Opinion
Cause No. 2:13-cv-2 Cause No. 2:13-cv-3 Cause No. 2:13-cv-4 Cause No. 2:13-cv-5 Cause No. 2:13-cv-6 Cause No. 2:13-cv-7 Cause No. 2:13-cv-8
04-26-2013
ALEXSAM, INC. v. BEST BUY STORES LP BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND BARNES & NOBLE MARKETING SERVICES, LLC THE GAP INC. AND DIRECT CONSUMER SERVICES, LLC J.C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC. AND J.C. PENNEY CORPORATION MCDONALD'S CORPORATION AND P2W, INC. NFP TOYS "R" US—DELAWARE, INC. AND TRU-SVC, LLC THE HOME DEPOT, U.S.A., INC. AND HOME DEPOT INCENTIVES, INC.
LEAD CASE FOR INVALIDITY
ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
OF THE UNITED STATE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
The above-entitled and numbered civil actions were heretofore referred to United States Magistrate Judge Caroline M. Craven pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636. The Report of the Magistrate Judge which contains her proposed findings of fact and recommendations for the disposition of such actions has been presented for consideration. Defendants filed objections to the Report and Recommendation.
The Court conducted a de novo review of the Magistrate Judge's findings and conclusions. Defendants' objections are without merit. The Court is of the opinion that the findings and conclusions of the Magistrate Judge are correct. Therefore, the Court hereby adopts the Report of the United States Magistrate Judge as the findings and conclusions of this Court.
Defendants first argue that a pre-critical date fax from Mr. Dorf to Debbie Anderson of MCI clearly states that Mr. Dorf tendered a sale contract to MCI for prepaid card activation services. Defendants believe that the fax's reference to Mr. Dorf sending a contract to MCI indicates an intent to be bound. The Court disagrees. Defendants provide no evidence or facts addressing the subject or terms of the alleged contract. Thus, a fact finder would have no basis to determine whether the contract actually qualified as an offer for sale rather than preliminary negotiations or product promotion. Furthermore, the fax does not suggest that MCI could have entered into a binding contract by simple acceptance. Accordingly, the Court finds Defendants' objection without merit.
Defendants additionally allege that there is a material fact question pertaining to whether Alexsam performed the patented method for commercial purposes prior to the critical date. In a pre-critical date fax from Mr. Dorf to Mary Sue Rhoda of LinkUSA, Mr. Dorf explained that he had a system "presently live in the retail environment" (Doc. No. 16-3 at 2). Defendants believe this reflects that Mr. Dorf was actually performing the patented method for commercial purposes. The Court disagrees. As highlighted by Defendants, "performing the patented method for commercial purposes before the critical date constitutes a sale under § 102(b)." Plumtree Software, Inc. v. Datamize, LLC, 473 F.3d 1152, 1163 (Fed. Cir. 2006). But here, there is no evidence to support this claim. First, there is no evidence that the system Mr. Dorf refers to in the fax is the patented invention. Second, there is no evidence that "presently live" equates to commercialization or an attempt to profit from the commercial use of the invention. Therefore, the Court finds Defendants' objection without merit.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff Alexsam, Inc.'s Motions for Partial Summary Judgment to Dismiss Defendants' On-Sale Bar Defense (2:13-cv-2, Doc. No. 16); (2:13-cv-3, Doc. No. 14); (2:13-cv-4, Doc. No. 15); (2:13-cv-5, Doc. No. 16); (2:13-cv-6, Doc. No. 15); (2:13-cv-7, Doc. No. 15); (2:13-cv-8, Doc. No. 15) is GRANTED.
It is further ORDERED that Defendants' on-sale bar defenses are DISMISSED.
It is SO ORDERED.
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MICHAEL H. SCHNEIDER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE