Case 1:19-cv-01245-UNA Document 1 Filed 07/01/19 Page 1 of 15 PageID #: 1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

LBT IP I LLC,

Plaintiff,
Civil Action No. _____________
v.

APPLE INC., JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Defendant.

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT

Plaintiff LBT IP I LLC (“LBT”) files this complaint for patent infringement against

Defendant Apple Inc. (“Apple”).

PARTIES

1. Plaintiff LBT is a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws

of Delaware with its principal place of business at 455 Elm Street, Suite 100, Graham, Texas

76450. LBT is the owner by assignment of the following U.S. patents (collectively, the “Asserted

Patents”):

a. U.S. Patent No. 8,497,774, titled “Apparatus and Method for Adjusting Refresh
Rate of Location Coordinates of a Tracking Device” (the “’774 Patent”) (a copy
of which is attached as Exhibit A);

b. U.S. Patent No. 8,542,113, titled “Apparatus and Method for Determining
Location and Tracking Coordinates of a Tracking Device” (the “’113 Patent”) (a
copy of which is attached as Exhibit B);

c. U.S. Patent No. 8,102,256, titled “Apparatus and Method for Determining
Location and Tracking Coordinates of a Tracking Device” (the “’256 Patent”) (a
copy of which is attached as Exhibit C);

d. U.S. Patent No. 8,421,618, titled “Apparatus and Method for Determining
Location and Tracking Coordinates of a Tracking Device” (the “’618 Patent”) (a
copy of which is attached as Exhibit D); and
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e. U.S. Patent No. 8,421,619, titled “Apparatus and Method for Determining
Location and Tracking Coordinates of a Tracking Device” (the “’619 Patent”) (a
copy of which is attached as Exhibit E).

2. Upon information and belief, Defendant Apple is a California corporation with a

regular and established place of business at 125 Christiana Mall, Newark, DE 19702. Apple may

be served with process through its registered agent for service of process in Delaware, The

Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE

19801.

3. Apple directly and/or indirectly makes, imports, distributes, markets, sells and/or

offers to sell throughout the United States, including in this judicial district, products and/or

services (“the Accused Products”) that infringe one or more claims of the Asserted Patents as

described below. The Accused Products include all Apple devices, including iPhones and iPads,

that have a low power mode, core location feature and/or facedown detection mode as more full

described below.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

4. This is an action for patent infringement, arising under the patent laws of the

United States, 35 U.S.C. §§ 1, et seq.

5. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action under 28 U.S.C. §§

1331 and 1338(a).

6. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Apple because it has substantial,

continuing, and ongoing contacts with this judicial district, and sells, distributes, and/or offers to

sell into this judicial district the Accused Products through the Apple Store in Newark, DE,

through the apple.com website and through third-party vendors.

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7. Upon information and belief, venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to

28 U.S.C. §§1391(b)-(c) and § 1400(b) because Apple transacts business in this judicial district

and because it is subject to personal jurisdiction in this judicial district.

The Asserted Patents

8. Each of the Asserted Patents generally claims improvements in battery

conservation of portable electronic devices. Filed between 2008 and 2012, they were originally

assigned to Location Based Technologies, Inc., who commercialized the claimed technology in

its PocketFinder GPS devices.

9. Battery conservation has become a critical aspect of portable electronic devices,

with many consumers rating it as a high priority in purchasing decisions. According to a recent

Consumer Reports article, “[t]o some smartphone users, battery life is the single most important

factor in choosing a device.” See https://www.consumerreports.org/smartphones/smartphones-

with-the-best-battery-life/, accessed on May 31, 2019 (emphasis added).

10. The Asserted Patents improve battery life through systems and methods that

monitor various signals and inputs received by the portable electronic device and using those

signals and inputs to control battery consumption. Each of the claimed systems and methods

improve the operation of computer systems in the context of portable electronic devices and

represent unconventional uses of technology as of the Asserted Patents’ respective filing dates.

See, for example, Ex. A at col. 2, l. 46 – col. 3, l. 51; Ex. B at col. 2, l, 45 – col. 3, l. 21; Ex. C at

col. 2, l. 40 – col. 3, l. 15; Ex. D at col. 2, l. 44 – col. 3, l. 20; Ex. E at col. 2, l. 44 – col. 3, l. 20

(describing inventive aspects of the various patents and their improvements over the prior art).

11. As a result of the improvements claimed by the Asserted Patents, the battery life

for Apple’s Accused Products has been extended to the point that Apple’s iPhone home page

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advertising its newest model, the iPhone XR, mentions only one feature: “The longest battery life

ever in an iPhone.” See https://www.apple.com/iphone/, accessed on May 31, 2019.

COUNT I – INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,497,774

12. LBT re-alleges and incorporates herein by reference the allegations stated in

paragraphs 1-11 of this Complaint.

13. Apple has infringed and is continuing to infringe, literally or through the doctrine

of equivalents, directly, jointly, or indirectly, contributorily and/or through the inducement of

others, one or more claims of the ’774 Patent, by making, using, offering to sell and/or selling in

this judicial district and elsewhere within the United States and/or importing into the United

States its Accused Products, constituting infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271 (a), (b), (c) and/or

(g).

14. Apple’s direct infringement includes using the system of at least claims 1, 4, 5, 8,

13, and 15 of the ’774 Patent. Specifically, Apple’s direct infringement includes making, using,

selling, offering to sell and/or importing a system by which it monitors and adjusts battery

consumption in the manner claimed in the above-identified claims.

15. For example, the Accused Products include a “low power mode” that reduces or

stops certain background activity, including background activity related to transceiver circuitry

and/or processor circuitry associated with the Accused Products’ GPS functionality, in order to

conserve battery life.

16. As a result of the activities described above, Apple is liable for direct

infringement of the above-identified claims of the ’774 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).

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17. To the extent any factfinder concludes that Apple does not literally satisfy any

element of the claims of the ’774 Patent, those elements are met under the Doctrine of

Equivalents.

18. Alternatively and in addition to its liability for direct infringement of the above-

identified claims of the ’774 Patent, Apple is also liable for indirectly infringing the above-

identified claims of the ’774 Patent in this judicial district and elsewhere in the United States by

inducing direct infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) and by contributing to direct

infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(c).

19. Apple has been aware of the ’774 Patent and the infringing nature of its Accused

Products since June 24, 2019 when LBT sent a letter to Apple giving it actual notice of the

infringement.

20. The direct infringement induced or contributed to by Apple includes at least the

use of the Accused Products by Apple’s customers.

21. Apple encourages continued direct infringement of the above-identified claims of

the ’774 Patent by at least providing on its website and in the Accused Products themselves

instructions for conducting the directly infringing use.

22. Apple induces continued infringement by at least encouraging and instructing its

customers to provide some or all of the claimed elements, including instructing them on the use

of the low power mode, with the knowledge that that such use constitutes infringement of the

’774 Patent.

23. Apple contributes to direct infringement of the asserted claims of the ’774 Patent

by providing its customers with the necessary software and instructions to operate the Accused

Products, including instructions related to the low power mode. The low power mode is not a

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staple article of commerce and has no substantial non-infringing uses. It is specifically designed

to work with the Accused Products and its only purpose is to operate in a manner that directly

infringes the asserted claims of the ’774 Patent.

COUNT II – INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,542,113

24. LBT re-alleges and incorporates herein by reference the allegations stated in

paragraphs 1-23 of this Complaint.

25. Apple has infringed and is continuing to infringe, literally or through the doctrine

of equivalents, directly, jointly, or indirectly, contributorily and/or through the inducement of

others, one or more claims of the ’113 Patent, by making, using, offering to sell and/or selling in

this judicial district and elsewhere within the United States and/or importing into the United

States its Accused Products, constituting infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271 (a), (b), (c) and/or

(g).

26. Apple’s direct infringement includes using the methods and systems of at least

claims 1-4, 7-14, and 17-18 of the ’113 Patent. Specifically, Apple’s direct infringement includes

making, using, selling, offering to sell and/or importing Accused Products that adjust the power

level of location tracking circuitry based on the strength of certain location-related signals in the

manner claimed in the above-identified claims.

27. For example, the Accused Products include a “core location” feature that reduces

or stops certain background activity, including background activity related to transceiver

circuitry and/or processor circuitry associated with the Accused Products’ GPS functionality, in

order to conserve battery life.

28. As a result of the activities described above, Apple is liable for direct

infringement of the above-identified claims of the ’113 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).

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29. To the extent any factfinder concludes that Apple does not literally satisfy any

element of the claims of the ’113 Patent, those elements are met under the Doctrine of

Equivalents.

30. Alternatively and in addition to its liability for direct infringement of the above-

identified claims of the ’113 Patent, Apple is also liable for indirectly infringing the above-

identified claims of the ’113 Patent in this judicial district and elsewhere in the United States by

inducing direct infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) and by contributing to direct

infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(c).

31. Apple has been aware of the ’113 Patent and the infringing nature of its Accused

Products since June 24, 2019 when LBT sent a letter to Apple giving it actual notice of the

infringement.

32. The direct infringement induced or contributed to by Apple includes at least the

use of the Accused Products by Apple’s customers.

33. Apple encourages continued direct infringement of the above-identified claims of

the ’113 Patent by at least providing on its website and in the Accused Products themselves

instructions for conducting the directly infringing use.

34. Apple induces continued infringement by at least encouraging and instructing its

customers to perform some or all of the claimed steps, including instructing them on the use of

the low power mode, with the knowledge that that such use constitutes infringement of the ’113

Patent.

35. Apple contributes to direct infringement of the asserted claims of the ’113 Patent

by providing its customers with the necessary software and instructions to operate the Accused

Products, including instructions related to the core location functionality. The core location

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functionality is not a staple article of commerce and has no substantial non-infringing uses. It is

specifically designed to work with the Accused Products and its only purpose is to operate in a

manner that directly infringes the asserted claims of the ’113 Patent.

COUNT III – INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,102,256

36. LBT re-alleges and incorporates herein by reference the allegations stated in

paragraphs 1-35 of this Complaint.

37. Apple has infringed and is continuing to infringe, literally or through the doctrine

of equivalents, directly, jointly, or indirectly, contributorily and/or through the inducement of

others, one or more claims of the ’256 Patent, by making, using, offering to sell and/or selling in

this judicial district and elsewhere within the United States and/or importing into the United

States its Accused Products, constituting infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271 (a), (b), (c) and/or

(g).

38. Apple’s direct infringement includes using the systems of claim 10 of the ’256

Patent. Specifically, Apple’s direct infringement includes making, using, selling, offering to sell

and/or importing a system by which it monitors and adjusts battery consumption in the manner

claimed in the above-identified claim.

39. For example, the Accused Products include a “facedown detection mode” that

uses an accelerometer to generate displacement vectors that are used to reduce or stop certain

background activity, including background activity associated with the Accused Products’ GPS

functionality, in order to conserve battery life.

40. As a result of the activities described above, Apple is liable for direct

infringement of the above-identified claim of the ’256 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).

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41. To the extent any factfinder concludes that Apple does not literally satisfy any

element of the asserted claim of the ’256 Patent, those elements are met under the Doctrine of

Equivalents.

42. Alternatively and in addition to its liability for direct infringement of the above-

identified claim of the ’256 Patent, Apple is also liable for indirectly infringing the above-

identified claim of the ’256 Patent in this judicial district and elsewhere in the United States by

inducing direct infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) and by contributing to direct

infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(c).

43. Apple has been aware of the ’256 Patent and the infringing nature of its Accused

Products since June 24, 2019 when LBT sent a letter to Apple giving it actual notice of the

infringement.

44. The direct infringement induced or contributed to by Apple includes at least the

use of the Accused Products by Apple’s customers.

45. Apple encourages continued direct infringement of the above-identified claim of

the ’256 Patent by at least providing on its website and in the Accused Products themselves

instructions for conducting the directly infringing use.

46. Apple induces continued infringement by at least encouraging and instructing its

customers to meet some or all of the claimed elements, including instructing them on the use of

the facedown detection mode, with the knowledge that that such use constitutes infringement of

the ’256 Patent.

47. Apple contributes to direct infringement of the asserted claim of the ’256 Patent

by providing its customers with the necessary software and instructions to operate the Accused

Products, including instructions related to the facedown detection mode. The facedown detection

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mode is not a staple article of commerce and has no substantial non-infringing uses. It is

specifically designed to work with the Accused Products and its only purpose is to operate in a

manner that directly infringes the asserted claim of the ’256 Patent.

COUNT IV – INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,421,618

48. LBT re-alleges and incorporates herein by reference the allegations stated in

paragraphs 1-47 of this Complaint.

49. Apple has infringed and is continuing to infringe, literally or through the doctrine

of equivalents, directly, jointly, or indirectly, contributorily and/or through the inducement of

others, one or more claims of the ’618 Patent, by making, using, offering to sell and/or selling in

this judicial district and elsewhere within the United States and/or importing into the United

States its Accused Products, constituting infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271 (a), (b), (c) and/or

(g).

50. Apple’s direct infringement includes using the systems and methods of claims 1,

9-16, and 19-24 of the ’618 Patent. Specifically, Apple’s direct infringement includes making,

using, selling, offering to sell and/or importing devices that monitor and adjust battery

consumption in the manner claimed in the above-identified claim.

51. For example, the Accused Products include a facedown detection mode that uses

an accelerometer to generate displacement vectors that are used to reduce or stop certain

background activity, including background activity related to transceiver circuitry and/or

processor circuitry associated with the Accused Products’ GPS functionality, in order to

conserve battery life.

52. As a result of the activities described above, Apple is liable for direct

infringement of the above-identified claims of the ’618 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).

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53. To the extent any factfinder concludes that Apple does not literally satisfy any

element of the claims of the ’618 Patent, those elements are met under the Doctrine of

Equivalents.

54. Alternatively and in addition to its liability for direct infringement of the above-

identified claims of the ’618 Patent, Apple is also liable for indirectly infringing the above-

identified claims of the ’618 Patent in this judicial district and elsewhere in the United States by

inducing direct infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) and by contributing to direct

infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(c).

55. Apple has been aware of the ’618 Patent and the infringing nature of its Accused

Products since June 24, 2019 when LBT sent a letter to Apple giving it actual notice of the

infringement.

56. The direct infringement induced or contributed to by Apple includes at least the

use of the Accused Products by Apple’s customers.

57. Apple encourages continued direct infringement of the above-identified claims of

the ’618 Patent by at least providing on its website and in the Accused Products themselves

instructions for conducting the directly infringing use.

58. Apple induces continued infringement by at least encouraging and instructing its

customers to perform some or all of the claimed steps, including instructing them on the use of

the facedown detection mode, with the knowledge that that such use constitutes infringement of

the ’618 Patent.

59. Apple contributes to direct infringement of the asserted claims of the ’618 Patent

by providing its customers with the necessary software and instructions to operate the Accused

Products, including instructions related to the facedown detection mode. The facedown detection

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mode is not a staple article of commerce and has no substantial non-infringing uses. It is

specifically designed to work with the Accused Products and its only purpose is to operate in a

manner that directly infringes the asserted claims of the ’618 Patent.

COUNT V – INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,421,619

60. LBT re-alleges and incorporates herein by reference the allegations stated in

paragraphs 1-59 of this Complaint.

61. Apple has infringed and is continuing to infringe, literally or through the doctrine

of equivalents, directly, jointly, or indirectly, contributorily and/or through the inducement of

others, one or more claims of the ’619 Patent, by making, using, offering to sell and/or selling in

this judicial district and elsewhere within the United States and/or importing into the United

States its Accused Products, constituting infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271 (a), (b), (c) and/or

(g).

62. Apple’s direct infringement includes using the systems and methods of claims 1,

3, 5-7, 11, 12, and 14-17 of the ’619 Patent. Specifically, Apple’s direct infringement includes

making, using, selling, offering to sell and/or importing devices that monitor and adjust battery

consumption in the manner claimed in the above-identified claims.

63. For example, the Accused Products include a facedown detection mode that uses

an accelerometer to generate displacement vectors that are used to reduce or stop certain

background activity, including background activity related to transceiver circuitry and/or

processor circuitry associated with the Accused Products’ GPS functionality, in order to

conserve battery life.

64. As a result of the activities described above, Apple is liable for direct

infringement of the above-identified claims of the ’619 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).

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65. To the extent any factfinder concludes that Apple does not literally satisfy any

element of the claims of the ’619 Patent, those elements are met under the Doctrine of

Equivalents.

66. Alternatively and in addition to its liability for direct infringement of the above-

identified claims of the ’619 Patent, Apple is also liable for indirectly infringing the above-

identified claims of the ’619 Patent in this judicial district and elsewhere in the United States by

inducing direct infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) and by contributing to direct

infringement in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(c).

67. Apple has been aware of the ’619 Patent and the infringing nature of its Accused

Products since June 24, 2019 when LBT sent a letter to Apple giving it actual notice of the

infringement.

68. The direct infringement induced or contributed to by Apple includes at least the

use of the Accused Products by Apple’s customers.

69. Apple encourages continued direct infringement of the above-identified claims of

the ’619 Patent by at least providing on its website and in the Accused Products themselves

instructions for conducting the directly infringing use.

70. Apple induces continued infringement by at least encouraging and instructing its

customers to perform some or all of the claimed steps, including instructing them on the use of

the facedown detection mode, with the knowledge that that such use constitutes infringement of

the ’619 Patent.

71. Apple contributes to direct infringement of the asserted claims of the ’619 Patent

by providing its customers with the necessary software and instructions to operate the Accused

Products, including instructions related to the low power mode. The facedown detection mode is

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not a staple article of commerce and has no substantial non-infringing uses. It is specifically

designed to work with the Accused Products and its only purpose is to operate in a manner that

directly infringes the asserted claims of the ’619 Patent.

DAMAGES

72. Apple’s acts of infringement have caused damage to LBT and LBT is entitled to

recover from Apple the damages it has sustained as a result of Apple’s wrongful acts in an

amount subject to proof at trial. Apple’s infringement of LBT’s exclusive rights under the

Asserted Patents will continue to damage LBT, causing irreparable harm for which there is no

adequate remedy at law, unless enjoined by this Court. Apple’s ongoing infringement is willful

and deliberate, as Apple became aware of the infringing nature of its Accused Products prior to

the filing of this Complaint, entitling LBT to increased damages and reasonable attorneys’ fees

for post-complaint infringement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 284 and 285.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, LBT prays that it has judgment against Defendant Apple Inc. for the

following:

(1) Adjudging that Defendant Apple Inc. has infringed the Asserted Patents;

(2) Permanently enjoining and restraining Defendant Apple Inc. and its agents,

servants, employees, affiliates, divisions, and subsidiaries, and those in association, active

concert or participation with any of them, from further acts of infringement, contributory

infringement or inducement of infringement of any asserted claim of the Asserted Patents;

(3) A judicial decree that Defendant Apple Inc. pay an ongoing royalty in an amount

to be determined for continued infringement after the date of judgment;

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(4) Awarding damages to LBT, together with both pre-judgment and post-judgment

interest;

(5) Awarding increased damages pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284;

(6) Finding this action constitutes an exceptional case pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 285;

(7) Awarding LBT all of its costs in this action, including attorneys’ fees and

expenses; and

(8) Awarding such other and further relief, at law or in equity, to which LBT is justly

entitled.

JURY DEMAND

LBT hereby demands a jury trial on all issues so triable.

Dated: July 1, 2019 YOUNG CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR LLP

Of Counsel: /s/ Karen L. Pascale

Karen L. Pascale (#2903) [kpascale@ycst.com]
Brian S. Seal Robert M. Vrana (#5666) [rvrana@ycst.com]
Thomas G. Southard Rodney Square
BUTZEL LONG 1000 North King Street
1909 K. Street N.W. Suite 500 Wilmington, DE 19801
Washington, DC 20006 Telephone: (302) 571-6600
Telephone: (202) 454-2800
seal@butzel.com Attorneys for Plaintiff LBT IP I LLC
southard@butzel.com

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