show that they have specifically
`
`intended to and have induced direct infringement in the United States.
`
`
`
`14
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 15 of 58 PageID #: 15
`
`30.
`
`Defendants also provide OEMs, manufacturers, importers, resellers, customers,
`
`and end users instructions, user guides and technical specifications on how to incorporate the
`
`‘188 Accused NAND Flash Products into electronics products that are made, used, sold, offered
`
`for sale in and/or imported into the United States. When OEMs, manufacturers, importers,
`
`resellers, customers, and end users follow such instructions, user guides, and technical
`
`specifications and embed the products in end products and make, use, offer to sell, sell, or import
`
`them into the United States, they directly infringe one or more claims of the ‘188 patent.
`
`Defendants know that by providing such instructions, user guides, and technical specifications,
`
`OEMs, manufacturers, importers, resellers, customers, and end users follow them, and therefore
`
`directly infringe one or more claims of the ‘188 patent. Defendants thus know that their actions
`
`actively induce infringement.
`
`31.
`
`Defendants have engaged and will continue to engage in additional activities to
`
`specifically target the United States market for the ‘188 Accused NAND Flash products and
`
`actively induce OEMs, manufacturers, importers, resellers, customers, and end users to directly
`
`infringe one or more claims of the ‘188 patent in the United States. For example, Defendants
`
`have showcased their NAND Flash memory technologies at various industry events and through
`
`written materials distributed in the United States, in an effort to encourage various OEMs,
`
`manufacturers, importers, resellers, customers, and end users to include the infringing
`
`technology in their computers, mobile devices, removable storage devices and other products.
`
`These events are attended by the direct infringers mentioned above and generally by companies
`
`that make, use, offer to sell, sell, or import in the United States products that use NAND Flash
`
`memory components such as those made by Defendants.
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-01116-JRG-RSP Document 1 Filed 10/07/16 Page 16 of 58 PageID #: 16
`
`32.
`
`Defendants derive significant revenue by selling their NAND Flash memory
`
`products to third parties who directly infringe the ‘188 patent in the United States. Further, MTI
`
`has stated publicly that it has partnered with Intel for design, development, and manufacture of
`
`NAND Flash semiconductor devices and sells its NAND Flash products to Intel through its
`
`partnership with Intel. Defendants know that by selling NAND Flash to Intel, Intel will
`
`incorporate the NAND Flash and directly infringe one or more claims of the ‘188 patents.
`
`Defendants thus know that these actions actively induce infringement.
`
`33.
`
`Defendants’ extensive sales and marketing efforts, sales volume, and partnerships
`
`all evidence their intent to induce companies to infringe one or more claims of the’188 patent by,
`
`using, offering to sell, selling, or importing products that incorporate the ‘188 Accused NAND
`
`Flash Products in the United States. Defendants have had specific intent to induce infringement
`
`or have been willfully blind to the direct infringement they are inducing.
`
`34.
`
`Defendants’ direct and indirect infringement of the ‘188 patent has injured Lone
`
`Star, and Lone Star is entitled to recover damages adequate to compensate for such infringement
`
`pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284. Unless they cease their infringing activities, Defendant

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket