USB隨身碟專利訴訟，專利授權公司Anu IP 控告30家廠商

2012年4月17與18日，美國馬利蘭州的專利授權公司Anu IP, LLC (下稱Anu IP)於美國東德州地方法院控告30家便攜式光學儲存媒體廠商侵犯其隨身碟(USB)專利，被告有：三星、Panasonic、優派、Olympus、JVC、錸德、天翰、廣穎電通...等。4月19日Anu IP也於美國ITC委員會提告。

本案系爭專利有2件，有關具有伸縮式連接器的隨身碟：

• US6979210；Thumb drive with retractable USB connector
• US7090515；Thumb drive with retractable USB connector

該兩項系爭專利於2004-2005年間公開申請，2005-2006年分別獲證，原專利權人皆屬於Ennova Direct, Inc.，後於2011年12月移轉給Anu IP, LLC公司。事實上，該專利曾於2008年由Ennova Direct控告過樂金電子(LG)、 威剛科技 (A-Data)、飛利浦、Kingstone、創見等多家隨身碟廠商 ，後於2010年雙方達成和解。

Anu IP, LLC是一家位於美國馬利蘭州的專利授權公司，由專利訴訟律師Barnhart, Kenneth P所設立。(201字；表1)

表一、權利項解析

US6979210 權利項1		US7090515 權利項1
1. A thumb drive comprising: 大拇碟		1. A thumb drive comprising: 大拇碟
a housing enclosure (Fig. 3a - 213); 殼體		a housing enclosure (Fig. 3a - 213); 殼體
on-board memory (Fig. 3a - 301) within the housing enclosure for storing digital information; 記憶體在殼體內		on-board memory (Fig. 3a - 301) within the housing enclosure for storing digital information; 記憶體在殼體內
a male USB connector (Fig. 1C - 106) coupled to the on-board memory and constrained to translate from a position within the housing enclosure to a position outside the housing enclosure, the USB connector for connecting to a female USB port of a computer appliance; and 公USB接頭106連結記憶體		a male USB connector (Fig. 1C - 106) coupled to the on-board memory, constrained to translate from a position within the housing enclosure to a position outside the housing enclosure and spring-loaded toward the position outside the enclosure, the USB connector for connecting to a female USB port of a computer appliance; 公USB接頭106連結記憶體
a slide button (Fig. 1C - 104) coupled through an opening (Fig. 2 - 210) in the housing to the USB connector; 滑動按鈕104透過殼體213的開口210耦合到USB接頭106		a detent mechanism (Fig. 3B~3D) for keeping the spring-loaded connector inside the housing closure; and 卡合機構限制USB接頭106不會被壓縮彈簧推出殼體外
wherein moving the slide button in one direction extends the connector from the housing to couple to a female connector, and moving the slide button in the opposite direction retracts the connector within the housing enclosure. 當沿一方向移動滑動按鈕104 是把USB接頭106凸出殼體213之外, 當沿相反方向移動滑動按鈕104 是把USB接頭106收回殼體213之內		a detent release button (Fig. 2 - 211) coupled through an opening (Fig. 2 - 210) in the housing functional to release the detent mechanism, causing the USB connector to translate to the position outside the housing enclosure. 卡合解除機構透過殼體213的開口210耦合來解除卡合機構, 使USB接頭106移動到殼體外

Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理，2012/04

表二、系爭專利相關之訴訟案

表一、專利訴訟案件基本資料：專利授權公司Anu IP, LLC控告30家便攜式光學儲存媒體廠商

訴訟名稱	Anu IP, LLC v. JVC et al.
提告日期	2012年4月19日
原告	Anu IP, LLC
被告	AIPTEK International, Inc. of Taiwan (天翰) Aluratek, Inc. of Tustin, California Archos S.A. of France Archos, Inc. of Greenwood Village, Colorado Bluestar Alliance LLC of New York, New York Centon Electronics, Inc. of Aliso Viejo, California Coby Electronics Corporation of Lake Success, New York Corsair Memory, Inc. of Fremont, California Emtec Electronics, Inc. of Lew Center, Ohio General Imaging Company of Torrance, California Huawei Technology Company, Ltd. of China Iriver, Inc. of Irvine, California JVC Kenwood Corporation of Japan JVC Americas Corporation of Wayne, New Jersey Latte Communications, Inc. of San Jose, California Lexar Media, Inc. of Fremont, California Maxell Corporation of America, Inc. of Woodland Park, New Jersey Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. of Japan Office Depot, Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida Olympus Corporation of Japan Olympus Corporation of the Americas of Center Valley, Pennsylvania Option NV of Belgium Option, Inc. of Alpharetta, Georgia Panasonic Corporation of Japan Panasonic Corporation North America of Secaucus, New Jersey Patriot Memory LLC of Fremont, California Provantage LLC of North Canton, Ohio RITEK Corporation of Taiwan (錸德) Advanced Media, Inc. dba RITEK U.S.A. of Diamond Bar, California(錸德子公司) Sakar International, Inc. of Edison, New Jersey Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. of South Korea Samsung Electronics America of Ridgefield, New Jersey Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. of Japan Sanyo North America Corporation of San Diego, California Silicon Power Computer and Comm., Inc. of Taiwan (廣穎電通) Silicon Power Computer and Comm. USA, Inc. of Cupertino, California Supersonic, Inc. of Commerce, California Super Talent Technology Corporation of San Jose, California Toshiba Corporation of Japan Toshiba America, Inc. of New York, New York ViewSonic Corporation of Walnut, California VOXX International Corporation of Hauppauge, New York Audiovox Accessories Corporation of Carmel, Indiana Yamaha Corporation of Japan Yamaha Corporation of America of Buena Park, California
案號	337-TA-
訴訟法院	US ITC
系爭專利	US6979210、US7090515
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，2012/04