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Case: 1:14-cv-00779 Document #: 383 Filed: 05/15/17 Page 1 of 72 PageID #:16745

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT


FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION

)
DYSON, INC. and )
DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, )
) Case No. 14-cv-779
Plaintiffs, )
) Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr.
v. )
) Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox
SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC )
SHARKNINJA SALES COMPANY, ) JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
)
Defendants. )
)

SHARKNINJAS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF


NON-INFRINGEMENT OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, INVALIDITY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1
I. FACTS ............................................................................................................................... 5
A. The asserted design patents .................................................................................... 5
1. The hand vacuum patent (163 patent) ...................................................... 5
2. The stick vac design patents (010 and 823 patents) ................................ 6
B. Dyson and its products ........................................................................................... 9
C. SharkNinja, its Shark Rockets, and the Shark Rocket design patents ................. 10
D. SharkNinjas March 2, 2015 early summary judgment motion........................... 12
E. The Courts October 13, 2016 claim construction Order .................................... 13
F. Comparison prior art ............................................................................................ 14
1. The DC31 manual, U.K. Reg. Des. No. 4,010,242, and U.S. Patent
No. D480,848 ........................................................................................... 14
2. The 2006 DC16 post ................................................................................ 15
3. The 2009 DC31 video .............................................................................. 16
4. The 2005 Peace sketch ............................................................................. 17
5. Pistol-grip hand vacuums ..................................................................... 18
II. LEGAL STANDARDS ................................................................................................... 19
A. Functional features require strictly confining claim scope to the
ornamental features depicted in the patent drawings. .......................................... 19
B. Prior art provides a frame of reference for assessing differences and
similarities of the accused designs, the prior art, and the claimed designs. ......... 24
III. ARGUMENT ................................................................................................................... 28
A. The Shark Rockets do not infringe the 163 patent under the Courts claim
construction Order, and further in view of the prior art. ...................................... 30
1. The Shark Rockets have a substantially different ornamental
appearance than the design claimed in the 163 patent............................ 30
2. The prior art further proves that no one would confuse the Shark
Rockets with the 163 patented design. ................................................... 36
B. The Shark Rockets do not infringe 010 and 823 patents under the Courts
claim construction, and further in view of the prior art. ...................................... 37
1. The Shark Rockets have a substantially different ornamental
appearance than the claimed 010 and 823 patent designs. .................... 37

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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2. The prior art highlights the Shark Rockets distinct ornamental


appearances, and further confirms non-infringement of the 010
and 823 patents. ...................................................................................... 43
(a) The DC31 manual, 242 design, and 848 patent teach the
ordinary observer that the Shark Rockets have distinct
ornamental designs....................................................................... 44
(b) The 2006 DC16 post and the 2009 DC31 video further
show the ordinary observer that the Shark Rockets differ
from the asserted patents. ............................................................. 45
(i) The 2006 DC16 post is a printed publication. .............. 48
(ii) The 2009 DC31 video is a printed publication............. 53
(c) The 2005 Peace sketch also shows the ordinary observer
that the Shark Rockets differ from the prior art and the
patent drawings. ........................................................................... 55
(i) The 2005 Peace sketch is 102(f) prior art. .................... 56
C. Alternatively, under Dysons view of claim scope, the asserted patents are
so broad in scope that they are invalid for anticipation. ...................................... 59
1. The 163 patent is invalid as anticipated under Dysons view of
claim scope............................................................................................... 60
2. The 010 and 823 patents are invalid as anticipated under Dysons
view of claim scope. ................................................................................ 61
IV. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 62

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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

Page

CASES

Alloc, Inc. v. Pergo, Inc.,


No. 02-C-736, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35944 (E.D. Wis. May 1, 2008) ................................58

Apotex Inc. v. Cephalon, Inc.,


No. 2:06-cv-2768, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125859 (E.D. Pa. Oct. 31, 2011) .........................58

Arminak & Assocs., Inc. v. Saint-Gobain Calmar, Inc.,


501 F.3d 1314 (Fed. Cir. 2007)................................................................................................19

Auxilium Pharms., Inc. v. Watson Labs., Inc.,


No. 12-3084 (JLL), 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 184032 (D.N.J. Dec. 16, 2014) ..........................58

Contessa Food Prods., Inc. v. Conagra, Inc.,


282 F.3d 1370 (Fed. Cir. 2002)............................................................................................6, 38

Creative Compounds, LLC v. Starmark Labs.,


651 F. 3d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2011)...............................................................................................56

Crocs, Inc. v. Intl Trade Commn,


598 F.3d 1294 (Fed. Cir. 2010)................................................................................................60

Delta Frangible Ammunition, LLC v. Sinterfire, Inc.,


663 F. Supp. 2d 405 (W.D. Pa. 2009) ......................................................................................58

Dyson, Inc. v. SharkNinja Operating LLC,


No. 14-9442, Dkt. 424 at 1 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 26, 2017) ................................................................1

Egyptian Goddess, Inc. v. Swisa, Inc.,


543 F.3d 665 (Fed. Cir. 2008).......................................................................................... passim

Elmer v. ICC Fabricating, Inc.,


67 F.3d 1571 (Fed. Cir. 1995).......................................................................................... passim

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. v. Covidien, Inc.,


796 F.3d 1312 (Fed. Cir. 2015)........................................................................................ passim

Gorham Co. v. White,


81 U.S. 511 (1871) ...................................................................................................1, 19, 23, 59

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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
(continued)
Page

Great Neck Saw Mfrs., Inc. v. Star Asia U.S.A., LLC,


727 F. Supp. 2d 1038 (W.D. Wash. 2010) .........................................................................35, 43

Hay & Forage Indus. v. New Holland N. Am., Inc.,


25 F. Supp. 2d 1180 (D. Kans. 1998) ......................................................................................58

High Point Design LLC v. Buyers Direct, Inc.,


730 F.3d 1301 (Fed. Cir. 2013)................................................................................................59

Hoop v. Hoop,
279 F.3d 1004 (Fed. Cir. 2002)................................................................................................60

In re Bendamustine Consol. Cases,


No. 13-2046-GMS, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75624 (D. Del. June 10, 2016)...........................58

In re Hall,
781 F.2d 897 (Fed. Cir. 1986)..................................................................................................49

Intl Seaway Trading Corp. v. Walgreens Corp.,


589 F.3d 1233 (Fed. Cir. 2009)................................................................................4, 34, 59, 60

J.S. & L.S. v. Am. Inst. for Foreign Study, Inc.,


No. SA-12-CA-1036-XR, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136073 (W.D. Tex. Sept.
24, 2013) ..................................................................................................................................52

Lee v. Dayton-Hudson Corp.,


838 F.2d 1186 (Fed. Cir. 1988)........................................................................................ passim

Medtronic Xomed, Inc. v. Gyrus ENT LLC,


440 F. Supp. 2d 1300 (M.D. Fla. 2006) ...................................................................................58

MRC Innovations, Inc. v. Hunter Mfg., LLP,


747 F.3d 1326 (Fed. Cir. 2014)..................................................................................................1

Natl Presto Indus., Inc. v. West Bend Co.,


76 F.3d 1185 (Fed. Cir. 1996)............................................................................................34, 42

OddzOn Prods., Inc. v. Just Toys, Inc.,


122 F.3d 1396 (Fed. Cir. 1997)........................................................................................ passim

Pac. Coast Marine Windshields Ltd. v. Malibu Boats, LLC,


739 F.3d 694 (Fed. Cir. 2014)....................................................................................................5

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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
(continued)
Page

Richardson v. Stanley Works, Inc.,


597 F.3d 1288 (Fed. Cir. 2010)........................................................................................ passim

RNA Corp. v. Procter & Gamble Co.,


747 F. Supp. 2d 1008 (N.D. Ill. 2010) (Zagel, J.) ..............................................................34, 42

Robert Bosch, LLC v. Pylon Mfg. Corp.,


748 F. Supp. 2d 383 (D. Del. 2010), revd on other grounds, 659 F.3d 1142
(Fed. Cir. 2011) ........................................................................................................................58

Smith v. Whitman Saddle Co.,


148 U.S. 674 (1893) ......................................................................................................... passim

Suffolk Techs., LLC v. AOL, Inc.,


752 F.3d 1358 (Fed. Cir. 2014)....................................................................................48, 49, 50

Synthon IP, Inc. v. Pfizer Inc.,


No. 1:05-cv-1267, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26115 (E.D. Va. Apr. 6, 2007) ............................57

T&M Inventions, LLC v. Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc.,


No. 14-CV-947, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71333 (E.D. Wis. June 1, 2016)..............................58

Taurus IP, LLC v. DaimlerChrysler Corp.,


726 F.3d 1306 (Fed. Cir. 2013)................................................................................................54

Thomas Indus., Inc. v. Gast Mfg., Inc.,


No. 04-C-375-C, 2005 WL 1400391 (W.D. Wis. June 14, 2005) .....................................34, 42

Voltstar Techs., Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc.,


No. 13 C 5570, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102306 (N.D. Ill. July 28, 2014) (Lee,
J.), summarily affd, 599 F. Appx 385 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 14, 2015) ................................... passim

Young Dental Mfg. Co. v. Q3 Special Prods., Inc.,


112 F.3d 1137 (Fed. Cir. 1997)................................................................................................16

STATUTES

35 U.S.C. 102(a) .............................................................................................................16, 48, 53

35 U.S.C. 102(b) .............................................................................................................15, 19, 48

35 U.S.C. 102(f) ........................................................................................................17, 53, 56, 58

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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
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OTHER AUTHORITIES

MPEP 1503 ...................................................................................................................................5

MPEP 1504.02 ............................................................................................................................34

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The Court should grant summary judgment of non-infringement because Dysons

infringement claim is contrary to Federal Circuit law, the Courts claim construction Order, and

Dysons own positions as to validity.

This lawsuit arose as one of Dysons responses to the fact that SharkNinja recently

unseated Dyson as a leader in the vacuum cleaner market. As Judge Gottschall observed in

another such case, however, courts do not exist to protect sellers from competition from better

or cheaper products . . .1 This lawsuit is meritless and should be summarily dismissed.

Design patents cover only the ornamental aspects of an article as they are arranged and

depicted in the patent drawings. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. v. Covidien, Inc., 796 F.3d 1312,

1333 (Fed. Cir. 2015). [D]esign patents have almost no scope beyond the precise images

shown in the drawings. MRC Innovations, Inc. v. Hunter Mfg., LLP, 747 F.3d 1326, 1333 n.1

(Fed. Cir. 2014) (citation omitted).

Unlike a utility patent, a design patent cannot include claims to the structural or

functional aspects of the article. Lee v. Dayton-Hudson Corp., 838 F.2d 1186, 1188 (Fed. Cir.

1988). For this reason, design patents also cannot monopolize general design concepts or

categories. Ethicon, 796 F.3d at 1334.

The test for design patent infringement is whether an ordinary observer, giving such

attention as a purchaser usually gives, would view the patented and accused designs to be

substantially the same, such that he or she would purchase the accused design supposing it to be

the other. Egyptian Goddess, Inc. v. Swisa, Inc., 543 F.3d 665, 670 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (citing

Gorham Co. v. White, 81 U.S. 511, 528 (1871)). In applying this test, the Federal Circuit strictly

limits claim scope to the depicted ornamental aspects and excludes any underlying functional

features or general design concepts, as exemplified by the OddzOn case:


1
Dyson, Inc. v. SharkNinja Operating LLC, No. 14-9442, Dkt. 424 at 1 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 26, 2017).

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Claimed design in OddzOn Non-infringing accused designs in OddzOn

OddzOn Prods., Inc. v. Just Toys, Inc., 122 F.3d 1396, 1399-1400 (Fed. Cir. 1997) (affirming

summary judgment of non-infringement). As OddzOn and other Federal Circuit cases show,2 the

ornamental details claimed in the drawings are dispositive in a design patent case.

In this case, Dyson accuses SharkNinjas Shark Rocket vacuum cleaners of infringing

three design patents. One patent claims a design of a hand vacuum (U.S. Patent No. D577,163

(163 patent); the other two claim a design of a stick vac, i.e., a hand vacuum with a

detachable suction tube and a floor unit (U.S. Patent Nos. D668,010 (010 patent) and

D668,823 (823 patent)).

OddzOn and other precedents mandate summary judgment here. The Courts claim

construction Order identified the functional features that are not protected by the design

patent[s] and confined claim scope to the particular shape and ornamentation of the designs

depicted in the drawings. Dkt. 293 at 15-16 (emphasis added). The functional features include

the pistol-grip, the long suction tube, the low-profile floor unit, and the spherical wheels. Id.

Under the Courts claim construction Order, the Shark Rockets do not infringe for two

independently-sufficient reasons. First, Dyson must do more than show that the Shark Rockets

are pistol-grip hand vacuums with long suction tubes and low-profile floor units with wheels. To

the contrary, Dyson must prove that the ornamental features in the Shark Rockets combine to

2
See e.g., Ethicon, 796 F.3d at 1336; Richardson v. Stanley Works, Inc., 597 F.3d 1288, 1291-
92, 1296 (Fed. Cir. 2010); Elmer v. ICC Fabricating, Inc., 67 F.3d 1571, 1575-76 (Fed. Cir.
1995); Lee, 838 F.2d at 1188-89.

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provide substantially the same overall ornamental appearance to the overall ornamental

appearance of the patented designs. Dyson largely ignores these ornamental features, however,

because they combine to give the Shark Rockets their own distinctive appearance. Indeed, the

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) determined that the Shark Rocket designs are not

substantially similar to Dysons designs by granting six design patents for the Shark Rockets

over the patents-in-suit. Even Dyson sought, and obtained, separate design patents on its newer

vacuum designs over the patents-in-suit, which reaffirms their limited scope. After properly

accounting for the functional features, an ordinary observer, giving as much attention as

purchasers of premium vacuums usually do, would not buy a Shark Rocket design thinking it is

the same as the claimed designs.

Second, the ordinary observer also is charged with knowledge of the relevant prior art,

Egyptian Goddess, 543 F.3d at 678, such as the following example:

Prior art

010 patent (left) and 823 patent (right, claimed elements in gray)

Accused Shark Rockets (HV300 (top), HV321 (middle), HV381 (bottom))

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The Court should grant summary judgment of non-infringement of the asserted patents,

or, alternatively, that the asserted patents are invalid. Dyson cannot have it both ways.

I. FACTS

A. The asserted design patents

1. The hand vacuum patent (163 patent)

The earliest of the three asserted patents, the 163 patent, issued from an application filed

in the U.S. on January 18, 2007. (SOF 11.)3 The 163 patent claims the benefit of an earlier

application filed in the U.K. on July 19, 2006. (SOF 11.)

The 163 patent claims4 a hand vacuum design that is powered by a battery and thus does

not have a power cord. (SOF 11; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 19-30.) The 163 patent claims a

machine-like, intricate-looking arrangement of geometric shapes like cones, cylinders, and tubes:

(Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 24.)

3
Citations to SharkNinjas Local Rule 56.1 Statement of Facts are indicated by SOF __.
Each statement in SharkNinjas Local Rule 56.1 Statement of Facts provides citations to
additional supporting authority, including by reference to exhibits to the Declaration of John C.
Evans.
4
In contrast to utility patents, a design patent application may only include a single claim.
Pac. Coast Marine Windshields Ltd. v. Malibu Boats, LLC, 739 F.3d 694, 703 (Fed. Cir. 2014)
(quoting MPEP 1503).

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(Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 19-30.) For example, Dyson claimed features of its signature mechanical

styling theme, including Dysons prominent crown or array of conical cyclones, a cylindrical

motor housing, and flat battery pack housing. (Id.) Dyson claimed the depicted arrangement of

all of these features that creates a certain overall appearance. (Id.)

2. The stick vac design patents (010 and 823 patents)

The 010 and 823 patents issued from applications filed on February 8, 2011 and

February 4, 2011, respectively. (SOF 12, 14.) Both patents claim the benefit of applications

filed in the European Union on August 27, 2010. (SOF 12, 14.)

The 010 patent claims a cordless stick vac design depicted from different angles in seven

figures.5 (SOF 13.) The 823 patent claims the same basic design, but disclaimed certain

elements by using broken lines.6 (SOF 15.) Shown below are representative views of the 010

patent (left) and 823 patent (right; claimed elements highlighted in gray):

010 patent 823 patent


5
The Court construed the 010 patent drawings as the replacement drawings from the file history
of the 010 patent. Dkt. 293 at 15. All citations in this brief to the 010 patent drawings refer to
those replacement drawings.
6
The solid lines in design patent drawings define the claimed subject matter; disclaimed features
are shown in broken lines. See Contessa Food Prods., Inc. v. Conagra, Inc., 282 F.3d 1370,
1378 (Fed. Cir. 2002) ([T]he patentee is permitted to show the features in broken lines to
exclude those features from the claimed design, and the failure to do so signals inclusion of the
features in the claimed design.).

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As shown above, Dyson used solid lines to expressly claim an overall design that includes

intricate ornamental details. The drawings depict Dysons mechanical and geometrical styling

that includes cones, cylinders, and spheres with defined boundaries and chamfers. (Ball Decl.

Ex. 2 at 47-77.) Shown below is a diagram of the claimed ornamental details of the hand

vacuum in the 010 patent (some of which also are claimed in the 823 patent):

(Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 56.)

As shown above, Dyson claimed the combination of its conspicuous crown or array of conical

cyclones, the tubular cyclone manifolds, the cylindrical motor housing above a pistol-grip

handle (and its trigger), the cyclonic separator cylinder, the flat battery housing below the

pistol-grip, and the nozzle cylinder. (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 52-55; see Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 47-

77.) Again, Dyson claimed the specifically depicted combination of each of these individual

geometric features. (Id.)

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As for the low-profile floor unit, Dyson again claimed an intricate combination of

features.7 Cylinders and spheres again display geometrical styling, including Dysons eye-

catching spherical-shaped wheel with concentric ribbing, as shown below (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at

72-77):

(Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 75)

Dyson similarly used geometric shapes in the long suction tube claimed in the 010

and 823 patent drawings. (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 55, 74.) As shown above, the long suction

tube has cylindrical cuffs that connect to the hand vacuum on one end, and to the floor unit on

the other. (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 55, 74.)

7
Dyson claimed the floor unit in the 010 patent, but disclaimed it in the 823 patent.

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B. Dyson and its products

Starting in October 2006, Dyson sold a hand vacuum called the DC16 in the United

States. (SOF 3.) The DC16 had substantially the same ornamental design as depicted in the

163 patent (see SOF 2, 11):

DC16 163 patent

Dyson launched its DC35 product in the United States in 2010. (SOF 3.) The DC35

was a stick vac because it combined a hand vacuum with a detachable suction tube and low-

profile floor unit. As shown below, the DC35 had basically the same ornamental design as

depicted in the 010 and 823 patent drawings:

DC35 (DC31 hand vac) DC35 (stick vac) 010 and 823 patents

(SOF 3, 13, 15.) The DC35 design is a combination of prior art designs, including a prior art

DC31 hand vacuum and a prior art floor unit derived from another prior art vacuum, the DC26.

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(Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 355-73.) Dyson contends that at least 36 utility patents cover the DC35.

(SOF 4.)

C. SharkNinja, its Shark Rockets, and the Shark Rocket design patents

SharkNinja makes and sells vacuum cleaners under its Shark brand. (SOF 6.) In

recent years, JD Power has rated Shark vacuums as highest in customer satisfaction. (SOF 6.)

The accused products in this case are SharkNinjas Shark Rocket stick vacuum cleaners. The

accused Shark Rockets have four series numbers, HV300, HV310, HV320, and HV380.8 Shown

below are representative designs:

Shark Rockets: HV300 (left), HV321 (middle), and HV381 (right)


8
The designs of the HV300 and HV310 have some differences, but they may be analyzed
together for non-infringement. (SOF 7; see Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 80-98.) For purposes of non-
infringement, the HV300 vacuum cleaner represents the HV300 and HV310 series, the HV321
vacuum cleaner represents the HV320 series, and the HV381 vacuum cleaner represents the
HV380 series. (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 80-98, 171-91, 252-68.)

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(SOF 7.) Like prior art stick vacs, the accused Shark Rockets include a hand vacuum, a suction

tube, and a floor unit. Each Shark Rocket, while sharing SharkNinjas streamlined and

aerodynamic styling theme, has a different configuration, shape, and ornamentation. (Ball Decl.

Ex. 2 at 80-98, 171-91, 252-68.) As shown above, the HV300 design theme is aerodynamic

and lacks mechanical shapes like the crown, cones, cylinders, and spheres, except for the

cylindrical suction tube. (SOF 17-18; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 80-98.) The HV300 has a motor-

below-the-handle configuration. (SOF 17-18; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 94.) The HV300 has no

battery; instead it has a power cord that is about 30 feet long and runs from the back of the hand

vacuum. (Id.) The HV300 does not have a cylindrical dust cup. (Id.) The HV300 also has a

pair of flat-sided wheels and a wide floor unit design. (SOF 17-18; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 98.)

SharkNinja originally applied for design patents on the HV300 design on November 11, 2013,

before Dyson filed its first complaint. (SOF 19.) The USPTO has allowed three HV300

design patents over the asserted patents: U.S. Patent Nos. D731,720, D738,583, and D742,083.

(SOF 19.)

The HV321 is the next-generation Shark Rocket after the HV300. As shown above, the

HV321 is even more streamlined than the HV300, and also lacks geometric features such as

crown, cones, cylinders, and spheres, except for the cylindrical suction tube. (SOF 22-23;

Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 171-91.) The HV321 has a motor-in-front-of-the-handle configuration.

(SOF 22-23; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 182.) The HV321 does not have a cylindrical dust cup.

(Id.) As with the other Shark Rockets, the HV321 also has a 30-foot long power cord attached to

the back of the hand vacuum rather than a battery. (Id.) The USPTO also allowed three patents

for the HV321 design over all of the asserted patents: U.S. Patent Nos. D738,584, D745,231,

and D762,031. (SOF 24.)

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The most recent Shark Rocket is the HV381. (SOF 25-27.) The HV381 also has an

overall streamlined theme, like the HV300 and HV321, and also lacks the geometric features of

the crown, cones, cylinders, or spheres (except for the cylindrical suction tube). (SOF 25-27;

Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 252-68; see id. 269-332) The HV381 has a motor-in-front-of-the-

handle configuration. (SOF 25-27; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 265-66.) It also has more angular

styling elements and a non-cylindrical dust cup. (SOF 25-27; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 265-66,

272.) The HV381 also has a noticeably larger floor unit design than the HV300 and HV321.

(SOF 25-27; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 252-68.) SharkNinjas design patent applications for the

HV381 are currently pending. (SOF 28.)

D. SharkNinjas March 2, 2015 early summary judgment motion

On March 2, 2015, SharkNinja filed an early summary judgment motion arguing that the

Court should summarily determine that the Shark Rockets are plainly dissimilar from the

claimed designs, without needing any claim construction or looking at the prior art. Dkt. 65-66.

On September 2, 2015 the Court denied that motion, and in doing so ruled that the patents

functional aspects and the prior art must be taken into account. Dkt. 125. Without construing

the claims or considering the prior art, the Court held that the overall design of the accused

products is not plainly dissimilar to the patented design. Therefore, the prior art must be taken

into account. Id. at 7. On the issue of functional features, the Court held, at that time, that

[w]hether certain aspects of the design are functional is a question of material fact for the

jury. Id. at 8.

SharkNinja moved for reconsideration because the issue of whether features are

functional is a question of law for the Court. Dkt. 127. In its Order on that motion, the Court

maintained its ruling (without claim construction) of no plain dissimilarity. Id. at 3-4.

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acknowledged that its ruling had been incorrect, id. at 3, but deemed it premature to definitively

resolve the case prior to claim construction, noting that unlike SharkNinjas main authority

(Ethicon), [t]here has been no claim construction in this case, and the parties disagree about

what aspects of the design are functional and to what extent. Id. at 3-4.

E. The Courts October 13, 2016 claim construction Order

On March 2, 2016, the Court held a lengthy Markman hearing. The Court then issued its

claim construction Order on October 13, 2016. Dkt. 293.

In its Order, the Court identified the functional features that are not protected by the

design patent[s] and confined the scope of the asserted patents to the particular shape and

ornamentation depicted in the drawings. Dkt. 293 at 15.9 The functional features include the

straight pistol-grip handle, the long suction tube, the low-profile floor unit and the spherical

wheels. Id. In the Conclusion, the Court stated:

The patents are construed as the ornamental design of the drawings


contained in the patents themselves for the 163 Patent and the
823 Patent and as the replacement drawings for the 010 Patent,
subject to the functionality findings. The straight, pistol-grip
handle, the long tube, and the low-profile floor unit are functional
features that are not protected by the design patent; but the shape
and ornamentation of those features are protected to the extent that
they contribute to the overall ornamentation of the design. The
spherical wheels are functional features that are not protected by
the design patent, but the ornamentation of the spherical wheels are
protected to the extent that it contributes to the overall
ornamentation of the design.

Id. at 15-16.

In view of the claim construction Order and the comparison prior art discussed below,

summary judgment of non-infringement based on the Courts functionality findings is now ripe.

9
Quoting one of Dysons co-pending utility patent[s], the Court also held that the position of
the cylinder was ergonomically-driven, but concluded that its shape and orientation included
ornamental features. Dkt. 293 at 11-12.

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Granting summary judgment of non-infringement based on the Courts functionality findings

would moot the need to reach the other issues also discussed herein.

F. Comparison prior art

Prior to its claim construction identifying functional aspects, the Court held that the

prior art must be considered. Dkt. 125 at 8. This prior art further emphasizes the distinctive

Shark Rocket designs compared to the prior art and the claimed designs.

1. The DC31 manual, U.K. Reg. Des. No. 4,010,242, and U.S. Patent No.
D480,848

As set forth above, Dysons 010 and 823 patents combine various prior art designs.

The hand vacuum is the prior art Dyson DC31, the floor unit design came from the prior art

Dyson DC26 floor unit (described in U.K. Reg. Des. No. 4,010,242 (242 design), and the

cuffed cylindrical suction tube is basically the prior art tube described in U.S. Patent No.

D480,848 (848 patent). This prior art is shown below next to the 010 patent design:

DC31 hand vacuum Cuffed cylindrical suction tube DC26 floor unit
(DC31 manual) (848 patent) (242 design)

010 patent

(SOF 31-34.) SharkNinjas expert, Alan Ball, opined that an ordinary observer familiar with

these prior art designs would see the similarity between this prior art and the claimed designs,

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and thus further appreciate the significant ornamental differences between the Shark Rockets and

the prior art and claimed designs. (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 356, 360, 368; see id. at 355-73.)

Dysons expert, Charles Mauro,

. (SOF 35.)

Each of these prior art references is prior art to the 010 and 823 patents under 35 U.S.C.

102(b). The Dyson DC31 manual bears a publication date of April 20, 2009. (SOF 31.)

Dyson obtained the 242 design registration in the U.K. on August 18, 2009. (SOF 33.) The

848 patent issued on October 14, 2003. (SOF 34.)

2. The 2006 DC16 post

An October 21, 2006 forum post (2006 DC16 post) published on whatsthebest-

vacuum.com is a prior art printed publication under 35 U.S.C. 102(b). It describes a working

stick vac assembled from then-existing Dyson products:

There IS an adapter to allow you to use the attachments that come


in the Dyson Car Cleaning Kit with the DC16. I fitted the
adapter to my DC16, then added the telescopic extension wand
from my DC02 canister, along with the Dyson-Designed Low
Reach Floor Tool, and it picked up perfectly on the floors

(SOF 36 (emphases added).) Shown below is an 010 patent drawing next to a model of the

stick vac described in the 2006 DC16 post:

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010 patent 2006 DC16 post

(SOF 48-52.10) Dyson Rule 30(b)(6) witness and named inventor Peter Gammack testified that

this 2006 DC16 post model is substantially similar to the 010 and 823 patents. (SOF 53.)

Mr. Ball similarly opined that, under Dysons view of claim scope, the stick vac described in the

2006 DC16 post is substantially similar to the 010 and 823 patents. (Ball Decl. Ex. 1 at 221-

23; see Ball Decl. Ex. 1 at 188-220, Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 342-54.) Mr. Mauro

(SOF 53.)

3. The 2009 DC31 video

Another prior art reference is a YouTube video entitled Dyson Dc31 Modification that

was published on December 28, 2009 (2009 DC31 video). The 2009 DC31 video is prior art

under 35 U.S.C. 102(a). In the video, the author combines the DC31 with a long cylindrical

10
SharkNinjas expert Mr. Ball assembled this model to assist the fact-finder in understanding
the appearance of the stick vac described in the 2006 DC16 post. Young Dental Mfg. Co. v. Q3
Special Prods., Inc., 112 F.3d 1137, 1145-46 (Fed. Cir. 1997) (affirming admission into evidence
of a demonstrative model of prior art, where the model was accurate and the patent owner had
the opportunity to cross-examine all witnesses relying on the model). Mr. Ball opined that each
model component accurately reflects the DC16 and the other Dyson parts, relying on the
testimony of Dysons Rule 30(b)(6) witness and publicly available information (including
Dysons own website). (SOF 48-52; Ball Decl. Ex. 1 at 180-220; see Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at
342-54.) Dyson had the opportunity to depose Mr. Ball about this model during his deposition.

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suction tube and a low-profile floor unit. (SOF 54; Ball Decl. Ex. 1 at 238-40.) An image

from the 2009 DC31 video appears below, next to the 010 patent:

010 patent 2009 DC31 video

Dysons Rule 30(b)(6) witness and named inventor Mr. Gammack testified that

(SOF 59.) Mr. Ball similarly opined that the overall appearance of the stick vacuum

in the 2009 DC31 video is substantially the same as the overall appearance of the design claimed

in the 010 and 823 patents. (Ball Decl. Ex. 1 at 233-43; see Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 342-54.)

Mr. Mauro

. (SOF 59.)

4. The 2005 Peace sketch

11
(SOF 60, 62.) The 2005 Peace sketch is prior art under 35

11
Mr. Peace is no longer at Dyson. Dyson contends that

. (SOF 62-
64.) SharkNinja disputes this contention. Regardless, for purposes of this motion, it is

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U.K. Patent Application No. GB 2 035 787 A (GB2035787) was published on June 25, 1980

and is prior art to the 163 patent under 35 U.S.C. 102(b). (SOF 69.) GB2035787 describes

a pistol-grip hand vacuum with an upright cyclone separator close to the handle and a suction

nozzle at the front. (SOF 69; see Ball Decl. Ex. 1 at 370-73, Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 399-

401.) JP2002-85297 was published on March 26, 2002 and is prior art to the 163 patent under

35 U.S.C. 102(b). (SOF 70.) JP2002-85297 also describes a pistol-grip hand vacuum with a

separator in front of the handle and a suction nozzle at the front, but with an overall shape that

includes a more angled handle and a power cord. (SOF 70; Ball Decl. Ex. 1 at 380-83, Ball

Decl. Ex. 2 at 399-401.)

II. LEGAL STANDARDS

A. Functional features require strictly confining claim scope to the ornamental


features depicted in the patent drawings.

Whether a design patent is infringed is determined by first construing the claim to the

design, when appropriate, and then comparing it to the design of the accused device. OddzOn,

122 F.3d at 1404-05) (citing Elmer, 67 F.3d at 1577). After construing the design, infringement

is governed by the Supreme Courts ordinary observer test announced long ago in Gorham:

[I]f, in the eye of an ordinary observer, giving such attention as a


purchaser usually gives, two designs are substantially the same, if
the resemblance is such as to deceive such an observer, inducing
him to purchase one supposing it to be the other, the first one
patented is infringed by the other.

81 U.S. at 528; see Egyptian Goddess, 543 F.3d at 678; see also Arminak & Assocs., Inc. v.

Saint-Gobain Calmar, Inc., 501 F.3d 1314, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2007) (ordinary observer makes a

reasonably discerning purchasing decision between claimed and accused designs).

Summary judgment of non-infringement is warranted when the nonfunctional,

ornamental aspects of the claimed and accused designs [are] plainly dissimilar . . . Ethicon, 796

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Finally, in Lee v. Dayton-Hudson, the Federal Circuit affirmed final judgment of

noninfringement after a bench trial. 838 F.3d at 1190. Shown below are claimed and accused

designs for massage devices that were at issue in Lee:

Claimed design Non-infringing accused product

The patentee argued that the different details did not matter, and that the patent is perforce

infringed by a massage device with [the same] general configuration. 838 F.2d at 1188. The

Federal Circuit disagreed, holding that [d]esign patents do not and cannot include claims to the

structural or functional aspects of the article . . . . Id. (collecting cases). Thus, all the claimed

details mattered and the district court correctly viewed the design aspects of the accused

devices: the wooden balls, their polished finish and appearance, the proportions, the carving on

the handle, and all other ornamental characteristics, considered to the extent that they would be

considered by the eye of an ordinary observer, Gorham, 81 U.S. at 528. Id. (emphasis added).

The Federal Circuit agreed with the district court that the differences in appearance . . . are

sufficient to make apparent to an ordinary observer that one design is not the other. Id.

With the Courts claim construction Order now in place, this case is ripe for summary

judgment of non-infringement, as the foregoing cases show. To sum up, the Federal Circuit

strictly construes design patents that have functional features to ensure that only the ornamental

features are protected and to deny a patent monopoly, through a design patent, to functional

features or general design concepts or categories. E.g., Ethicon, 796 F.3d at 1334. Alleged

similarity in terms of general or overall shape is insufficient as a matter of law to show

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design patent infringement. Id. at 1333 (Similarity at [a] conceptual level . . . is not sufficient to

demonstrate infringement of the claimed designs.). To the contrary, a patentee must prove

substantial ornamental similarity, as defined by the particular shapes and ornamentations that are

depicted in the patent drawings, and claimed details matter significantly in this regard. Lee, 838

F.2d at 1188-89. Given this law, Dyson cannot meet its burden of proof in this case.

B. Prior art provides a frame of reference for assessing differences and


similarities of the accused designs, the prior art, and the claimed designs.

As Judge Darrah held here, in some cases, the design patent non-infringement inquiry can

benefit from using the prior art as a frame of reference to compare the similarities and

differences among the accused designs, the prior art, and the patent drawings. Dkt. 125 at 8.

Accordingly, in Egyptian Goddess, the Federal Circuit held that the ordinary observer is

conversant in the prior art and makes an informed visual comparison of the accused designs

differences and similarities to the prior art references and the patent drawings. Egyptian

Goddess, 543 F.3d at 678 ([D]ifferences between the claimed and accused designs that might

not be noticeable in the abstract can become significant to the hypothetical ordinary observer

who is conversant with the prior art); see also Richardson, 597 F.3d at 1295 (The patentee

must establish that an ordinary observer, familiar with prior art designs, would be deceived into

believing that the accused product is the same as the patented design.).

The Federal Circuit crafted the Egyptian Goddess prior art test from the Supreme Courts

non-infringement analysis in Smith v. Whitman Saddle Co., 148 U.S. 674 (1893). See Egyptian

Goddess, 543 F.3d at 672-74. In Whitman Saddle, the Supreme Court relied on a combination of

two prior art references, the front half of one saddle (Granger) and the back end of another

(Jenifer). 148 U.S. at 680-82. The Supreme Court used that combination of prior art as its

frame of reference for non-infringement. Id. The claimed design was essentially a combination

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of those two prior art elements, but added a distinctive drop of the pommel feature. Id. at 682.

The Supreme Court held that the accused saddle did not infringe because it lacked the particular

drop of the pommel feature of the claimed design. Id.

In Egyptian Goddess, the asserted 389 patent claimed a hollow nail buffer with a

generally square cross-section and featuring buffer surfaces on three of its four sides. 543 F.3d

at 668. The accused Swisa buffer was a hollow tube having a square cross-section, but

featuring buffer surfaces on all four of its sides. Id. The court also considered a combination of

prior art references (Falley Buffer Block and Nailco Patent). Id. at 681. The prior art,

accused design, and claimed design are shown below:

Similar to the Supreme Courts approach in Whitman Saddle, the Federal Circuit in

Egyptian Goddess relied on a combination of prior art, i.e., the Falley Buffer Block (a solid,

square cross-section buffer with pads on four sides) and the Nailco Patent (a hollow, triangular

cross-section buffer with pads on three sides), shown above. The court affirmed summary

judgment of non-infringement, even though the claimed and accused designs had the same

overall shape. Egyptian Goddess, 543 F.3d at 682-83. The combination of prior art confirmed

that the ordinary observer would notice the one feature that was different between the claimed

and accused designs, i.e., the presence or absence of a fourth nail buffing pad. Id.

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As Whitman Saddle and Egyptian Goddess establish, the ordinary observer uses prior art

designs and combinations thereof to better appreciate the differences and similarities in the

accused design, the prior art, and the patent drawings. A helpful example of how this analysis

works is Judge Lees recent decision granting summary judgment of non-infringement in a

design patent case, Voltstar Techs., Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., No. 13 C 5570, 2014 U.S. Dist.

LEXIS 102306 (N.D. Ill. July 28, 2014) (Lee, J.), summarily affd, 599 F. Appx 385 (Fed. Cir.

Apr. 14, 2015) In Voltstar, Judge Lee considered the claimed, accused, and prior art designs for

USB plug in devices. He found that, while the claimed and accused designs shared a taper

feature (shown below in yellow) not depicted in the prior art, the two tapers were distinctly

different because the claimed plug had a plateau (middle image, blue) while the accused plug

had a lip (right image, pink):

Prior art Claimed design Non-infringing accused design

Id. at *12. He then considered end-on views showing the flatter sides of the more box-like

claimed design compared to the more-rounded, lozenge-like accused design and the prior art

(see green arrows):

Prior art Claimed design Non-infringing accused design

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Id. at *12-13. Considering these two different plateau and lozenge details as well as

similarities he held that while all three may share some features among them, a reasonable

juror could not confuse any of them for each other, including the accused and patented designs.

Id. at *13. As in Voltstar, the prior art in this case further demonstrates key ornamental

differences between the claimed and accused designs, such as the prominent crown of cyclones

feature that appears in the claimed designs (and certain prior art), as highlighted in yellow below,

but not the Shark Rockets:

Prior art 010 patent Shark Rocket HV321

Prior art 163 patent Shark Rocket HV321

The conspicuous differences between the claimed crown and the accused designs, as well as

numerous other differences, become even more clear when the prior art is considered as a point

of reference.

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III. ARGUMENT

After accounting for the functional features that are not protected by Dysons design

patents and confining claim scope to the shape and ornamentation that is depicted in the

drawings, there is no genuine dispute that an ordinary observer, giving such attention as

purchasers usually give, would not purchase a Shark Rocket design believing it to be the same as

the designs depicted in the asserted patents. For this reason alone, SharkNinja is entitled to

summary judgment of non-infringement as to all asserted patents. Ethicon, 796 F.3d at 1337.

As discussed above, Judge Darrah identified the functional aspects of the claimed

designs, including the pistol-grip handle (shown in yellow below), the long suction tube (blue),

the low-profile floor unit (pink), and the spherical wheels (green):

See Dkt. 293 at 15-16. Accordingly, it is not enough for Dyson to show that the Shark Rockets

have pistol-grip hand vacuums with long tubes and low-profile floor units with wheels. See, e.g.,

Ethicon, 796 F.3d at 1336 (Similarity at [a] conceptual level . . . is not sufficient to demonstrate

infringement of the claimed designs.).12 Instead, Dyson must prove that the ornamental

features in the Shark Rockets combine to provide substantially the same overall ornamental

appearance to the protected ornamental appearance of the patented designs. Dyson cannot do

12
See also, e.g., Richardson, 597 F.3d at 1296 ([I]gnoring the functional elements of the
[claimed and accused] tools, the two designs are indeed different.); OddzOn, 122 F.3d at 1405
(rejecting contention that overall similarity of the rocket-like appearance is sufficient to show
infringement); Lee, 838 F.2d at 1188 (rejecting contention that the patent is perforce infringed
by [an accused product] with that general configuration and affirming non-infringement based
on different surface details).

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this because the ornamental features in the Shark Rockets (which Dyson improperly ignores or

downplays) create their own distinctive appearances. Under the Courts claim construction and

Federal Circuit law limiting the scope of Dysons patents to their non-functional, ornamental

aspects, the Court should grant summary judgment of non-infringement as to all asserted patents.

A comparison to the prior art further confirms that the Shark Rockets have their own

unique appearances compared to the prior art and the claimed designs. This prior art shows that

the ornamental aspects, as depicted and arranged in the patent drawings, are missing from the

Shark Rockets. In fact, even though just one distinguishing feature sufficed to find non-

infringement in Whitman Saddle and Egyptian Goddess, the Shark Rockets lack numerous

ornamental aspects, individually and in combination, that are depicted in the prior art and in the

patent drawings. As Judge Lee held in Voltstar v. Amazon, although analyzing the prior art was

unnecessary in his case, it nevertheless bolsters the conclusion that there is no infringement in

this case. 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102306, at *10. Thus, for this additional and independently-

sufficient reason, SharkNinja is entitled to summary judgment of non-infringement of asserted

patents.

Alternatively, under Dysons view of claim scope, which improperly reads out all of

the ornamental aspects depicted in the drawings and reads in all of the functional features that

the Court explicitly held were not protected by the asserted patents, there is no distinction

between the claimed designs and the prior art. Thus, if Dysons view of claim scope is allowed,

and overall shape is all that is required, then the Court should grant summary judgment that the

asserted patents are invalid for anticipation.

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A. The Shark Rockets do not infringe the 163 patent under the Courts claim
construction Order, and further in view of the prior art.

1. The Shark Rockets have a substantially different ornamental


appearance than the design claimed in the 163 patent.

When the functional aspects identified in the Courts claim construction are properly

considered and claim scope is confined to the claimed arrangement of ornamental features

depicted in the drawings, no ordinary observer would buy a Shark Rocket hand vacuum thinking

it was the same as the 163 patent design. For this reason alone, the Court should grant summary

judgment of non-infringement as to the 163 patent.

The Shark Rockets hand vacuums lack the claimed arrangement of ornamental features

depicted in the 163 patent drawings, as shown below:

163 Patent HV300

HV321 HV381

On an overall theme level, the Shark Rockets have streamlined shapes with flowing contours that

create an aerodynamic look, whereas the Dyson design has regular geometric shapes like the

crown, cylinders, cones, tubes, and rectangles that create an industrial, machine-like look. See

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Richardson, 597 F.3d at 1296 (In a side-by-side comparison with the [claimed] design, the

overall effect of this streamlined theme makes the [accused] tools significantly different from

[the boxy claimed] design.).

As shown above, major claimed features and details in Dysons 163 patent drawings are

either missing or substantially different in the Shark Rocket designs. For example, Dysons

striking crown or array of cyclones, connected to tubes reminiscent of engine manifolds, are

not found in any Shark Rocket. The claimed battery housing beneath the handle also is

conspicuously absent, and for good reason: No Shark Rocket has a battery. To the contrary, all

Shark Rockets have a 30 foot power cord coming out the back, and an ordinary observer could

not miss it. No Shark Rocket has a cylindrical dust cup, either. Finally, no Shark Rocket has a

cylindrical motor housing above the handle; instead, the motor is either below the handle or in

front of it. These different ornamental design aspects (and others) are summarized in Mr. Balls

report. (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 105, 192, 274.) All of these differences create a substantially

different visual appearance for each design in the eyes of the ordinary observer. Ethicon, 796

F.3d at 1337; Richardson, 597 F.3d at 1296; OddzOn, 122 F.3d at 1407; Elmer, 67 F.3d at 1577-

78; Lee, 838 F.2d at 1188; see also Voltstar, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102306, at *8-9.

Dyson offers no analysis of whether any of the nonfunctional, ornamental aspects create

the necessary overall similarity, and that is fatal to Dysons infringement claim. OddzOn, 122

F.3d at 1405 (rejecting patentees expert testimony that was wholly conclusory and devoid of

any analysis regarding whether the ornamental features created the overall similarity); see also

Lee, 838 F.2d at 1188. Instead, Dyson contends that there is similarity only at the abstracted

levels of pistol-grip, and suction tube and suction device shapes. (SOF 29-30; Evans

Decl. Ex. 22, Mauro Supp. Inf. Rept. 72; Dkt. 75 & 78 Ex. A at 144; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at

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407-24.) Putting aside that the actual shapes and ornamentations of the patented and

accused designs look different (as discussed and shown above), Dyson fails to account for the

functional features that the Court expressly held are not protected by the design patents,

including the pistol-grip.13 Dkt. 293 at 15-16. Dyson and its expert ignore the strikingly

different shapes and ornamentations depicted in the patent drawings, instead insisting in

conclusory fashion that they are minor differences in detail. (Evans Decl. Ex. 22, Mauro Supp.

Inf. Rept. 46, 67, 90.) This defies not only the law, e.g., Lee, 838 F.2d at 1188, but common

sense. It is akin to saying that two adults of the same height and weight look the same because

they each have a head, arms, hands, trunks, legs, and feet, while ignoring their faces and other

distinguishing details. Contrary to Dysons arguments, the shapes and ornamentations depicted

in the patent drawings are not minor; they are the only subject matter that Dyson can

permissibly claim under the Courts claim construction and controlling law.

Further, even though Dysons proposed expert testimony should be excluded as

unreliable and irrelevant,14 his opinions support non-infringement. He offered this so-called

Overlapping Transformational Alignment figure (whatever that means):

13
Dysons expert admits that the functional pistol-grip feature contributes significantly to the
overall visual impression of the 163 patent claim. (SOF 30.) Nonetheless, he did nothing to
account for the Courts holding that this feature is not protected by the 163 patent or
otherwise confine claim scope to the ornamental aspects depicted in the drawings.
14
Because of the problems with his infringement opinions (and others), SharkNinja has
concurrently filed a motion to exclude the opinions of Dysons expert Mr. Charles Mauro.
SharkNinja hereby incorporates the arguments set forth in that motion by reference.

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(Evans Decl. Ex. 22, Mauro Supp. Inf. Rept. App. H.) Nothing aligns in this picture, which

only highlights the different designs. The Shark Rocket can be clearly seen behind the claimed

design, despite Mr. Mauros attempts to obscure the ornamental appearance of the HV381

product by painting it white and clipping off its 30-foot power cord (neither of which an ordinary

observer would do during normal use or while making a purchasing decision). Indeed, Mr.

Mauro had nothing to say about this lack of alignment in his report, and for good reason: This

image confirms that the Shark Rockets have different structural elements (e.g., they lack the

claimed battery pack housing, and instead have a power cord that is almost 30 feet long) that are

arranged in a different configuration (e.g., they have no motor above the handle, but rather

underneath the handle (the HV300) or in front of it (the HV321 and HV381)) with entirely

different ornamental features (e.g., they lack Dysons crown or cyclone array, the cylindrical

motor housing, and the flat battery pack housing, among many others).

The USPTO confirmed this distinctive dissimilarity when it granted SharkNinja its own

design patents over the 163 patent. SharkNinjas design patents on the distinctive Shark Rocket

hand vacuums are shown below next to the 163 patent:

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163 patent HV321 hand vacuum HV300 hand vacuum


(U.S. Patent No. D745,231) (U.S. Patent No. D731,720)

SharkNinjas design patents were allowed over the 163 patent by the same examiner who

originally examined the 163 patent (Ms. Ruth McInroy). (SOF 19, 24.) The fact that the

same examiner considered both the 163 patent and the Shark Rockets designs under the

ordinary observer test, and then concluded that the HV300 and HV321 designs were not

substantially the same as the 163 patent, further confirms that the Shark Rockets are

distinctively different from the 163 patent.15 See, e.g., RNA Corp. v. Procter & Gamble Co.,

747 F. Supp. 2d 1008, 1019 (N.D. Ill. 2010) (Zagel, J.) (separate design patent on accused design

lent support to the lack of infringement of [patentees] design by the [accused] product);

Thomas Indus., Inc. v. Gast Mfg., Inc., No. 04-C-375-C, 2005 WL 1400391, at *14 (W.D. Wis.

June 14, 2005) (non-infringement supported by fact that separate patent on accused product was

allowed by the same examiner who originally examined the patent-in-suit); cf. Natl Presto

Indus., Inc. v. West Bend Co., 76 F.3d 1185, 1192 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (The fact of separate

patentability is relevant [to non-infringement], and is entitled to due weight.).

Dyson also illustrated the inconsistency of any claim that details dont matter by

seeking, and obtaining, its own separate design patents for its later-generation hand vacuum
15
The Manual for Patent Examining Procedures (MPEP) requires examiners to apply the same
ordinary observer test to determine whether an application is anticipated by the prior art as the
test that courts use to determine infringement. MPEP 1504.02 ([T]he ordinary observer test is
the sole test for anticipation.) (quoting Intl Seaway, 589 F.3d at 1239-40).

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designs, including the DC59 (U.S. Patent No. D731,134) and the V6 and V8 (U.S. Patent Nos.

D739,102, D741,558, D747,571, and D747,572). (SOF 16.) The hand vacuum designs that

Dyson and the USPTO believed were so ornamentally-distinctive as to be worthy of their own

separate design patent protection over the 163 patent are shown below:

163 patent U.S. Patent No. D739,102 U.S. Patent No. D741,558

U.S. Patent No. D731,134 U.S. Patent No. D747,571 U.S. Patent No. D747,572

That Dyson applied for, and the USPTO agreed to grant, separate patents on its own later-model

hand vacuum designs further confirms that details matter, that the 163 patent has limited

claim scope, and that a finding of non-infringement is warranted. Great Neck Saw Mfrs., Inc. v.

Star Asia U.S.A., LLC, 727 F. Supp. 2d 1038, 1057 (W.D. Wash. 2010) (The Primary

Examiners conclusion that the claimed designs are sufficiently dissimilar to each other to

warrant separate patents supports the Courts view that the subtle but greater differences between

the claimed designs and the accused device requires a judgment of non-infringement.) Dyson

should not be able to gain the benefit of separate patents for its own different designs, yet argue

that the much more different Shark Rocket designs are within the scope of the patents-in-suit.

In sum, there are many differences between the Shark Rockets hand vacuum designs and

the ornamental features and details depicted in the 163 patent drawings, as construed by the

Court. See Ethicon, 796 F.3d at 1337 ([A]t the proper level of granularity, the claimed

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ornamental designs of the Design Patents are, as a whole, plainly dissimilar from the ornamental

design of [the] accused [products].). There is no genuine dispute that the 163 patent, as

construed by the Court, is not infringed by any Shark Rocket hand vacuum. For this reason

alone, summary judgment of non-infringement is appropriate as to the 163 patent. Id. at 1337.

2. The prior art further proves that no one would confuse the Shark
Rockets with the 163 patented design.

As in Voltstar, the prior art in this case teaches that there are different designs for pistol-

grip hand vacuums and the ordinary observer could not confuse any of them for each other,

including the accused and patented designs. Voltstar, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102306, at *13.

For similar reasons, the ordinary observer would recognize that the Shark Rockets and

the 163 patent each depart from the prior art pistol-grip hand vacuums in different ways.

Prior art pistol-grip hand vacuum designs confirm that the Shark Rockets hand vacuums are

different from both the prior art and from the 163 patent drawings:

163 patent JP2002-85297 (top) and HV300 (top), HV321 (middle)


GB2035787 (bottom) and HV381 (bottom)

As shown above, the overall shape of a pistol-grip or point and shoot configuration with a

suction nozzle was known in the prior art. (SOF 69-70; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 399-406.)

Further, similar to the different taper and lozenge features in Voltstar, the ordinary observer

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would notice that the claimed designs differ from prior art pistol-grip hand vacuums and from

the Shark Rockets in several major respects, including, for example, Dysons striking crown or

array of cyclones (as discussed above), the flat battery housing, the cylindrical dust cup, and the

cylindrical motor housing. And each Shark Rocket has a 30 foot power cord. These and other

ornamental distinctions of the Shark Rockets from the claimed design (and the prior art) are

discussed above in Section III.A, and summarized in Mr. Balls report (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at

105, 192, 274.) For this additional and independent reason, the Court should grant summary

judgment of non-infringement as to the 163 patent.

B. The Shark Rockets do not infringe 010 and 823 patents under the Courts
claim construction, and further in view of the prior art.

1. The Shark Rockets have a substantially different ornamental


appearance than the claimed 010 and 823 patent designs.

After properly accounting for the features that the Court identified as functional and

limiting claim scope to the claimed combination of ornamental aspects depicted in the patent

drawings, no reasonable jury could find that an ordinary observer who devotes the attention that

purchasers usually do would purchase a Shark Rocket thinking it to be the same as Dysons

designs in the 010 and 823 patents. For this reason alone, SharkNinja is entitled to summary

judgment of non-infringement as to the 010 and 823 patents. Ethicon, 796 F.3d at 1337.

On an overall styling level, the Shark Rockets have a streamlined, aerodynamic theme

with non-geometric shapes (e.g., teardrops, ovals, and racetracks) and flowing contours, whereas

Dysons design features regular geometric shapes (e.g., cylinders, cones, tubes, and rectangles)

and perpendicular angles that create Dysons more industrial, machine-like look. See

Richardson, 597 F.3d at 1296 (holding that the streamlined theme of accused crowbar design

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created a different visual impression than the boxy theme of the claimed design). The different

designs are shown below:

010 patent (top) and 823 patent (bottom; claimed elements in gray)

HV300 (top), HV321 (middle), HV381 (bottom)

In assessing design patent infringement, all views must be considered (not just a side view).

Contessa, 282 F.3d at 1378 ([T]he ordinary observer analysis is not limited to the ornamental

features of a subset of the drawings, but instead must encompass the claimed ornamental features

of all figures of a design patent.). As shown below, additional views confirm the ornamental

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differences of the Shark Rockets, such as the comparisons of the hand vacuum and floor unit

designs shown below:

Left to right: 823 patent, 010 patent, HV300, HV321, and HV381 hand vacuum designs

010 patent floor unit HV381 floor unit

010 patent floor unit HV321 floor unit

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010 patent floor unit HV300 floor unit

As shown above, and consistent with the ornamental differences noted above for the 163

patent, major claimed features and details in Dysons 010 and 823 patent drawings are either

missing or significantly different in the Shark Rocket designs. No Shark Rocket includes the

prominent crown or array of cyclones or flat battery housing. All Shark Rockets have a

prominent 30 foot power cord coming out the back. Nor do any Shark Rockets have a

cylindrical motor housing above the handle, or a cylindrical dust cup. The Shark Rocket floor

units have completely different sizes, shapes, and ornamentations. They are much wider overall,

have a pair of flat-sided wheels, and lack the prominent spherical wheels claimed in the 010

patent. These and other design distinctions between the 010 and 823 patents and the Shark

Rockets are summarized in Mr. Balls report (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 138, 162-63, 225, 245, 303,

323). The combined effect of these differences creates a substantially different visual

appearance for each design in the eyes of the ordinary observer. Ethicon, 796 F.3d at 1337;

Richardson, 597 F.3d at 1296; OddzOn, 122 F.3d at 1407; Elmer, 67 F.3d at 1577-78; Lee, 838

F.2d at 1188; see also Voltstar, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102306, at *8-9.

Here, as well, Dyson offers no analysis of whether any of the nonfunctional, ornamental

aspects create the necessary overall similarity, and that is fatal to Dysons infringement claim.

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OddzOn, 122 F.3d at 1405. In the case of the 010 and 823 patents, Dyson contends that there is

similarity only at the abstracted level of pistol-grip, suction tube, and floor suction shapes.

(SOF 29; Evans Decl. Ex. 22, Mauro Supp. Inf. Rept. at 28; Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 407-24.)

Once again, as shown above, the actual shapes and ornamentations of the patented and accused

designs are different (as discussed and shown above), and these are, again, all functional features

that are not protected by the design patents.16 Dkt. 293 at 15-16. As with the 163 patent,

Dyson and its expert offer only the unexplained (and wrong) conclusion that the strikingly

different shapes and ornamentations depicted in the patent drawings amount to minor

differences in detail. (Evans Decl. Ex. 22, Mauro Supp. Inf. Rept. 46, 67, 90.) Again, Dyson

defies the Courts claim construction Order, controlling law, and common sense. The

ornamental shapes and ornamentations depicted in the patent drawings represent the outer limits

of what Dyson can protect with design patents, and the Shark Rockets are well outside those

limits under the Courts claim construction.

As with the 163 patent, the experts at the USPTO have provided a helpful reality

check for the analysis here. The USPTO has recognized that the designs of the Shark Rockets

are patentably distinct from the asserted designs by granting SharkNinja its own design patents

over the asserted patents, as discussed above. By issuing these separate design patents, the

USPTO has determined that the HV300 and HV321 designs are not substantially similar to the

asserted designs. The separate patents awarded to SharkNinja for the Shark Rockets designs

further confirm that their ornamental appearances are substantially dissimilar from the asserted

16
Dysons expert also admitted that the functional pistol-grip, suction tube, low-profile floor
unit, and spherical wheels features contribute significantly to the overall visual impression of
the 010 and 823 patents, and that they correspond to his so-called salient shapes. (SOF 29.)
Nonetheless, he did nothing to account for the Courts holding that these functional features are
not protected by the design patents, Dkt. 293 at 15-16, or restrict claim scope to the ornamental
shapes and ornamentations depicted in the patent drawings.

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designs and that there is no infringement. RNA, 747 F. Supp. 2d at 1019-20; Thomas Indus.,

2005 WL 1400391, at *14; cf. Natl Presto, 76 F.3d at 1191-92.

Further, the USPTO also determined that even Dysons later-generation hand and stick

vac designs (for its DC59, V6, and V8 models) are not substantially similar to the asserted

patents which further confirms their limited claim scope. For example, Dyson sought, and

obtained, separate design patents on its later-generation DC59 stick vac designs (shown below),

which were allowed over the 010 and 823 patents:17

U.S. Patent No. D731,130 (DC59 design)

U.S. Patent No. D731,134 (DC59 design)

010 patent

823 patent (claimed elements in gray)

17
In fact, the same examiner who examined and allowed Dysons asserted patents (Ms. Ruth
McInroy) determined that five HV300 and HV321 designs were patentably distinct from the
asserted designs. (SFO 29, 40.) Ms. McInroy also examined and allowed Dysons separate
design patents covering Dysons later-generation hand and stick vacuum designs, the DC59, V6,
and V8. (SOF 16.)

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(SOF 16.) The fact that Dyson believed and the USPTO agreed that its own later-

generation designs, such as the DC59, were so ornamentally distinctive to be deserving of their

own design patent protection over the asserted patents belies Dysons claim in this case that

details dont matter and further supports a finding of non-infringement. Great Neck Saw, 727

F. Supp. 2d at 1056-57. Again, Dyson should not be allowed to represent to the USPTO

successfully that its own different designs are not substantially similar to the patents-in-suit,

yet argue to this Court that the much more different Shark Rocket designs are somehow within

the scope of the patents-in-suit.

There is no genuine dispute that when functional features are properly accounted for and

claim scope is limited to the shapes and ornamentations depicted in the 010 and 823 patent

drawings, an ordinary observer would not purchase a Shark Rocket design thinking it to be the

claimed designs. See Ethicon, 796 F.3d at 1337. For this reason alone, summary judgment of

non-infringement is warranted.

2. The prior art highlights the Shark Rockets distinct ornamental


appearances, and further confirms non-infringement of the 010 and
823 patents.

A comparison to the prior art further confirms that the Shark Rockets have their own

unique appearances compared to the prior art and the asserted design patents. Even though just

one distinguishing feature sufficed to find non-infringement under Whitman Saddle and Egyptian

Goddess, the Shark Rockets are missing many the ornamental aspects that are arranged and

depicted in the prior art and in the patent drawings. Thus, for this additional and independently-

sufficient reason, SharkNinja is entitled to summary judgment of non-infringement.

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(a) The DC31 manual, 242 design, and 848 patent teach the
ordinary observer that the Shark Rockets have distinct
ornamental designs.

The ordinary observer would appreciate the Shark Rockets distinct appearances in view

of the prior art DC31 manual, DC26 floor unit design (as claimed in the 242 design), and the

cuffed cylindrical tube claimed in the 848 patent, which are shown below:

DC31 manual 848 patent 242 design

010 patent (top) and 823 patent (bottom)

Shark Rockets (HV300 (top), HV321 (middle), HV381 (bottom))

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The ordinary observer, using this combination of prior art as a frame of reference, would notice

that the Shark Rockets have distinctively different designs.18 For example, the ordinary observer

would know that the asserted patent drawings include the same or substantially the same

ornamental designs as the prior art DC31 manual, 242 design, and 848 patent. Thus, the

ordinary observer would know that, insofar as the claims have any distinctions over the designs

in the prior art, those distinctions do not appear in the Shark Rockets. Whitman Saddle, 148 U.S.

at 680; Egyptian Goddess, 543 F.3d at 682-83. As set forth above, Dysons expert admitted as

much. (SOF 35.) By contrast, the ordinary observer also would see that the Shark Rockets

have distinctly different designs, as reflected in the ornamental differences discussed in

Section III.B and summarized in Mr. Balls report. (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 138, 162, 225, 245,

303, 323, 355-73.). This prior art, standing alone, supports the conclusion that an ordinary

observer would not buy a Shark Rocket thinking it is the same as the patent drawings.

(b) The 2006 DC16 post and the 2009 DC31 video further show the
ordinary observer that the Shark Rockets differ from the
asserted patents.

As discussed above, the 2006 DC16 post and the 2009 DC31 video are two prior public

descriptions of stick vac designs assembled from same or similar hand vacuum, floor unit, and

suction tube designs as those in the 010 and 823 patents. The following shows the designs

described in the 2006 DC16 post and the 2009 DC31 video, next to the 010 and 823 patents

and the Shark Rockets:


18
While it is true that the ordinary observer analysis considers the prior art, the claimed
design, and the accused designs as overall designs, that does not mean that the ordinary observer
does not consider elements or features as part of that analysis. See Egyptian Goddess, 543 F.3d
at 682-83 ([W]e are satisfied that the [single element] difference on which the district court
focused is important, viewed in the context of the prior art.); see also Whitman Saddle, 148 U.S.
at 682 (finding non-infringement because accused design lacked single claimed feature of the
sharp drop of the pommel at the rear); Voltstar, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102306, at *12-13.

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2009 DC31 video (left) and 2006 DC16 post (right) 010 patent (left) and 823 patent (right)

Shark Rockets (HV300 (left), HV321 (middle), HV381 (right))

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(Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 342.) The following shows the different hand vacuum designs of the prior

art and claimed designs next to the Shark Rockets hand vacuums:

2009 DC31 video (left) and 2006 DC16 post (right) 010 patent (left) and 823 patent (right)

Shark Rockets (HV300 (left), HV321 (middle), HV381 (right))

(Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 342.) For the same reasons discussed above, the ordinary observer would

recognize that the patent drawings are the same or substantially the same ornamental hand

vacuum, floor unit, and tube designs as described in the 2009 DC31 video and the 2006 DC16

post. Dysons Rule 30(b)(6) witness and named inventor Peter Gammack testified that

(SOF 53, 59.) Dysons expert did as well. (SOF 53, 59.) Again, the ordinary observer

familiar with this prior art would understand that none of the features in the claimed designs that

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deviate from the prior art (if any) appear in the Shark Rockets. With this additional prior art as a

frame of reference, the ordinary observer would notice the ornamental differences discussed in

Section III.B and summarized in Mr. Balls report. (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 138, 162, 225, 245,

303, and 323.) This additional prior art independently supports the conclusion that an ordinary

observer would not buy a Shark Rocket thinking it is the same as the Dyson designs.

(i) The 2006 DC16 post is a printed publication.

Because Dyson cannot challenge the substantial similarity of the stick vac described in

the 2006 DC16 post, Dyson disputes the 2006 DC16 posts status as a prior art printed

publication under 35 U.S.C. 102(b). Contrary to Dysons technical challenges, the 2006

DC16 post was publicly accessible, and thus qualifies as a printed publication, before the

critical date of the 010 and 823 patents (August 27, 2009) and before Dysons earliest patent

application filing date (August 27, 2010).19 It therefore qualifies as prior art under both 35

U.S.C. 102(a) and (b).

Because there are many ways in which a reference may be disseminated to the interested

public, public accessibility has been called the touchstone in determining whether a reference

constitutes a printed publication bar under 35 U.S.C. 102(b). Suffolk Techs., LLC v. AOL,

Inc., 752 F.3d 1358, 1364 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (citation omitted). A given reference is publicly

accessible upon a satisfactory showing that such document has been disseminated or otherwise

made available to the extent that persons interested and ordinarily skilled in the subject matter or

art exercising reasonable diligence, can locate it. Id.

19
The 010 and 823 patents claim the benefit of the European Community registered design
applications filed in August 27, 2010, which is the relevant date for determining prior art under
35 U.S.C 102(a). (SOF 12, 14.) The critical date of the 010 and 823 patents for purposes
of determining prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(b) is one year earlier, August 27, 2009.

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Whether a reference is publicly accessible is a low threshold. Indeed, before the

internet was part of everyday life, a single copy of a dissertation (in German) that was likely to

have been shelved in a library (in a German university) at the relevant time qualified as a

printed publication because it was sufficient[ly] accessib[le] to those interested in the art

exercising reasonable diligence. In re Hall, 781 F.2d 897, 900 (Fed. Cir. 1986). Naturally, the

law adapts to new technologies and the impact of the internet on public accessibility is no

exception. In Suffolk Technologies v. AOL, for example, the Federal Circuit held that a Usenet

newsgroup post published on June 29, 1995 was a prior art printed publication. 752 F.3d at

1364-65. The posts audience included those skilled in the art because those of ordinary skill in

the art actually were using such newsgroups. Id. at 1364. Similarly, even though that post

(unlike the post here) was non-indexed and non-searchable20 the newsgroups were organized

in a hierarchical manner and thus, someone interested in [the subject matter] could easily

locate a list of posts in this newsgroup. Id. at 1365. The newsgroup post also was sufficiently

disseminated, and there were at least six responses following its publication, and [m]any

more people may have viewed the posts without posting anything themselves. Id.

Likewise, in Voter Verified, Inc. v. Premier Election Solutions, Inc., the Federal Circuit

held an article placed online in 1995 was a printed publication even there was no evidence

(unlike here) that it could be found by search engines. 698 F.3d 1374, 1380-81 (Fed. Cir.

2012). The site was known to those interested in the subject matter (computer automation risks

relating to electronic voting technologies), and the submissions were public disclosures that

20
Index in this context refers to the content that a search engine like Google has collected from
the internet and stored in a database so that it can match users search queries to relevant content.
(SOF 38.) If a site has been indexed, that means the search engine has collected and stored
textual and other data from the site, and users can locate the site using search queries. (SOF
38.) As set forth herein, both the 2006 DC16 post and the 2009 DC31 video were indexed by
major search engines such as Google and YouTube at the relevant times and therefore locatable.

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could be freely and easily copied. Id. The site also had an internal search tool to find the article

with simple terms like vote, voting, ballot, or election. Id.

Here, as in Suffolk Technologies and Voter Verified, the same kinds of evidence show that

the 2006 DC16 post was both accessible to, and indeed frequently accessed by, the public.

(SOF 37, 39-47.) For example, Mr. Welch, the websites owner, testified that the interested

public actually viewed the 2006 DC16 post because:

he created the forums in order to engage the interested public and encourage them
to share information. (SOF 37.)

people interested in vacuum cleaner design not only viewed the thread but
contributed to it. (SOF 37, 42-47.)

all of his forums were public and visible to search engines like Google because he
used the forums contents to enhance his sites visibility to search engines like
Google. (SOF 37, 39-47.)

there were a number of ways that interested members of the public could find the
2006 DC16 post within his site, including directly navigating to the forum thread
through his sites hierarchical organization and using his sites internal search tool
for finding content. (SOF 37, 39-47; Bederson Decl. Ex. 1 at 44-45, Exhibit
of YaBB Test Files.)

SharkNinjas expert Dr. Bederson confirmed that the thread including the 2006 DC16

post was actually viewed over a thousand times by November 14, 2006. (SOF 47; Bederson

Decl. Ex. 1 at 40.) For example, he testified that, based on a November 14, 2006 Internet

Archive screen capture, the main forum page showed a link to this particular thread, which was

flagged as a Very Hot Topic with 58 replies and 1,445 views (despite the fact that the thread

was about a month old at the time). (SOF 47; Bederson Decl. Ex. 1 at 40.) Dr. Bederson also

showed how the sites internal search tool worked, and how the software recorded the number of

views. (Bederson Decl. Ex. 1 at 41-45, Ex. of YaBB Test Files.)

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Those skilled in the art use this and similar forums as sources of feedback about products.

Mr. Ball opined that vacuum cleaner designers value such forums because:

[They] are hungry for looking for any insights to understand users
or people theyre designing products for. Theyre looking for
unmet needs, opportunities for innovation. They would
extensively search. You know, they would look at sites and it
would take them to other sites and if they could find a . . . dialogue
on a forum that describes merits of designs or configurations of
designs, they would be -- they would find that very, very insightful
and helpful.

(SOF 42.)21 Indeed, Dyson

. (SOF 42; Ball Decl. Ex. 1 at

207.) Further, Dysons expert Mr. Mauro relies on internet consumer feedback as supposed

infringement evidence. (SOF 42; Dkt. 75 & 78 Ex. A at 20 n.5.)

In addition to being viewed by the public, the 2006 DC16 post also was locatable using

search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. (SOF 37, 39-47.) Mr. Welch testified that all

of his forums including the post were locatable by major search engines between 2006 to the

present. (SOF 37.) He also testified that the post is still locatable through search engines

today, and he even proposed simple terms like dyson dc16 forum discussion that could be used

to locate the site. (SOF 43.) Mr. Ball testified that it would have been reasonable for

anybody interested in vacuum cleaner design to search the terms, Dyson or DC16 or Dyson

DC16 or DC16 post or Dyson DC16 discussion shortly after Dyson introduced the DC16 in

21
There also is evidence that vacuum cleaner designers actually frequented this forum and
contributed to this thread. As referenced in Mr. Balls report, the 2006 DC16 posts author
(dualcyclone) appears to have been an industry insider because he or she received a Dyson
DC16 before its official release but was not permitted to discuss details. (Ball Decl. Ex. 1 at
188-207;SOF 42.) Another post in the Abbys Guide legacy archive further indicates that
dualcyclone was a vacuum cleaner designer. See
https://www.abbysguide.com/vacuum/legacy/cgi-bin/yabb/5403~YaBB.html (last visited May
15, 2017) (referring to a gift that was given to me as a small thank you for designing the Air-
Way Signature Series for the Air-Way Company in 2000.).

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2006. (SOF 43-45.) Doing so would have located the 2006 DC16 post. (SOF 39-45.) Dr.

Bederson also opined that the post is locatable today, using simple terms such as dyson dc16

discussion. (SOF 45.) In her deposition, Dysons expert Jessie Stricchiola retrieved the post

using Google with the query dyson dc16 discussion. (SOF 45.) Ms. Stricchiola and Mr.

Mauro both admitted that it would be reasonable to use terms like dyson dc16, and variations

thereof to research the Dyson DC16. (SOF 43.)

Ms. Stricchiolas own methods confirmed that the 2006 DC16 post could be located at

the relevant times through search engines. In her deposition, she used her SEMRush tool

method to find at least 11 search terms that returned the 2006 DC16 post in the top 100 Google

results as of March 2017 (which she testified is a benchmark for search relevance in her field).

(SOF 39.) She also used the Google date range operator to determine the results that were

added to the [Google] index during [a] referenced time frame.22 (SOF 39.) Using that

method, she confirmed that the 2006 DC16 post was added to the Google index, and was thus

locatable, during the October 21, 2006 to December 31, 2006 time frame. (SOF 39, 44.) She

also confirmed that there were at least 20 search terms relating to dyson, dc16, dyson

dc16, or the like, that return the post among the results added to the Google index in that time

frame. (SOF 39, 44.)

22
Ms. Stricchiolas book describes the Google date range operator methodology as follows:
Using the very cool Google date range operator, you can determine how many times in the past
day, week, month, or year new content related to your term was added to the Google index.
[Y]ou can pick from Any time (which is the default), Past hour, Past 24 hours, Past week,
Past month, Past year, and Custom range. This will limit you to the results that were added
to the index during the referenced time frame. (SOF 39.) Beyond Ms. Stricchiolas
endorsement, courts have found the Google date range operator to be an appropriate way to
determine whether a website would have been likely to be returned among search engine query
results in the past, and where in the results the website would likely have been. J.S. & L.S. v.
Am. Inst. for Foreign Study, Inc., No. SA-12-CA-1036-XR, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136073, at
*43-47 (W.D. Tex. Sept. 24, 2013).

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There is no genuine dispute that the 2006 DC16 post was both reasonably accessible to,

and accessed by, members of the public interested in vacuum design at the relevant times.

(ii) The 2009 DC31 video is a printed publication.

Similar to the 2006 DC16 post, the 2009 DC31 video is compelling prior art evidence

that Dyson avoids on substantial similarity, but attacks on perceived technicalities. Dyson

cannot show a genuine fact dispute as to whether the 2009 DC31 video was publicly accessible

on YouTube from December 28, 2009 up to the time that Dyson filed its earliest applications on

August 27, 2010. The 2009 DC31 video qualifies as a prior art printed publication under 35

U.S.C. 102(a) for several reasons.

First, Dyson cannot get behind any prior art with its recent claim that the 010 and 823

patents are entitled to an earlier priority date than the August 27, 2010 filing date. For purposes

of this motion, it suffices to say that Dysons recent claim that the 010 and 823 patents are

entitled to a 2006 priority date fails because Dyson identifies the wrong inventors and the wrong

time.23 According to Dysons theories and its own design documents, non-named inventor Mr.

Peace conceived Dysons stick vac designs in 2005. (SOF 60-68.) But March 6, 2006 is the

earliest time that Dyson contends that named inventors Messrs. Gammack and Dyson conceived

the 010 and 823 patents. (SOF 62-63.) For this reason alone, Dyson cannot claim the

23
As explained in SharkNinjas motion for leave to file a motion for leave to amend its answer
and counterclaims to assert inequitable conduct, Dkt 258 Ex. 1, it was not until March 31, 2016
that Dyson asserted that the 010 and 823 patents were entitled to a priority date earlier than the
August 27, 2010 application filing date. Before that, Dyson relied on the August 27, 2010 date.
After that, Dyson contends, among other things, that Messrs. Gammack and Dyson were the
first, original, and joint inventors of the 010 and 823 patents and that they jointly conceived the
designs on March 6, 2006. SharkNinja disputes all aspects of Dysons new invention story as
both factually incorrect and uncorroborated; however, the only issue that needs to be resolved in
this motion is whether Mr. Peace was the first inventor of the 010 and 823 patents, and not
Messrs. Gammack or Dyson. If he was, then Dysons priority claim must be rejected as
incorrect, and the 2005 Peace sketch qualifies as prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(f).

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benefit of its alleged 2006 priority date. Taurus IP, LLC v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., 726 F.3d

1306, 1324 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (denying claim to earlier priority date where evidence did not

establish alleged first conception, but [i]nstead of corroborating [named inventors] testimony,

[the cited documentation] serves as the sole basis for it).

Second, any challenges to the public accessibility of the 2009 DC31 video similarly

lack merit. The 2009 DC31 video was published on YouTube, perhaps the most publicly

accessible forum of all time. (SOF 54, 57.) Indeed, the 2009 DC31 video was viewed 6,960

times from December 28, 2009 to August 8, 2016, including about a thousand views in the first

year after it was published. (SOF 56.) Further, on November 29, 2016, the European Patent

Office rejected Dysons speculation that this YouTube video might have been private and

determined that the video was made available to the public on 28.12.2009 and that it formed

part of the state of the art . . . . (SOF 56.)

The 2009 DC31 video also was locatable through search engines. YouTube is a search

engine, and any member of the public interested in vacuum cleaner design could have located the

video by searching for keywords in its title or description, such as Dyson DC31.24 (SOF

57-58.) Dr. Bederson testified that the 2009 DC31 video could be located in YouTube

because search terms that included any of the words in the title or description would likely turn

up the video, such as Dyson and DC31. (SOF 58.) Mr. Ball also testified that it would

have been reasonable for anybody interested in vacuum cleaner design to search the terms

Dyson or DC31 or Dyson DC31 shortly after the Dyson DC31 was introduced in 2009.

(SOF 58.) Again, such searches would have located the 2009 DC31 video. (SOF 58.)

24
Up until mid- to late-September 2016, the 2009 DC31 video was publicly accessible on
YouTube. (SOF 55.) The video is not currently publicly accessible, but that does not impact
its availability before Dyson filed its first applications on August 27, 2010.

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For largely the same reasons discussed above, the ordinary observer familiar with the 2005 Peace

sketch would recognize that the patent drawings include the same or substantially the same

ornamental hand vacuum, floor unit, and tube designs. Here, too, the ordinary observer would

appreciate that the Shark Rockets do not copy the features that separate the claimed designs from

the prior art (assuming there are any). Using the 2005 Peace sketch as a frame of reference, the

ordinary observer would notice that the Shark Rockets have their own distinctly different

designs, including the ornamental differences discussed in Section III.B and summarized in Mr.

Balls report. (Ball Decl. Ex. 2 at 138, 162, 225, 245, 303, 323 374-92.)

(i) The 2005 Peace sketch is 102(f) prior art.

Section 102(f) defines prior art in cases where, as here, the named inventor(s) did not

[themselves] invent the subject matter sought to be patented. See OddzOn, 122 F.3d at 1403-04

([S]ubject matter derived from another not only is itself unpatentable to the party who derived it

under 102(f), but, when combined with other prior art, may make a resulting obvious invention

unpatentable to that party under a combination of 102(f) and 103.). To show derivation

under 102(f), there must be proof of a both prior conception of the invention by another and

communication of that conception to the patentee. Creative Compounds, LLC v. Starmark

Labs., 651 F. 3d 1303, 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citation omitted).

The 2005 Peace sketch meets both requirements. With regard to prior conception,

Dysons Rule 30(b)(6) witness and Dysons own expert

. There also is no dispute

that the 2005 Peace sketch came before Dysons alleged 2006 priority date.

Mr. Peace also communicated his prior conception to Dyson and the named inventors.

Under 102(f), there is no rule that the requisite communication . . . take place in any

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particular form or that it occur directly between the prior inventor and the patentee. Synthon IP,

Inc. v. Pfizer Inc., No. 1:05-cv-1267, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26115, at *12 (E.D. Va. Apr. 6,

2007) (finding jury had sufficient evidence of communication of prior conception based on

employee discussions and internal documents including a substantial number of documents

located in [patentees] files disclosing [the] prior use). Nevertheless, the record here amply

demonstrates that Mr. Peace communicated his prior conception to Dyson and the named

inventors:


(SOF 66.)

According to Dysons representations to the Court and the testimony of Dysons


witnesses,

(Dkt. 260 at 1, 3, 10; Dkt. 263 at 4, 5, 6, 13-14; SOF


66.)

Dyson represented to the Court that

(Dkt. 260 at 11; Dkt. 263 at 14; SOF


67.)

Dyson represented to the Court that

(Dkt. 260 at 11; Dkt. 263 at 14;


SOF 67.)

Dyson represented to the Court that


. (Dkt. 260 at
11
Dkt. 263 at 14 (same); SOF 67.)

Dyson also

. (SOF 67.)

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(SOF 60-66.) In view of the foregoing, Mr. Peace was the first to conceive of Dysons

alleged stick vac designs, and he also communicated that prior conception to Dyson or the named

inventors.25 Accordingly, the 2005 Peace Sketch qualifies as 102(f) prior art.

* * *

For all of the foregoing reasons, under the Courts claim construction and controlling

law, it is clear that the Shark Rockets do not infringe. No ordinary observer, with knowledge of

the prior art, would purchase a Shark Rocket thinking it was the same as the design depicted in

the asserted patents.

25
Courts have found that similar circumstantial evidence of communication by a non-named
inventor to either a patentee or a named inventor is sufficient to qualify the non-named
inventors prior conception as prior art under 102(f). See, e.g., In re Bendamustine Consol.
Cases, No. 13-2046-GMS, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75624, at *44 (D. Del. June 10, 2016) (prior
conception communicated to patentee by providing patentee with patented drug and technical
literature); T&M Inventions, LLC v. Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc., No. 14-CV-947, 2016 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS 71333, at *22 (E.D. Wis. June 1, 2016) (prior conception communicated to patentee
by offer to patentee to manufacture or when mockup was built on patentees property); Auxilium
Pharms., Inc. v. Watson Labs., Inc., No. 12-3084 (JLL), 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 184032, at *93-
95 (D.N.J. Dec. 16, 2014) (prior conception communicated to patentee where patentee acquired
prior inventors notebook); Apotex Inc. v. Cephalon, Inc., No. 2:06-cv-2768, 2011 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 125859, at *64 (E.D. Pa. Oct. 31, 2011) (patent invalid based on prior communication of
claimed chemical compound and its specific properties to patentee); Robert Bosch, LLC v. Pylon
Mfg. Corp., 748 F. Supp. 2d 383, 398 (D. Del. 2010), revd on other grounds, 659 F.3d 1142
(Fed. Cir. 2011) (jury verdict of 102(f) invalidity supported by communication of conception at
meeting and meeting notes); Delta Frangible Ammunition, LLC v. Sinterfire, Inc., 663 F. Supp.
2d 405, 418 (W.D. Pa. 2009) (prior conception communicated to named inventor as an
employee of a former employer); Alloc, Inc. v. Pergo, Inc., No. 02-C-736, 2008 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 35944, at *12-13 (E.D. Wis. May 1, 2008) (jury verdict of 102(f) invalidity supported
by communications to in-house lawyer, management, and engineers); Medtronic Xomed, Inc. v.
Gyrus ENT LLC, 440 F. Supp. 2d 1300, 1320-21 (M.D. Fla. 2006) (prior conception
communicated by providing prototype to patentees predecessor); Hay & Forage Indus. v. New
Holland N. Am., Inc., 25 F. Supp. 2d 1180, 1194 n.6 (D. Kans. 1998) (evidence showed
communication to named inventors based on records that prior inventor regularly collaborated
with [the named inventors] during the relevant time period.)

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C. Alternatively, under Dysons view of claim scope, the asserted patents are so
broad in scope that they are invalid for anticipation.

As demonstrated above, the Court should grant summary judgment of non-infringement

in accordance with the Courts claim construction and the prior art. Nevertheless, under Dysons

view of claim scope, which reads out all of the ornamental aspects depicted in the drawings

and reads in all of the functional features that the Court explicitly held were not protected by

the asserted patents,26 the scope of its patents is so broad that it captures the prior art.

Dyson cannot have it both ways. The same claim scope must apply for purposes of both

infringement and invalidity. Intl Seaway, 589 F.3d at 1239. Therefore, if, as Dyson contends,

similarity in overall shape is all that is required for infringement, then the prior art discloses

the same overall shapes claimed in the asserted patents. In that event, the asserted patents

must be found invalid for anticipation.27

The ordinary observer test is the sole test for determining whether a design patent is

anticipated. Intl Seaway, 589 F.3d at 1240. Under the ordinary observer test, a design patent

claim is anticipated if, in the eye of an ordinary observer, giving such attention as a purchaser

usually gives, two designs are substantially the same, if the resemblance is such as to deceive

such an observer, inducing him to purchase one supposing it to be the other. Id. at 1239

(quoting Gorham, 81 U.S. at 528). This comparison considers the significant differences

26
It is black-letter law that design patents cannot be read, as Dyson does, with too high a level
of abstraction, focusing on the unclaimed utilitarian aspects of the underlying article instead of
the claimed ornamental designs of that underlying article. Ethicon, 796 F.3d at 1315; see also
High Point Design LLC v. Buyers Direct, Inc., 730 F.3d 1301, 1314 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (district
court erred by interpreting the drawings at too high a level of abstraction by failing to focus
on the distinctive visual appearances of the reference and the claimed design (citations
omitted)).
27
SharkNinja also contends that the 010 and 823 patent are obvious under Dysons view of
claim scope. Nevertheless, SharkNinja only moves for summary judgment on the grounds that
the asserted patents are invalid as anticipated under Dysons view of claim scope.

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between two designs; minor differences cannot prevent a finding of anticipation. Id. at 1243

(citation omitted). The designs overall visual effects determine whether the claimed design and

the prior art are substantially the same to an ordinary observer. Crocs, Inc. v. Intl Trade

Commn, 598 F.3d 1294, 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2010).

Accordingly, if Dysons overall shape view of claim scope is allowed (and it should

not be), then the Court should grant SharkNinjas alternative motion for summary judgment that

all the asserted patents are invalid as anticipated by the prior art.

1. The 163 patent is invalid as anticipated under Dysons view of claim


scope.

Under Dysons view of claim scope, there is no difference between the overall shapes

of the 163 patent on the one hand, and the prior art pistol-grip hand vacuums described in

GB2035787 and JP2002-85297, on the other. As shown above, these two prior art references

disclose substantially the same overall shape of the pistol-grip hand vacuum that is claimed in

the 163 patent, because they have the pistol-grip shapes and suction tube and suction device

shapes that Mr. Mauro contends make up the overall shape of the 163 patent. (Evans Decl.

Ex. 21, Mauro Inv. Rept. at 72.) SharkNinjas expert Mr. Ball opines that, under Dysons view

of claim scope, an ordinary observer would find the 163 patent design substantially similar to

GB2035787 and JP2002-85297. (Ball Decl. Ex. 1 at 372, 382.) Dyson and its expert contend

that a broad range of pistol-grip hand vacuum shapes are substantially the same as the 163

patent, including a number of shapes that look less like the 163 patent than GB2035787 and

JP2002-85297. For example, according to Mr. Mauro, each of the plainly different designs

below is nevertheless substantially similar to the 163 patent:28

28
Dyson contends that these (and other) images evidence conception of the 163 patent, and are,
therefore, substantially similar to the 163 patent drawing. Hoop v. Hoop, 279 F.3d 1004,
1007 (Fed. Cir. 2002). (See SOF 29.)

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163 patent DY_2559 DY_1882 DY_1880

(Evans Decl. Ex. 21, Mauro Inv. Rept. at 53-127.) Dyson and Mr. Mauro cannot contend that

these clearly different designs are substantially similar to the claimed designs for purposes of

priority and infringement, while simultaneously insisting that the ornamental details claimed in

the asserted patents do count for purposes of avoiding the prior art. There is no genuine dispute

that if the sketches shown above are substantially similar to the 163 patent (as Dyson and Mr.

Mauro contend), then the same is true of GB2035787 and JP2002-85297. Thus, if Dysons

overall shape view of claim scope is allowed, then the Court should grant SharkNinjas

alternative motion for summary judgment that the 163 patent is invalid as anticipated.

2. The 010 and 823 patents are invalid as anticipated under Dysons
view of claim scope.

Under Dysons view of claim scope, the 010 and 823 patents are anticipated by at least

the 2006 DC16 post, the 2009 DC31 video, and the 2005 Peace sketch, each of which describe

the same overall shape of Dysons claimed designs, as illustrated below:

010 patent 2006 DC16 post 2009 DC31 video 2005 Peace sketch

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Dyson does not dispute the substantial similarity of these prior art designs. Dysons Rule

30(b)(6) witness and named inventor Mr. Gammack testified that

. (SOF 53, 59, 68.) Moreover,

SharkNinjas expert Mr. Ball opined that these references are substantially similar to the 010

and 823 patents under Dysons view of claim scope. (Ball Dec. Ex. 1 at 232, 253, 264.) In

his report, Dysons expert Mr. Mauro offered no opinion on the similarity between the 2006

DC16 post, the 2009 DC31 video, and the 2005 Peace sketch and the 010 and 823 patent

designs. (SOF 53, 59, 68.) However, during his deposition, Mr. Mauro admitted that this art

is substantially similar to the claimed designs. (SOF 53, 59, 68.) Accordingly, if any one of

these three prior art references qualifies as prior art (and they all do for the reasons discussed

herein), then the 010 and 823 patents are invalid.

If summary judgment of non-infringement is denied, then the 010 and 823 patents

should be deemed invalid as anticipated because there is no genuine dispute that each of the 2006

DC16 post, the 2009 DC31 video, and the 2005 Peace sketch is substantially similar to the 010

and 823 patents under Dysons overall shape view of claim scope.

IV. CONCLUSION

A proper analysis of the functional features construed by the Court as not protected by

the design patents compels the conclusion of non-infringement. No reasonable jury would find

that the Shark Rockets are the same as the ornamental aspects depicted in the patent drawings.

The same is true when the ordinary observer considers the prior art discussed herein, which

further confirms the distinctively different Shark Rocket designs relative to the prior art and the

claimed designs. Indeed, the USPTO has acknowledged the Shark Rockets innovative and

distinctive designs by awarding SharkNinja design patents over the asserted patents (and other

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prior art). Dyson itself has acknowledged that details matter by pursuing separate design

patents. Under the Courts claim construction and controlling law, no reasonable jury could find

infringement for at least these two independently-sufficient reasons. SharkNinja respectfully

requests that the Court grant SharkNinjas motion for summary judgment of non-infringement.

In the alternative, if Dysons overall shape view of claim scope is allowed to move

forward (and it should not be), then the asserted patents must be found invalid under that same

broad claim scope because if the asserted patents are sufficiently broad to capture the accused

products, then they also capture (and hence are invalidated by) the prior art. As such,

SharkNinja respectfully requests that the Court grant SharkNinjas alternative motion for

summary judgment of invalidity of the asserted patents.

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Dated: May 15, 2017 /s/ John C. Evans


David L. Witcoff
dlwitcoff@jonesday.com
Patrick J. ORear
porear@jonesday.com
JONES DAY
77 West Wacker Drive
Chicago IL 60601-1692
Telephone: (312) 782-3939

John G. Froemming
jfroemming@jonesday.com
Tracy A. Stitt
tastitt@jonesday.com
JONES DAY
51 Louisiana Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: (202) 872-3939

John C. Evans
jcevans@jonesday.com
JONES DAY
901 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
Telephone: (216) 586-3939

Attorneys for Defendants, Counterclaim-


Plaintiff SharkNinja Operating, LLC and
SharkNinja Sales Company

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned attorney hereby certifies that on May 15, 2017, a true and correct copy

of the foregoing was filed electronically with the Clerk of the Court and was served via the

Courts CM/ECF System which will automatically provide electronic notice upon all counsel of

record. Service of a hardcopy of an unredacted sealed copy is also being made on chambers.

Service of an electronic copy of unredacted sealed copy is also being made on all counsel of

record via email.

/s/ John C. Evans

REDACTED VERSION

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