圖、專利授權公司Rothschild控告Sony之PlayStation服務系統侵權
2014年6月9日,營業處所設於美國佛羅里達州的專利授權公司Rothschild Digital Media Innovations, LLC (下稱Rothschild),向美國佛羅里達州南區聯邦地院(the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida)提起專利侵權告訴,控告在美洲行銷PlayStation相關產品並營運相關服務的Sony電腦娛樂公司(Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)美國分公司Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (下稱SCEA),其所營運之PlayStation服務系統,包括PlayStation網路伺服器(PlayStation Network servers)、PlayStation遊戲主機(PlayStation consoles)與PlayStation遊戲光碟片(PlayStation game discs),侵害Rothschild所擁有之一項專利權利的至少請求項1。
而在2014年8月28日,佛羅里達州南區聯邦地院同意被告SCEA之聲請,裁定將前述訴訟案件移送至美國加州北區聯邦地院(the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California)來進行審理,並在8月29日完成移送程序而成為本案。
佛羅里達州南區聯邦地院同意移送聲請之理由,包括:
(1)被告之營運總部、以及負責被控侵權產品服務相關業務之員工的住所與工作處所均在在加州北區,所以就當事人與證人便利性而言支持移送之裁定;
(2)雖然原告就起訴法院之選擇應予以尊重,但是除了系爭專利發明人Leigh M. Rothschild是居住在佛羅里達州、以及原告公司是近期才依據佛羅里達州州法、以從事專利授權與訴訟業務為目的所設立(Leigh M. Rothschild是唯一員工)外,本案事實與佛羅里達州南區並無關聯,所以法院對原告之選擇給予較低權重之考量;
(3)被告公司營業處所設在加州北區並積極經營業務,所以將本案移送至該區聯邦地院審理符合在地解決爭訟的公共利益考量等。
本案系爭專利為美國專利編號US 6,101,534,名稱為「互動式遠距電腦介面系統(Interactive, remote, computer interface system)」,於2000年8月8日核發。原告Rothschild在其訴狀中指出,PlayStation服務系統中的PlayStation網路伺服器,符合系爭專利請求項1中所描述的「遠端伺服器組件」(a remote server assembly),而PlayStation遊戲主機則符合「本地處理器組件」(a local processor assembly),至於PlayStation遊戲光碟片則是符合「緊密、可攜式與可交換之電腦可讀取媒體」(a compact, portable and interchangeable computer readable medium),所以PlayStation服務系統侵害系爭專利權利之請求項1。
Leigh M. Rothschild為一個人發明家,其所擁有專利涵蓋包括電腦伺服器、3D顯示、GPS技術等技術領域,現職為其所設立之Rothschild Trust Holdings, LLC公司的常務董事(Managing Director)。Leigh M. Rothschild近來透過設立不同的專利授權公司來提起專利侵權訴訟,為其個別專利權利尋求獲利,例如:
(1)2014年4月7日,Rothschild GPS Sharing Innovations, LLC向美國加州南區聯邦地院(the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California)提起專利侵權告訴,控告Nissan汽車的美國分公司Nissan North America, Inc.,侵害其所擁有、名稱為「用於遠端輸入、儲存與分享定位資訊裝置位址的裝置、系統與方法(Device, system and method for remotely entering, storing and sharing addresses for a positional information device)」的US 7,917,285專利權利(請參見本網站報導《專利授權公司Rothschild GPS控告Nissan車載衛星導航系統侵權》)。該案於6月25日以原告自願撤告收場;
(2)2014年5月19日,Rothschild Location Technologies LLC向德拉瓦州聯邦地院(the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware)提起11起專利侵權之訴,控告Actsoft Inc.等公司,侵害其所擁有、名稱為「用於遠距輸入、儲存與分享一定位資訊裝置位址的裝置、系統與方法(Device, system and method for remotely entering, storing and sharing addresses for a positional information device)」的US 8,606,503專利權利;
(3)2014年7月3日,Nissan North America, Inc.再度被控侵害US 7,917,285專利權利,只是這次元告公司名稱換成了Rothschild Location Technologies, LLC,起訴法院換成了德拉瓦州聯邦地院;
(4)2014年7月16日,Rothschild Storage Retrieval Innovations, LLC 向佛羅里達州南區聯邦地院提起7起專利侵權之訴,控告Apple、Samsung、HTC等智慧型手機大廠,侵害其所擁有、名稱為「影像無線散布系統與方法(Wireless image distribution system and method)」的US 8,437,797專利權利(請參見本網站報導《影像無線分享專利訴訟Rothschild Storage控告HTC、Apple等多家手機廠》)。(1799字;表3)
表一、請求項解析
US 6,101,534 請求項1 |
1. An interactive, remote, computer interface system (FIG.2 - 11) comprising: 一項具互動性之遠距電腦介面系統,包括 |
a remote server assembly (FIG.2 - 50), said remote server assembly including a quantity of primary site data; 一遠端伺服器組件,前述遠端伺服器組件包括大量之主站台資料 |
said remote server assembly including at least one primary site address, said primary site address including at least a portion of said primary site data and being distinct so as to identify a location thereof on a computer network; 前述遠端伺服器組件包括至少一個主站台位址,前述主站台位址包括至少一部分前述主站台資料、且足夠明確來識別在一電腦網路上的位置 |
a local processor assembly (FIG.2 – 25’); 一本地處理器組件 |
said local processor assembly being coupled in data transmitting and receiving communication with said remote server assembly; 前述本地處理器組件被連接至前述遠端伺服器組件,進行資料傳送與接收通訊 |
said local processor assembly being structured to access said primary site address so as to achieve said data transmitting and receiving communication with said remote server assembly;前述本地處理器組件被架構來存取前述主站台位址,藉以達成與前述遠端伺服器組件間的資料傳送與接收通訊 |
at least one data storage assembly associated with said local processor assembly and structured to contain a quantity of auxiliary site data thereon, said auxiliary site data being associated with said primary site data; 至少一個資料儲存組件,其被連接於前述本地處理器組件並被架構來包含大量輔助站台資料於其中,前述輔助站台資料與前述主站台資料具關聯性 |
said data storage assembly including a compact, portable and interchangeable computer readable medium (FIG.2 - 36); 前述資料儲存組件包括一緊密、可攜式與可交換之電腦可讀取媒體 |
said compact, portable and interchangeable computer readable medium including a plurality of remotely accessible, auxiliary site addresses encoded therein, each of said remotely accessible, auxiliary site addresses including select portions of said quantity of auxiliary site data; and 前述緊密、可攜式與可交換之電腦可讀取媒體包含複數遠端可存取之輔助站台位址被編碼於其上,每個前述遠端可存取之輔助站台位址包含前述大量輔助站台資料中被選擇之部分 |
said remotely accessible, auxiliary site addresses being structured to be remotely accessed by said remote server assembly so as to initiate utilization of said select portions of said quantity of auxiliary site data by said local processor assembly in conjunction with said primary site data.前述遠端可存取之輔助站台位址被結構成可被前述遠端伺服器組件遠端存取,藉以來讓前述本地處理器組件結合前述主站台資料開始使用前述大量輔助站台資料中被選擇之部分 |
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Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理,2014/09
表二、專利訴訟案件基本資料:Rothschild控告Sony電腦娛樂美國分公司SCEA
訴訟名稱 |
Rothschild Digital Media Innovations, LLC v. Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC |
提告日期 |
2014年8月29日 |
原告 |
Rothschild Digital Media Innovations, LLC |
被告 |
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC |
案號 |
5:14-cv-03928-PSG |
訴訟法院 |
the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California |
系爭專利 |
US 6,101,534 |
系爭產品 |
SCEA在美國所營運之PlayStation服務系統,包括PlayStation網路伺服器(PlayStation Network servers)、PlayStation遊戲主機(PlayStation consoles)與PlayStation遊戲光碟片(PlayStation game discs),https://www.playstation.com/en-us/home/ (最後瀏覽日:2014/09/04) |
訴狀下載 |
|
Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理,2014/09
表三、Leigh M. Rothschild所設立專利授權公司提起專利侵權訴訟概況
提告日期 |
訴訟名稱 |
原告 |
被告 |
案號 |
訴訟法院 |
系爭專利 |
2014年4月7日 |
Rothschild GPS Sharing Innovations, LLC v. Nissan North America, Inc.(以原告自願撤告收場) |
Rothschild GPS Sharing Innovations, LLC |
Nissan North America, Inc. |
3:14-cv-00819 |
Southern District of California |
US 7,917,285 |
2014年5月19日 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Actsoft Inc. |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC |
Actsoft Inc. |
1:14-cv-00630 |
District of Delaware |
US 8,606,503 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. AGCO Corporation |
AGCO Corporation |
1:14-cv-00631 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Calamp Corp. |
Calamp Corp. |
1:14-cv-00632 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Deere & Company |
Deere & Company |
1:14-cv-00633 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Fleetcor Technologies Inc. |
Fleetcor Technologies Inc. |
1:14-cv-00634 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Fleetmatics USA LLC |
FleetMatics USA LLC |
1:14-cv-00635 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. GPS Insight LLC |
GPS Insight LLC |
1:14-cv-00636 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Mix Telematics North America Inc. |
Mix Telematics North America Inc. |
1:14-cv-00637 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Roadnet Technologies Inc. |
Roadnet Technologies Inc. |
1:14-cv-00638 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Teletrac Inc. |
Teletrac Inc. |
1:14-cv-00639 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Xora Inc. |
Xora Inc. |
1:14-cv-00640 |
2014年7月3日 |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Nissan North America Inc. |
Rothschild Location Technologies LLC |
Nissan North America Inc. |
1:14-cv-00879 |
District of Delaware |
US 7,917,285 |
2014年7月16日 |
Rothschild Storage Retrieval Innovations, LLC v. Sony Mobile Communications (USA) Inc. |
Rothschild Storage Retrieval Innovations, LLC |
Sony Mobile Communications (USA) Inc. |
1:14-cv-22652 |
Southern District of Florida |
US 8,437,797 |
Rothschild Storage Retrieval Innovations, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al |
|
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Samsung Electronics America Inc.Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC |
1:14-cv-22653 |
Rothschild Storage Retrieval Innovations, LLC v. LG Electronics Inc. et al |
|
LG Electronics Inc.LG Electronics USA, Inc.LG Electronics Mobilecomm U.S.A., Inc. |
1:14-cv-22654 |
Rothchild Storage Retrieval Innovations, LLC. v. HTC Corporation et al |
|
HTC Corporation HTC America Incorporated |
1:14-cv-22655 |
Rothschild Storage Retrieval Innovations, LLC v. Nokia Corporation et al |
|
Nokia CorporationNokia, Inc. |
1:14-cv-22657 |
Rothschild Storage Retrieval Innovations, LLC v. Apple Inc. |
|
Apple Inc. |
1:14-cv-22658 |
Rothchild Storage Retrieval Innovations, LLC.v. Motorola Mobility LLC |
|
Motorola Mobility LLC |
1:14-cv-22659 |
Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理,2014/09