Universal Electronics, Inc. v. Universal Remote Control, Inc. (34 F. Supp. 3d 1061, 2014)

United States District Court for the Central District of California 2014-03-24

Patents

Citations

Full opinion text

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL, INC.’S OMNIBUS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

ANDREW J. GUILFORD, District Judge.

Defendant Universal Remote Control, Inc. (“Defendant”) moves for summary judgment on seven separate issues. Plaintiff Universal Electronics, Inc. (“Plaintiff’) opposes the Motion. The Motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff and Defendant are competitors in the universal remote control business. On March 2, 2012, Plaintiff filed this suit, alleging infringement of U.S. Patents Nos. 5,414,426 (“'426 Patent”), 5,614,906 (“'906 Patent”), 6,587,067 (“'067 Patent”), and 5,568,367 (“'367 Patent”). Both the '426 Patent and the '067 Patent have expired. On February 1, 2013, the Court issued its Claim Construction Order, 2013 WL 2356163, which invalidated the only relevant claim in the '367 Patent. On May 2, 2013, 943 F.Supp.2d 1028 (C.D.Cal.2013), the Court denied Defendant’s motion to stay the case pending inter partes review. On May 14, 2013, the Court denied Plaintiffs Motion for Reconsideration of Claim Construction. Defendant sought to file three summary judgment motions, with ov-erlength briefing. The Court denied Defendant the excessive length it sought, but allowed opening and opposition briefs of 45 pages, and a reply of 20 pages. Plaintiffs separate motion for summary judgment is addressed in an accompanying order. Trial is set for May 6, 2014.

LEGAL STANDARD

Summary judgment is appropriate where the record, read in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, shows that “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Material facts are those necessary to the proof or defense of a claim, as determined by reference to substantive law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A factual issue is genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Id. In deciding a motion for summary judgment, “[t]he evidence of the nonmovant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor.” Id. at 269, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

The burden initially is on the moving party to show an absence of a genuine issue of material fact or to demonstrate that the nonmoving party will be unable to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of its case for which it has the burden of proof. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. Only if the moving party meets its burden must the non-moving party produce evidence to rebut the moving party’s claim and create a genuine issue of material fact. Id. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If the non-moving party meets this burden, then the motion will be denied. Nissan Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Fritz Co., Inc., 210 F.3d 1099, 1103 (9th Cir.2000).

The legal standards applicable to each issue on which Defendant seeks summary judgment will be discussed in the appropriate portion of the Analysis section. ANALYSIS

1. LACHES, ESTOPPEL, AND IMPLIED LICENSE

Defendant argues that Plaintiff knew of Defendant’s alleged infringement of the '067 Patent and '426 Patent for over a decade before filing this action. (Mot. 3.) Defendant also argues that it has an implied license to the '426 Patent because (1) Plaintiff licensed U.S. Patent No. 5,959,751 (“'751 Patent”) to Defendant and (2) Defendant cannot practice the '751 Patent without practicing the '426 Patent because the patents claim the same subject matter. (Mot. 3-4.) Plaintiff responds that the lawsuit it filed against Defendant in 2000 (“2000 Litigation”) involved claims 1 and 4 of the '426 Patent, but not claims 2 and 3 of that patent, which are the claims at issue in this case. (Opp’n 2.) In the 2000 Litigation, Plaintiff dismissed its claim for infringement of the '426 Patent in 2002, and then in 2004, the parties entered into a settlement and license agreement for the “Patents-In-Suit.” (Opp’n 2, Decl. of Clarence Rowland In Snpp. of Mot. (“Rowland Decl.”) Exs. 16-17.) The parties agree that at the time, Plaintiff offered Defendant a license to other patents, including the '067 Patent, which Defendant declined. (Mot. 4-6, Opp’n 2-3.) But the parties dispute whether the '426 Patent was part of that offer, and whether it was impliedly licensed through the express license to the '751 Patent. (Mot. 4-6, Opp’n 2-3.)

1.1Laches ('426 Patent and '067 Patent)

1.1.1Legal Standard

“As equitable defenses, laches and equitable estoppel are matters committed to the sound discretion of the trial judge,” reviewed for abuse of discretion. A.C. Aukerman Co. v. R.L. Chaides Const. Co., 960 F.2d 1020, 1028 (Fed.Cir.1992) (en banc). “[L]aehes may be defined as the neglect or delay in bringing suit to remedy an alleged wrong, which taken together with lapse of time and other circumstances, causes prejudice to the adverse party and operates as an equitable bar.” Id. at 1028-29. Laches may operate to bar damages otherwise within the six year recovery period provided by 35 U.S.C. § 286. Id. at 1030.

[T]o invoke the laches defense, a defendant has the burden to prove two factors:

1. the plaintiff delayed filing suit for an unreasonable and inexcusable length of time from the time the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known of its claim against the defendant, and

2. the delay operated to the prejudice or injury of the defendant.

Id. at 1032. “Such prejudice may be either economic or evidentiary.” Id. at 1033. “Evidentiary, or ‘defense’ prejudice, may arise by reason of a defendant’s inability to present a full and fair defense on the merits due to the loss of records, the death of a witness, or the unreliability of memories of long past events, thereby undermining the court’s ability to judge the facts.” Id. Economic prejudice may arise where there is a “change in the economic position of the alleged infringer during the period of delay.” Id. “[Ejconomic prejudice is not a simple concept but rather is likely to be a slippery issue to resolve.” Id. “A court must also consider and weigh any justification offered by the plaintiff for its delay.” Id. (providing non-exhaustive list of justifications).

“A patentee may also defeat a laches defense if the infringer has engaged in particularly egregious conduct which would change the equities significantly in plaintiffs favor.” Id. (internal citations and quotations omitted). “Conscious copying may be such a factor weighing against the defendant, whereas ignorance or a good faith belief in the merits of a defense may tilt matters in its favor.” Id. In patent cases, there is a presumption of laches where the patentee delayed filing suit for more than six years after actual or constructive knowledge of the infringement. Id. at 1035-36. Laches must be shown by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. at 1045.

1.1.2The Reasonableness of Plaintiffs Delay

Defendant argues that although the '067 Patent was specifically referenced in the 2004 license as a “UEI Related Patent” that potentially could be the subject of an infringement action in the future, and although Plaintiff had full knowledge of Defendant’s product line, Plaintiff delayed suing for infringement of the '067 Patent. Plaintiff filed suit in March 2012, more than seven years after the 2004 license and almost five years after the '067 Patent expired. (Mot. 6, Rowland Decl. Ex. 16 §§ 1.8, 3.5.) Plaintiff accused Defendant of infringing the '426 Patent on March 1, 2010. (Mot. 6, Rowland Decl. Ex. 18.) Defendant argues that Plaintiff admitted that it keeps abreast of its competitor’s products, has encountered Defendant’s products many times over the years, and has investigated Defendant for reasons concerning competitive bidding processes. (Mot. 8 (citing Sept. 12, 2013 Deposition of Pat Hayes (“Sept. 12, 2013 Hayes Dep.”) 448:3-9, Rowland Decl. Ex. 81).)

Defendant’s quotation ends at page 448, line 9 of the deposition, but lines 10-22 undercut the idea that Plaintiff knew of Defendant’s activities that might infringe the ’067 Patent “for years” before filing this action. Specifically, the following question and answer revealed that the only time the deponent could recall Plaintiff “investigating what URC was doing” “as part if its ... due diligence and in trying to position itself as well as possible” in competitive business processes was in 2010, when Defendant was promoting a feature called “Quick Step” or “Quick Set.” (Sept. 12, 2013 Hayes Dep. 448:10-22, Rowland Decl. Ex. 81.)

Defendant also argues that Plaintiff had constructive notice because Defendant’s sale of millions of remote control devices and website describing many of the accused products rendered the allegedly infringing activity “sufficiently prevalent in the inventor’s field of endeavor.” (Mot. 8 (quoting Wanlass v. Gen. Elec. Co., 148 F.3d 1334, 1338 (Fed.Cir.1998) (“[Tjhe law is well settled that where the question of laches is in issue the plaintiff is chargeable with such knowledge as he might have obtained upon inquiry, provided the facts already known by him were such as to put upon a man of ordinary intelligence the duty of inquiry.”)).) While Plaintiff has narrowed its infringement contentions by dropping its claims against Defendant’s earlier products, Defendant argues that the withdrawal of infringement contentions against earlier products cannot “unring the bell” as to laches. (Mot. 9 (citing St. Clair Intellectual Prop. Consultants, Inc. v. Acer, Inc., 961 F.Supp.2d 610, 614-15 (D.Del.2013)).) Therefore, Defendant argues, Plaintiffs delay of nearly ten years on the '426 Patent and over seven years on the '067 Patent triggers a presumption of laches. (Mot. 9-10.)

Defendant argues that Plaintiff cannot rebut the presumption that its delay was inexcusable because Plaintiff’s proposed excuses are that (1) it “conducted little or no analyses of [Defendant’s] products as to avoid disrupting the parties’ [2004 License] agreement” (Mot. 10 (quoting Plaintiffs Response to Interrogatory No. 2, Rowland Decl. Ex. 24), and (2) the '067 Patent was being reexamined from 2006-2011 (Mot. 11 (citing Response to Interrogatory No. 24, Rowland Decl. Ex. 26 (the Court was unable to locate any reference to a reexamination in that Interrogatory response-perhaps the relevant portion of the response was not submitted in the exhibit)).)) As to the first excuse, Defendant argues that turning a blind eye to infringement is the opposite of diligence, and as to the second excuse, Defendant argues that Plaintiff provided it no notice of the reexamination or Plaintiffs eventual intent to sue after its conclusion. (Mot. 10-11.)

Plaintiff responds that its delay was reasonable because after settling the 2000 Litigation in 2004 through a license, Plaintiff proceeded with its business believing that Defendant “was operating in accordance with its license agreement, and building product using the license[d] technologies as intended under the settlement agreement.” (Opp’n 3 (quoting Sept. 12, 2013 Hayes Dep. 423-24, Decl. of Brian Haan In Supp. of Opp’n (“Haan Decl”) Ex. 8).) Plaintiff argues that it became aware of Defendant’s possible infringement in 2010, when one of Plaintiffs executives brought two remote controls to the attention of Plaintiffs counsel, and that it only began analyzing infringement of the '067 Patent after it emerged from reexamination in February 2011. (Opp’n 3, 5 (citing Pl.’s Response to Interrogatory No. 287, Rowland Decl. Ex. 26, Sept. 12, 2013 Hayes Dep. 421-22, Haan Decl. Ex. 8).)

Plaintiff argues that it is not asserting infringement in this case against any products identified in its October 1997 notice letter, which was the prelude to the 2000 Litigation. (Opp’n 3.) It argues that none of the accused remotes in the 2000 Litigation included the “rotating favorite channel macro” feature found in the currently accused products, and that Defendant first introduced that feature in 2007. (Opp’n 3.) It argues that the rotating favorite channel macro (1) is required for infringement of claims 2 and 3 of the '426 Patent, which were-not asserted in the 2000 Litigation, (2) require more structure than claim 1 of the '426 Patent, and (3) were invented five years later than claim 1 of the '426 Patent. (Opp’n 3-4 (citing claim chart from 2000 Litigation 89-90, Rowland Decl. Ex. 9, Sept. 17, 2013 Deposition of Chang K. Park 454-456, Haan Decl. Ex 10).) The distinction between the various claims of the '426 Patent is discussed further in Section 1.3, in the context of analyzing whether Defendant has an implied license to the '426 Patent.

Defendant responds that Plaintiff originally accused pre-2006 products in this suit, and that its withdrawal of those products from the lawsuit in September 2013 cannot solve the laches problem. (Reply 2 (citing St. Clair Intellectual Prop. Consultants, Inc. v. Acer, Inc., 961 F.Supp.2d 610 (D.Del.2013)).) But in St. Clair, the court held that the plaintiffs narrowing of its infringement contentions did not avoid laches where the narrowing was not based on any information unavailable before the beginning of the laches period, and that the “record does not contain evidence from which a reasonable factfinder could conclude that changes were made to the accused products which would trigger a new laches period.” St. Clair, 961 F.Supp.2d at 617. Here, there are such disputes, and allegations that there were product changes during the laches period.

Plaintiff argues that once it became aware of Defendant’s infringement in 2010, it promptly conducted an investigation and sent notice letters in March 2010 and May 2011, and then filed suit in early 2012. (Opp’n 8 (citing notice letters, Rowland Deck Exs. 18 and 20).)

Defendant has not shown an absence of genuine dispute that Plaintiff knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have known before 2010 that Defendant was selling products that utilized Plaintiffs patents beyond those that Defendant licensed in 2004. That is particularly so since Defendant could have taken, but chose not to take, a license to either the '426 or '067 Patent in 2004. Plaintiffs evidence, which must be credited on summary judgment, shows that it believed that Defendant was operating within the parameters of the license. See Gasser Chair Co. v. Infanti Chair Mfg. Corp., 60 F.3d 770, 774 (Fed.Cir.1995) (holding that pat-entee’s testimony of his belief that the defendant would comply with a 1979 agreement supported the reasonable inference that patentee had no reason to sue until at least 1986, when patentee saw evidence of infringement). Nor has Defendant shown the absence of a genuine dispute concerning whether the delay between Plaintiffs 2010 discovery of the infringement and the 2012 suit was unreasonable.

1.1.3 Prejudice from the Delay

Given the Court’s determination in Section 1.1.2, the Court need not evaluate prejudice, but does so in the interest of completeness. As to economic prejudice, Defendant argues that it was “lulled ... into a false sense of security.” (Mot. 12, 14.) But Defendant does not show what it would have done differently. As to eviden-tiary prejudice, Defendant argues that evidence relating to Plaintiff’s petitioning the PTO to add a Mr. Darbee as a named inventor on the '426 Patent has been lost. (Mot. 11-12.) Plaintiff petitioned for correction ten years after Plaintiff stated its intention to do so, and Darbee’s death in September 2013 makes him unavailable for trial. (Mot. 11-12.) Further, Defendant argues that the memories of witnesses concerning the invention of a patent filed in 1992 will have faded, and notes Plaintiffs position that Plaintiffs emails generated before 2006 were not reasonably accessible. (Mot. 11-12 (citing October 2013 discovery correspondence, Rowland Decl. Ex. 62).) Defendant also contends that it has suffered economic prejudice from the loss of investment and claims for damages which could have been avoided if Plaintiff had filed suit within a reasonable period of time. (Mot. 12.)

Plaintiff responds that Darbee’s death does not prejudice Defendant because Defendant took Darbee’s full-day deposition on September 16, 2013, and Defendant has not specified any fact that could have been proved by Darby’s trial testimony. (Opp’n 10.) Plaintiff further argues that Defendant did not depose two co-inventors of the '426 Patent, O’Donnell and Luo, and failed to pursue the depositions of patent attorneys after serving subpoenas on them. (Opp’n 10 (citing subpoenas, Haan Decl. Ex. 20).) Plaintiff points out that it offered to share the cost of trying to restore its pre-2006 emails for production, but Defendant declined. (Opp’n 10 (citing discovery correspondence, Rowland Decl. Ex. 62) (any offer by Plaintiff to share in the cost of restoration does not seem to appear in this particular correspondence chain)). And Plaintiff correctly points out that Defendant’s assertion of economic prejudice is conclusory, as Defendant presents no evidence that it would have acted differently had suit been brought earlier. (Opp’n 10-11.)

The testimony of unavailable trial witnesses is commonly presented by deposition. Defendant can so present Darbee’s testimony, and has not specifically shown that the passage of time has otherwise caused it evidentiary prejudice. For example, it appears that Defendant has not obtained the available testimony of other co-inventors. As to the unavailable pre-2006 email, the estimated cost of restoration was $30,000. (Sept. 25, 2013 discovery correspondence, Rowland Decl. Ex. 62.)

While not a trivial amount, $30,000 is not outsized in the context of patent litigation e-discovery or the amount at issue here. Defendant’s decision not to incur the cost shows that Defendant itself believed that the expected value of the information, in terms of supporting Defendant’s positions, was less than $30,000 — or if higher, that it was less than the expected value of using the uncertainty about what might have been obtained as an argument in favor of laches. (See Oct. 2, 2013 discovery correspondence, Rowland Decl. Ex. 62 (Defendant declines to proceed with the email restoration, and instead “stand[s] by its position that the unavailability of this important discovery constitutes substantial evidentiary prejudice to [Defendant's defense of this suit.”).)

The Court finds that Defendant has not shown the absence of a genuine issue concerning prejudice from the delay.

1.2 Equitable Estoppel ('426 Patent)

1.2.1 Legal Standard

Equitable estoppel is a defense addressed to the sound discretion of the district court. AC. Aukerman, 960 F.2d at 1041. “Where there has been contact or a relationship between the parties during the delay period which may give rise to an inference that the plaintiff has abandoned its claim against the defendant, the facts may lend themselves to analysis under principles of equitable estoppel,” which is a defense that “focuses on what the defendant has been led to reasonably believe from the plaintiffs conduct.” Id. at 1034.

An [equitable] estoppel case ... has three important elements. [1] The actor, who usually must have knowledge of the true facts, communicates something in a misleading way, either by words, conduct or silence. [2] The other relies upon that communication. [3] And the other would be harmed materially if the actor is later permitted to assert any claim inconsistent with his earlier conduct.

Id. at 1041 (quoting Remedies § 2.3, at 42). In a patent case, the misleading message conveyed by words or silence is that the patentee did not intend to press an infringement claim. Id. at 1042. “In the most common situation, the patentee specifically objects to the activities currently asserted as infringement in the suit and then does not follow up for years.” Id. To satisfy the reliance element, the accused infringer must show that it substantially relied on the patentee’s misleading conduct in taking some action. Id. at 1042-43. The harm element can be shown through a change of economic position or loss of evidence. Id. at 1043. Finally, the court must consider any other facts bearing on the equities of the parties. Id.

While equitable estoppel may be determined on summary judgment, the inference that the patentee’s conduct communicated that the patentee was not going to enforce the patent “must be the only possible inference from the evidence.” Id. at 1043-44. Equitable estoppel must be shown by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. at 1045.

1.2.2 Application

Defendant argues that Plaintiffs 2002 dismissal of the '426 Patent with prejudice from the 2000 Litigation constituted a misleading communication that Plaintiff did not intend to sue for infringement of that patent. (Mot. 13.) After being confronted with potentially invalidating prior art in the 2000 Litigation, Plaintiff responded that it could overcome the prior art by adding Darbee as an inventor. (Mot. 13.) But instead of doing so, Plaintiff dismissed the '426 Patent from the case, leading Defendant to believe that Plaintiff could not add Darbee as an inventor and that Plaintiff recognized the invalidity of the claims without Darbee’s co-inventorship. (Mot. 13.) Plaintiff disputes that those circumstances communicated its intention not to assert the '426 Patent, particularly because Defendant was not aware that Plaintiff did not petition to correct inventorship (which Plaintiff finally did in 2012, 10 years after the issue arose). (Opp’n 12.)

Plaintiffs actions and inaction communicated that it did not intend to assert the '426 Patent. Plaintiff acknowledged the merit of the invalidity argument Defendant raised in the 2000 Litigation, but stated that it could be overcome by adding Dar-bee as an inventor. Instead of doing so, Plaintiff dismissed the patent from the case, which reasonably gave rise to the inference that it was unable to add Darbee as an inventor. Further, in resolving the 2000 Litigation by settlement in 2004 (Rowland Decl. Ex. 16), Plaintiff did not inform Defendant that it needed to take a license to the '426 Patent to resolve the dispute. While the '426 Patent had been dropped from the case earlier, if inventor-ship was going to be corrected as Plaintiff stated in its July 23, 2002 letter (Rowland Decl. Ex. 14 3), then it would have been logical to include it in the settlement and license agreement. But Plaintiff did not even raise that issue. While the '426 Patent was not specifically raised one way or the other, given the totality of the circumstances, the only possible inference is that Defendant was led to reasonably believe that Plaintiff did not intend to assert the '426 Patent.

Defendant also argues that because the licensed '751 Patent covers the same subject matter as the '426 Patent, it believed that Plaintiff would not assert the '426 Patent. (Mot. 13.) That argument is better considered in evaluating Defendant’s implied license defense, which the Court does in Section 1.3.

As to reliance, Defendant argues that it relied on these misleading communications by continuing to invest in, and by selling millions of, remote controls that included the accused rotating channel feature. (Mot. 14.) Plaintiff responds that Defendant’s CEO testified that Defendant always believed that the '426 Patent was invalid and so would not have done anything differently even if Plaintiff sued in 2006. (Opp’n 11.) Plaintiff provides no evidentiary citation for that assertion, but may have intended to cite to the September 17, 2013 Deposition of Chang K. Park, which includes the following exchange:

Q: Can you identify for me any business decisions or design decisions of the actual physical products themselves that URC has made after being told by UEI that it believed URC was infringing the 426 patent?

[objection]

A: UEI patent is the software issue, not a hardware issue, so in terms of hardware design itself is irrelevant in this lawsuit.

Q: Okay. Well, tell me any software changes URC has asked Ohsung or itself has taken after receiving notice from UEI that UEI believed URC was infringing its 426 patent.

[objection]

A: I do not recall making any request to change on 426 issue.

(Haan Decl. Ex. 10 244). While this exchange might suggest a lack of reliance, it does not address the fact that the '426 Patent expired on May 9, 2012, only two years after Plaintiffs notice letter, and only two months after the Complaint. If it was reasonable for Plaintiff to delay filing suit for two years, then it may have been reasonable for Defendant to take the same amount of time to act on the issue, and by that time, the '426 Patent had expired. As such, Park’s deposition testimony does not demonstrate lack of reliance. But neither has Defendant come forward with actual facts demonstrating reliance, as is its burden. It instead relied on the notion that it would have done something differently, but has not explained precisely, or submitted evidence showing, what course of action it would have taken. Defendant has therefore not demonstrated the absence of a genuine issue of material fact concerning its affirmative defense of equitable estop-pel.

1.3 Implied License/Legal Estoppel ('426 Patent)

1.3.1 Legal Standard

“Legal estoppel refers to a narrow[] category of conduct encompassing scenarios where a patentee has licensed or assigned a right, received consideration, and then sought to derogate from the right granted.” TransCore, LP v. Elec. Transaction Consultants Corp., 563 F.3d 1271, 1279 (Fed.Cir.2009) (citing Wang Labs., Inc. v. Mitsubishi Elecs. Am,., Inc., 103 F.3d 1571, 1581 (Fed.Cir.1997)). The development of the doctrine in the patent context has an interesting trajectory. In AMP Inc. v. United States, the court held that:

[W]hen a person sells a patent which employs an invention which infringes a prior patent, the person selling is es-topped from bringing an action against his grantee for that infringement, even though the earlier patent is acquired after the sale of the later patent. The same principle applies to the grant of a patent right by license as well as assignment.

389 F.2d 448, 451 (Ct.Cl.1968). Picking up that strain many years later, the Federal Circuit in TransCore expanded the doctrine, holding that whether the later-acquired patent existed before the licensed patent was a distinction without a difference, and that an implied license arose when the asserted patent was broader than, and thus necessary to practice, the licensed patent. 563 F.3d at 1279. Because the non-Iicensed patent in Trans-Core was “broader than, and necessary to practice” the licensed patent, the court concluded that the patentee was legally estopped from asserting it, and had granted an implied license. Id. That was so even though the license stated that it did not apply to any other patents to be issued in the future, because while that language was generally operative, it did not permit the patentee to derogate from the rights it expressly granted. Id.

Two years later, the Federal Circuit expanded the doctrine again. Gen. Protecht Grp., Inc. v. Leviton Mfg. Co., Inc., 651 F.3d 1355 (Fed.Cir.2011). In General Pro-techt, the patentee argued that the doctrine did not apply because at least some claims of its continuation patents were narrower than the previously asserted claims, so denying an implied license would not derogate from the right to practice the licensed claims. Id. at 1361. The paten-tee pointed to specific limitations in the asserted patents that did not appear in the licensed claims. Id. The Federal Circuit rejected the patentee’s argument, finding that the continuation patents were based on the same disclosure as the licensed patents, and by definition, could not claim any invention not already supported in the earlier issued patents. Id. General Pro-techt thus expanded TransCore by holding that the relative breadth of the patents was not controlling, and that narrower claims could be subject to the implied license, at least where the patents share the same disclosure. 651 F.3d at 1362.

General Protecht’s focus on the patents’ disclosure, rather than their claims, is somewhat anomalous given the law, stated in the case upon which General Protecht relies, that “the grant of a patent does not provide the patentee with an affirmative right to practice the patent but merely the right to exclude,” TransCore, 563 F.3d at 1275, coupled with the “ ‘bedrock principle’ of patent law that ‘the claims of a patent define the invention to which the patentee is entitled the right to exclude.’ ” Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312 (Fed. Cir.2005) (quoting Innova/Pure Water, Inc. v. Safari Water Filtration Sys., Inc., 381 F.3d 1111, 1115 (Fed.Cir.2004)). Also curious is General Protecht’s conclusion that it “reasonably follows” from Trans-Core that where “continuations issue from parent patents that previously have been licensed as to certain products, it may be presumed that, absent a clear indication of mutual intent to the contrary, those products are impliedly licensed under the continuations as well.” 651 F.3d at 1361. TransCore specifically turned on the relative breadth of the claims, not the mere fact that the patents bore a specific familial relationship. So whether or not General Protecht is sound policy, it is hard to say it “reasonably follows” from Trans-Core.

Finally, General Protecht stated that it was merely articulating an interpretive presumption that “parties are free to contract around.” Id. Yet, it held unavailing the provisions of the license expressly preserving the patentee’s “right to sue on related patents,” although it did not quote those provisions or discuss them in detail. Id. While not outcome determinative here, General Protecht may have implications for the Federal Circuit’s concern for “predictability in the resolution of patent disputes,” Lighting Ballast Control LLC v. Philips Electronics N. Am. Corp., 744 F.3d 1272 (Fed.Cir.2014), and predictability in patent licensing.

1.8.2 Application

Defendant argues that by licensing the '751 Patent in the 2004 License, it received an implied license to the '426 Patent. (Mot. 14.) Both patents share a common ancestor application, No. 07/586,957, filed in 1990 (“'957 Application”), which is a continuation of the application that resulted in U.S. Patent No. 4,959,810 to Darbee (“'810 Patent”). The application resulting in the '426 Patent was filed as a continuation-in-part of the '957 Application in 1992, meaning that it contained a portion or all of the disclosure of the '957 Application / '810 Patent together with added matter not present in the those documents. PowerOasis, Inc. v. T-Mobile USA Inc., 522 F.3d 1299, 1304, n. 3 (Fed.Cir.2008). The application resulting in the '751 Patent was filed in 1997 as part of a chain of continuation and divisional applications of the '957 Application, meaning that its disclosure contains no new matter absent from the '957 Application or '810 Patent. Id.; Pfizer, Inc. v. Teva Pharm. USA Inc., 518 F.3d 1353, 1359 (Fed.Cir.2008).

The 2004 License specifically licenses only the “UEI Patents-In-Suit,” defined as a list of four patents that included the '751 Patent, but did not include the '426 Patent. (Rowland Decl. Ex. 16 ¶ 1.7.) The 2004 License specifically excludes the “UEI Related Patents,” defined as “any patent or patents that are based on a continuation or divisional application of the UEI Patents-in-suit ... including but not limited to U.S. Patent Nos. 6,587,067 and 6,496,135.” (Rowland Decl. Ex. 16 ¶ 1.8.) The '426 Patent undisputably falls into that category, although listing it might have simplified the issues to be addressed here. Because the '426 Patent was not expressly licensed in the 2004 License, we must examine whether asserting it would allow Plaintiff to “derogate from the rights it has expressly granted.” TransCore, 563 F.3d at 1279.

Defendant argues that Plaintiffs assertion of the '426 Patent derogates from its rights under the 2004 License because Defendant cannot practice the '426 Patent without also practicing the '751 Patent. (Mot. 15.) Under TransCore, that argument would be backwards: Defendant has an express license to the '751 Patent. It would only necessarily derogate from the license to the '751 Patent if Defendant could not practice the '751 Patent without infringing the '426 Patent, or perhaps if a significant portion of the activity covered by the '751 Patent would infringe the '426 Patent, which Defendant has not demonstrated here. (See Mot. 15 (“if one patent is ‘broader than, and necessary to practice’ a licensed patent, then the licensee ‘must be permitted to practice’ this broader patent’ ” (emphasis added, quoting TransCore, 563 F.3d at 1279)).) The question is whether Defendant remains free to practice the '751 Patent without infringing the '426 Patent.

As would be expected due to their partially shared disclosure, there are some similarities between the '751 and '426 Patents. Contrary to Plaintiffs arguments, the similarity extends to claim 1 of the '426 Patent and claim 7 of the '751 Patent. Plaintiffs expert, Burke, presents a comparison of the language of those claims, pointing out that claim 1 of the '426 Patent is narrower than claim 7 of the '751 Patent. (Deck of Shawn Burke (“Burke Deck”) Ex. B 175-176.) For example, Burke presents a comparison of corresponding clauses from each claim:

_'751 Patent claim 7_'426 Patent claim 1 _

transmission circuitry coupled to said micro- IR lamp driver circuitry coupled to said mi-processor croprocessor; light emitting means for generating and emitting IR signals coupled to .said IR lamp driver circuitry

(Burke Deck Ex. B 175.) Burke then argues that the scope of '751 Patent claim 7 is narrower than that of '426 Patent claim 1, because it speaks of transmission circuitry in terms that could include RF wireless or wired circuitry, while the '426 Patent claim 1 is limited to infrared transmission. (Burke Deck Ex. B 175.) But Burke does not compare, under General Protecht, the disclosure of the '751 Patent to "426 Patent claim 1. So, while Burke makes an accurate observation, he ignores that in the .'751 Patent’s disclosure, infrared transmission circuitry is the primary, and perhaps only, form of transmission circuitry disclosed. Similar observations can be made regarding the other distinctions Burke draws between the claims. Therefore, it appears that Defendant does have an implied license to claim 1 of the '426 Patent under General Protecht

But Plaintiffs opposition wisely focuses on '426 Patent claims 2 and 3, and Defendant must show that it has an implied license to the specific subject matter of those claims. Plaintiff argues that their subject matter was added years after the '810 Patent. (Opp’n 14.) Plaintiffs expert argues:

Irrespective of whether Claim 1 of the '426 Patent has a different scope than Claim 7 of the '751 Patent, as a Continuation in part the '426 patent, in particular Claims 2 and 3, disclose specific inventive structure (rotating favorite channel macros) not taught or suggested in '751 Patent Claim 7, or embodied in '426 Patent Claim 1.

(Burke Deck Ex. B 176-177.) Defendant’s expert agrees with this analysis, which supports Defendant’s invalidity theory. (Bristow Rep., Haan Deck Ex. 21 30-31 (“These statement in the '426 Patent are admissions that ‘parts of the favorite channel macro program and of the rotating macro program’ are new matter in the '426 Patent over what was disclosed in the Dar-bee '810 Patent”; “Darbee[ ] admitted during his deposition ... that the subject matter of asserted claims 2-3 was Mr. O’Donnell’s idea and that it was not contemplated until 1992.”).)

Despite that distinction, Defendant now argues that “UEI admitted in deposition that the '426 and '751 patents are indistinct and that practicing the '426 patent requires practicing the '751 patent.” (Mot. 15 (citing Sept. 12, 2013 Hayes Dep. 454:13-455:4, 470:15-25, 481:1-8, Rowland Deck Ex. 81).) Again, while the '751 Patent is broader than the '426 Patent, such that practicing the narrower '426 Patent may involve practicing the '751 Patent, that does not suffice — because it is backwards — under TransCore. Under General Protecht, the cited deposition testimony-does not support the proposition that the patents are “indistinct.” Instead, Plaintiffs witness, Hayes, drew a distinction between different types of favorite channel buttons, only some of which are within the scope of the '751 Patent (Sept. 12, 2013 Hayes Dep. 454:13-455:4, Rowland Decl. Ex. 81), and testified that programming a single macro would be covered both by the '751 Patent and claim 1 of the '426 patent, but that programming more than one macro would be covered by claims 2 and 3 of the '426 Patent, and not at all by the '751 Patent. (Hayes Dep. 470:15-471:8.)

Finally, the fact cited by Defendant that some of Plaintiffs internal product specifications list both patents under the rotating macro function discussion (Mot. 15) is far too slender a reed to support a jury’s finding of implied license in light of the language of the 2004 License and the actual relationship between the patents. This is particularly so since the '426 Patent uses the term “rotating macro” seven times, while the '751 Patent never does so. If the functionality were described in the '751 Patent through other words, Defendant could have pointed that out, but it did not.

Defendant has not shown its entitlement to summary judgment of an implied license to claims 2 and 3 of the '426 Patent, even under a General Protecht analysis of the disclosure, rather than the claims, of the patents. To the contrary, Plaintiff has shown that there is no genuine issue that Defendant does not have a license to the '426 Patent, and for the reasons already discussed, the Court will grant summary judgment to Plaintiff on that issue in the accompanying Order on Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment.

1.4 Conclusion

As to issue 1, laches, equitable estoppel, and implied license, the Motion is DENIED.

2. INVALIDITY OF THE '426 PATENT

While Defendant’s brief addresses invalidity of the '426 Patent before noninfringement of that patent, it treats invalidity as a backup or footnote to its noninfringement argument. That is, Defendant does not attempt to show that all the elements of the challenged claims are found in the prior art reference, but instead argues that if Plaintiffs evidence is enough to show infringement, the same approach also shows invalidity: “With regard to the remaining structure ... the Court should find that [Plaintiff and its expert] have failed to show infringement as a matter of law.... If, however, the Court believes that [Plaintiffs] approach to the infringement analysis of this ‘means’ limitation is correct, then that same approach must apply to any analysis of [the prior art].” (Mot. 20-21.) With that in mind, the Court treats the issues in the same order as Defendant, both for ease of reference and because considering the invalidity issues first does help to illuminate some of the noninfringement issues.

2.1 Legal Standard

Claims of issued United States patents are presumed valid. 35 U.S.C. § 282. “A party seeking to establish that particular claims are invalid must overcome the presumption of validity in 35 U.S.C. § 282 by clear and convincing evidence.” State Contracting & Eng’g Corp. v. Condotte Am., Inc., 346 F.3d 1057, 1067 (Fed.Cir.2003). “Although an exact definition is elusive, ‘clear and convincing evidence’ has been described as evidence that ‘plaee[s] in the ultimate factfinder an abiding conviction that the truth of its factual contentions are highly probable.’ ” Pfizer, Inc. v. Apotex, Inc., 480 F.3d 1348, 1359 n. 5 (Fed.Cir.2007) (quoting Cobrado v. New Mexico, 467 U.S. 310, 316, 104 S.Ct. 2433, 81 L.Ed.2d 247 (1984)).

2.2 Application

2.2.1 The Asserted Claims

Plaintiff asserts infringement of claims 2 and 3 of the '426 Patent, both of which depend from claim 1. All three are reproduced here:

1.A remote control comprising:

a microprocessor including a CPU and memory means;

a keyboard coupled to said microprocessor and including a set of keys including at least one MACRO key;

IR lamp driver circuitry coupled to said microprocessor;

light emitting means for generating and emitting IR signals coupled to said IR lamp driver circuitry;

code data stored in said memory means for creating the IR signals, which are sent by said light emitting means to a controlled device to cause the controlled device to perform specific command functions;

a macro entry/definition program in said memory means for enabling a user of said remote control to define a macro for selecting at least one favorite channel by entry of a series of keystroke commands on said keyboard; and,

a macro playback program in said memory means for enabling an operator of said remote control to effect rapid selection of at least one favorite channel upon subsequent depression of said at least one MACRO key.

2. The remote control of claim 1 wherein said macro entry/definition program includes means for establishing and recalling three selected channels upon depression of a predetermined series of keystrokes and the at least one MACRO key.

3. The remote control of claim 2 wherein said keyboard further includes specific keys designated to initiate macro definition and strokes of said specific keys define the predetermined series of keystrokes.

The parties have stipulated that in claim 2, the “means for establishing and recalling three selected channels upon depression of a predetermined series of keystrokes and the at least one MACRO key” are the “instructions shown in Figs. 4 & 5” of the '426 Patent. (Jt. Claim Construction Chart 2, Dkt. No. 56.)

Figure 4, at right, “is a flow chart of the steps performed by a macro entry definition program stored in the remote control and entitled: ROTATING MACROS: entry and definition.” ('426 Patent 3:15-18.)

Figure 5, at right, “is a flow chart of the steps performed by a macro playback program stored in the remote control and entitled: MACRO: playback.” ('426 Patent 3:19-21.)

The parties have also agreed that a “MACRO key” is a “key which can be assigned a macro program for effecting a sequence of functions with one stroke of that key and/or rotating functions on successive depressions of that key.” (Jt. Claim Con-struetion Chart 2, Dkt. No. 56.) The parties agree that “a macro entry/definition program” is “a program that enables a user to create and define a macro.” (Jt. Claim Construction Chart 1, Dkt. No. 56.)

2.2.2 The Memorex Prior Art

Defendant argues that the asserted claims of the '426 Patent are invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as anticipated or under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as obvious in light of a prior art remote control by Memorex and publications describing that remote (“Memorex”). (Mot. 15-17.) The parties dispute whether Memorex assigns a macro program to a MACRO key “for establishing and recalling three selected channels upon depression of a predetermined series of keystrokes and the at least one MACRO key” using the processes described by Figures 4 and 5. (Opp’n 14.)

Defendant argues that Memorex includes a macro, which Memorex calls a “favorite channel feature,” that allows up to 32 favorite channels to be defined and then allows a user' to sequence through those channels. . (Mot. 14 (citing Memorex product manual, Rowland Deck Ex. 70 24-26).) Defendant argues that for “macro entry,” Memorex teaches “a step-by-step way of entering or defining favorite channels into the remote control’s memory using two keys (‘[LEARN]’ and ‘[FAVORITE]’) along with channel number keys,” and “using specific keys to playback or retrieve the favorite channels.” (Mot. 18.) Defendant argues that Plaintiff’s expert, Burke, admitted that the Memorex Manual disclosed the components necessary for the Memorex remote to perform the favorite channel feature and macro entry. (Mot. 18-19 (citing Jan. 30, 2014 Deposition of Shawn Burke (“Burke Dep.”) 218:13-18, 222:22-223:7, Rowland Deck Ex. 480).) Essentially, Burke simply agreed that the Memorex Manual says what it says, and that he had no other understanding of what it meant.

Those “step-by-step way” and “using specific keys” are explained in the Memo-rex manual as follows:

(Rowland Decl. Ex. 70 24-25.)

Because the parties have agreed that the “means” for establishing three selected channels are the instructions in Figures 4 and 5, the question concerning anticipation is whether Memorex contains the instructions in those figures. A direct comparison is complicated by the fact that Figures 4 and 5 are written from the perspective of the remote control, while the Memorex instructions are written from the perspective of the human operator. Rewriting the patent figure from the perspective of the human operator obscures certain important details that will be discussed, but provides a helpful overview of the similarities and differences between the processes. We will start with Figure 5, assuming remote controls that have already been programmed with three favorite channels:

'426 Patent Fig. 5 (Operator View)

Using Memorex Favorite Channel

1.Press MACRO key: remote transmits the first channel from your stored list of three. [Remote increments playback rotation count, and if that results in rotation count being four, returns it to 1,1

1.Press [FAVORITE], The FAVORITE indicator appears.

2.Press MACRO key: remote transmits the second channel from your stored list of three. [Remote increments playback rotation count, and if that results in rotation count being four, returns it to 1.]

2.When you press CHANNEL [A] or [V], the Turbo transmits the channels from your favorite channel-list, instead of the normal CHANNEL [ A][ V] command codes.

3.Press MACRO key: remote transmits the third channel from your stored list of three. [Remote increments playback rotation count, and if that results in rotation count being four, returns it to 1.] [Repeat as many times as you like.l

3.Use the SELECT [*-] or [-»] keys to change devices. The favorite channel list becomes active for any device that you select.

4.To perform other functions, just press another key on the remote.

4.Press [FAVORITE] or [CANCEL] to leave the favorite-channel mode without changing your entries.

Certain differences are apparent. Returning to the remote control’s perspective, in Figure 5, the remote responds to the press of the MACRO key by fetching the playback rotation count for that key (that is, whether it is the first, second, or third press of the key), retrieving the channel stored for whichever of the three rotation count positions has just been referenced, transmitting that channel, and updating the rotation count, returning, it to 1 if it has reached 4. ('426 Patent, Fig. 5.) By contrast, Memorex uses two (or optionally, three) different buttons to rotate through the favorite channels. Pressing the [FAVORITE] button alone does not result in the transmission of a favorite channel. Instead, the remote only does so after both [FAVORITE] and [A] or [Y] are pressed. From the evidence presented, it is unknown whether Memorex updates the rotation count with each press. We now turn to a comparison of (Figure 4 with programming Memorex:

'426 Patent Fig. 4 (Operator View)

Memorex Favorite Channel Selection

1.Press “I” Key, then “HI” Key.

2.Press MACRO key. [Remote fetches rotation count for that key and prepares to record a channel to that rotation count position.l

3.Enter channel. Once channel entry is completed, press “I” Key, then “HI” Key, to store channel selected. [Remote stores channel in rotation count position, increases rotation count by 1, and if that results in rotation count being four, returns it to 1.]

1.Press [LEARN]. The LEARN indicator appears. SELECT and KEY alternat[l]ey appear on the display.

2.Press [FAVORITE], The FAVORITE indicator appears and CHN* * appears on the display.

3.Enter your two-digit favorite-channel. Example: If you press 04, CHN 04 appears on the display.

4. Repeat step 3 as many times as you want, but only the last three channels will be stored. [A specific channel macro can be deleted by selecting the macro, then pressing the “I” Key, the “0” Key, followed by the “III” Key.]

4. Repeat Step 3 to continue adding your favorite channels, up to 32 channels. Note: if the Turbo stops accepting favorite channels, press [STORE],

5. When you finish adding channels to the favorite channel list, press [STORE]. [Channels can be deleted by using the delete button.] .

The parties dispute the significance of these differences, and whether it means that Memorex has a “MACRO key” as jointly defined by the parties: “A key which can be assigned a macro program for effecting a sequence of functions with one stroke of that key and/or rotating functions on successive depressions of that key.” (Jt. Claim Construction Chart 1, Dkt. No. 56.)

Defendant correctly argues that the Darbee '810 Patent, incorporated by reference into the '426 Patent, teaches that channel-up and channel-down keys can be macro keys. (Mot. 20, Rowland Decl. Ex. 69 at 16:42-59, 17:28-32.) Plaintiff responds that Figure 4, in conjunction with the parties’ definition, requires “a single key that is assigned a macro program for establishing and recalling three selected channels.” (Opp’n 15-16.) Further, according to Plaintiff, Defendant has failed to show that the Memorex reference discloses "this feature. (Opp’n 16.) Defendant replies, correctly, that Plaintiff conflates a number of elements in the claims and attempts to consolidate into the MACRO key a number of elements that appear elsewhere in the claims. (Reply 8.) Undér the Court’s construction, the MACRO key itself does not need to include all the limitations to which Defendant objects.

Plaintiff parses the claim terms, agreed definitions, and figures in an attempt to make the elements of the claims found in general terms in Memorex very specific, while generalizing the specific aspects of the claims not found in the accused devices. Plaintiff recasts fetching storage rotation counts, recording to rotation counts, and incrementing storage rotation counts as “associating a particular memory location with a channel for each stroke of the MACRO key.” (Opp’n 16.) This both generalizes the particular memory operation claimed into the more general “associating a particular memory location,” and restricts the claim to one covering only a single key depressed multiple times for cycling through favorite channels. While the claim certainly covers such a key, a close examination of the claim language and Figures 4 and 5 of the '426 Patent show that a two-button favorite channel macro key arrangement is not excluded.

Plaintiff argues that its expert, Burke, opined that Memorex’s channel up/down buttons perform the same function in favorite channel mode as in normal operation, and that the remote just transmits codes from a smaller list. (Opp’n 16-17, Burke Decl., Ex. B., Expert Report 31.) But Defendant points out that at his deposition, Burke-’ was confronted with the Me-morex manual, which Burke understood to say that in favorite channel mode, Memo-rex “transmits channels from your favorite channel list instead of the normal channel up or down command codes.” (Mot. 19, Jan. 30, 2014 Burke Dep. 228:20-229:6, Rowland Decl. Ex. 48.) Plaintiff objects that the cited testimony is just Burke reading the reference. (Opp’n 17.) But Burke specifically stated in his answer to the cited question that “[w]hat I understand from the reference is what’s stated in the reference.” (Jan. 30, 2014 Burke Dep. 229:1-2, Rowland Decl. Ex. 48.) Plaintiff cannot now argue that the reference means something other than what it says.

That aside, one clear difference between Memorex and the asserted claims is that because Memorex can store up to 32 channels, it does not return the rotation count to 1 when it reaches 4 any time the remote is programmed with 4 or more channels. But it is unclear whether Memorex uses a rotation counter in the same way as depicted in Figure 5, such that it would satisfy Figure 4 when programmed with only three favorite channels. Another difference is that Memorex does not overwrite channels if more than the total (32) are stored. Instead, a separate delete function must be used. Also unpersuasive is Defendant’s argument that a “storage rotation count” is not part of the asserted claims because it is separately claimed in dependent claim 7. (Reply 8.) That argument ignores the presence of the storage rotation count in Figure 4, and the parties have agreed that Figure 4 is the means corresponding to the function in claim 2.

Further, repeating the point that appears at the beginning of this section, Defendant does not actually attempt to specifically demonstrate that all of the elements of Figures 4 and 5 of the '426 Patent are found in Memorex. (Mot. 20-21.) Instead, it argues that the Court should find noninfringement as to these elements, but that if the loose functional approach Plaintiff uses for infringement is correct, then Memorex would invalidate the patent. (Mot. 20-21.) Defendant is correct that “a patent may not, like a ‘nose of wax,’ be twisted one way to avoid anticipation and another to find -infringement.” Amazon.com, Inc. v. Barnesand-noble.com, Inc., 239 F.3d 1343, 1351 (Fed.Cir.2001). But Defendant has not demonstrated its entitlement to summary judgment of invalidity.

2.3 Conclusion

As to issue 2, invalidity of the '426 Patent, the Motion is DENIED.

3. NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THE '426 PATENT

3.1 Legal Standard

Determinating patent infringement is a two step process. Cybor Corp. v. FAS Techs., Inc., 138 F.3d 1448, 1454 (Fed.Cir.1998). “First, the court determines the scope and meaning of the patent claims asserted and then the properly construed claims are compared to the allegedly infringing device.” Id. (citations omitted). Because the ultimate burden of proving infringement rests with the paten-tee, an accused infringer may establish that summary judgment is proper “either by providing evidence that would preclude a finding of infringement, or by showing that the evidence on file fails to establish a material issue of fact essential to the pat-entee’s case.” Novartis Corp. v. Ben Venue Labs., Inc., 271 F.3d 1043, 1046 (Fed.Cir.2001). If the moving party meets this initial burden, the burden shifts to the party asserting infringement to set forth, by affidavit or as otherwise provided in Rule 56, “specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. “[A] party does not meet this evidentiary threshold merely by submitting the affidavit of an expert who opines that the accused device meets the claim limitations.” Novartis, 271 F.3d at 1051.

“Whether an accused device or method infringes a claim either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents is a question of fact.” Schoell v. Regal Marine Indus., Inc., 247 F.3d 1202, 1207 (Fed.Cir.2001) (citing Tanabe Seiyaku Co. v. U.S. Int’l Trade Comm’n, 109 F.3d 726, 731 (Fed.Cir.1997)). A patentee claiming infringement must present proof that the alleged infringing device meets “each and every claim limitation.” Forest Labs., Inc. v. Abbott Labs., 239 F.3d 1305, 1310 (Fed.Cir.2001); see Kraft Foods, Inc. v. Int’l Trading Co., 203 F.3d 1362, 1370 (Fed.Cir.2000) affirming district court’s grant of summary judgment of no literal infringement in the absence of even one claim limitation.

3.2 Application

Defendant argues that Figures 4 and 5 of the '426 Patent include, and through their incorporation into claims 2 and 3, require, very specific algorithms that use “rotation counters.” (Mot. 22.) Specifically, Defendant notes that in Figure 4, the “storage rotation count” is incremented each time a favorite channel is programmed, and when the storage rotation count reaches 4, it is reset to 1, meaning that “[i]f one attempts to establish a fourth macro for a fourth selected channel, the first macro for the first selected channel will be erased and overwritten.” (Mot. 22 (quoting '426 Patent 5:12-14).) Likewise, Defendant notes that in Figure 5, a “playback rotation count” is incremented with each key press, and it also resets to 1 every time it reaches 4, such that “[i]f only one selected macro is created, the second and third keystrokes of a MACRO key will cause nothing to happen and the fourth keystroke will repeat the selection of the first selected macro to select the single selected channel.” (Mot. 23 (quoting '426 Patent 5:15-19).) Defendant has made an unrebutted showing that in its “R6” remote control, one of the accused products, each button can program up to 5 favorite channels, but when only three are programmed, the remote does not “cause nothing to happen” on the fourth and fifth keystrokes. (Mot. 25 (citing R6 Owner’s Manual 18, Rowland Decl. Ex. 42).) Instead, the “sequence starts all over again.” (R6 Owner’s Manual 18, Rowland Decl. Ex. 42.)

Defendant also argues that if you program the R6 with three favorite channels, and then later try to program a fourth favorite channel, instead of overwriting only the first favorite channel as in Figure 4, the first three favorite channels will be deleted, leaving only the single favorite channel. (Mot. 25.) But Defendant provides no evidentiary citation for this argument, and its foundation is not apparent in the material cited in the same paragraph. And when repeating this point in reply, Defendant merely cites back to the Motion at 25:21-24, again without pointing to any evidentiary support. (Reply 11.) The Court therefore does not consider the argument.

Plaintiff does not dispute the facts, but contests Defendant’s understanding of the claims, arguing that the '426 Patent’s statement that “[i]f one attempts to establish a fourth macro for a fourth selected channel, the first macro for the first selected channel will be erased and overwritten” is just a “preferred embodiment.” (Opp’n 23.) Of course, “it is improper to read limitations from a preferred embodiment described in the-specification — even if it is the only embodiment — into the claims absent a clear indication in the intrinsic record that the patentee intended the claims to be so limited.” Liebel-Flarsheim Co. v. Medrad, Inc., 358 F.3d 898, 913 (Fed.Cir.2004).

But that is not what Defendant here urges. The parties have agreed that claim 2 incorporates the structure of Figures 4 and 5. Defendant’s quotations from the specification are merely describing what appears in those figures, not the details of some optional features found in a preferred embodiment. While it is helpful that the specification spells out in English the consequences of the flow charts, the logic of Figures 4 and 5 themselves results in the conclusions that “[i]f one attempts to establish a fourth macro for a fourth selected channel, the first macro for the first selected channel will be erased and overwritten” ('426 Patent 5:12-14), and that “[i]f only one selected macro is created, the second and third keystrokes of a MACRO key will cause nothing to happen and the fourth keystroke will repeat the selection of the first selected macro to select the single selected channel.” ('426 Patent 5:15-19.) Thus, Defendant’s arguments pointing out that its remotes function differently are not a “straw man” based on “irrelevant additional features,” as Plaintiff argues. (Opp’n 24.) Instead, in showing that the accused products’ playback function differs from Figure 5, they show unre-butted evidence of noninfringement.

3.3 Conclusion

As to issue 3, non-infringement of the '426 Patent, the Motion is GRANTED.

4. NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THE '906 PATENT

4.1 Overview of the '906 Patent

The '906 Patent is titled “Method for Selecting a Remote Control Command Set.” In the method,