Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-04472/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-04472-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 830
Nature of Suit: Patent
Cause of Action: 15:1126 Patent Infringement

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28 1 The holding of this court is limited to the facts and the particular circumstances

underlying the present motion.

ORDER, page 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

FORTERRA SYSTEMS, INC., a

California Corporation,

Plaintiff,

v.

AVATAR FACTORY, a California

Corporation, IMVU, inc., a Delaware

corporation, and WILLIAM D.

HARVEY, an individual

Defendants. __________________________________

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Case No.: C-05-04472 PVT

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION TO COMPEL

PRODUCTION OF SOURCE CODE;

CONTINUING HEARING DATE ON

MOTION FOR SUMMARY

JUDGMENT; SETTING CASE

MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE;

AND VACATING DISCOVERY CUTOFF

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Forterra Systems, Inc. (“Forterra”) is the owner of U.S. Patent No. 6,784,901

(“the ’901 patent). 1

 The invention of the ’901 patent relates to a method, system and computer

program for delivering electronic chat messages in a three-dimensional (“3D”) multi-user

environment. Forterra claims that Defendant IMVU, Inc. (“IMVU”) operates an on-line chat

system that infringes the ‘901 patent. Presently before the court is Forterra’s Motion to Compel

IMVU to produce its source code in its entirety. For the following reasons, and under the

Case 5:05-cv-04472-PVT Document 61 Filed 08/22/06 Page 1 of 4
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ORDER, page 2

following restrictions, Forterra’s Motion is Granted. 

II. DISCUSSION

Forterra seeks production of the entire source code both under Patent L.R. 3-4(a) and in

response to discovery requests. Patent L.R. 3-4(a) provides that the infringement defendant

must with the Preliminary Invalidity Contentions, 

produce or make available for inspection and copying: (a) Source code,

specifications, schematics, flow charts, artwork, formulas, or other documentation

sufficient to show the operation of any aspects or elements of an Accused

Instrumentality identified by the patent claimant in its Patent L.R. 3-1(c) chart.

Patent L.R. 3-4(a). Patent Local rule 3-1(c) requires:

A chart identifying specifically where each element of each asserted claim is

found within each Accused Instrumentality, including for each element that such

party contends is governed by 35 U.S.C. § 112(6), the identity of the structure(s),

act(s), or material(s) in the Accused Instrumentality that performs the claimed

function;

Patent L.R. 3-1(c). Thus the rule requires the source code for the aspects or elements of the

accused product identified by the preliminary invalidity contentions. See Cryptography

Research, Inc. v. Visa Int'l Serv. Ass'n, 2005 WL 1787421(N.D. Cal. Jul. 27, 2005)(ordering

defendant to produce any information relating to any aspect or element of the claims identified

by [Plaintiff] in its Patent Local Rule 3-1(c) chart.). 

IMVU claims that it has produced all of the information required by the Patent Local

Rules. Forterra disagrees, claiming that it cannot analyze the limited portion of source code

produced. Forterra also argues that regardless of whether the entire code had to be disclosed

under the patent local rules, the entire source code is discoverable under Rule 26 and that IMVU

must produce the source code in response to properly propounded document requests. 

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allow broad discovery: requested discovery is

relevant if it “appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence” 

relating to the claims or defenses of any party. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1). Because the entire

source code is relevant under Rule 26, the court need not decide whether the entire code ought to

have been disclosed. The question then becomes whether the burden to IMVU outweighs the

benefit to Forterra. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(2)(iii).

IMVU claims undue burden from the risk of inadvertent disclosure if the highly

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ORDER, page 3

confidential and proprietary source code is produced to Forterra. A court may order that

“confidential information not be revealed or be revealed only in a designated way.” Fed. R. Civ.

P. 26(c)(7). Because the source code is at the heart of the dispute, Forterra’s expert must have

access to the entire source code. In order to limit the risk of inadvertent disclosure, the

production shall be made only to Forterra expert Richard F. Ferraro (“Ferraro”). The parties

shall meet and confer in order to specify the conditions under which production shall be made. 

The Court was impressed with the Ferraro declaration in support of the reply to this motion and

recommends that the precautions outlined in paragraphs 17-19 be the starting point for the

parties to discuss appropriate procedures. The Court also recommends that counsel include Mr.

Ferraro and an IMVU expert in the discussion of appropriate safety precautions. When the

parties have agreed upon the procedures, expert Ferraro will sign a declaration agreeing to be

bound by the procedures and Forterra shall file the declaration. Within one week of the filing of

Ferraro’s declaration, IMVU shall provide the entire source code, including all versions and the

source code repository database, in electronic format to Ferraro for his eyes only for review in

his own office. 

The parties shall also meet and confer and agree upon a procedure by which Ferraro can

seek to change the designation of portions of the source code from his eyes only to outside

counsel only. One possible method to for this process was discussed in court whereby Ferraro

could write a letter to both Forterra and IMVU describing, in general terms, the portions of the

source code for which he seeks to lower the designation to include outside counsel. If the parties

cannot agree upon the portions of the code that should be re-designated, they can bring the

matter back before the court. 

III. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby Ordered that:

1. The parties shall meet and confer and agree upon appropriate procedures for

Forterra expert Ferraro to view the entire source code, including the repository

database, in his office in electronic format;

2. Forterra shall file a declaration from Ferraro agreeing to be bound by the

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ORDER, page 4

procedures agreed upon by the parties;

3. Within 1 week of the filing of the Ferraro declaration, IMVU shall produce to

Ferraro, for his eyes only, the entire source code, including the repository

database, in electronic format for him to view in his office;

4. The parties shall meet and confer to agree upon a procedure by which Ferraro can

seek to lower the designation of the source code to allow it to be viewed by

outside counsel;

5. The discovery cut-off of September 7, 2006 is hereby Vacated;

6. Forterra’s motion for partial summary judgment is Continued to September 19,

2006 at 11:30 a.m.; and

7. A Case Management Conference shall be held to set new discovery and trial dates

in this matter on September 19, 2006 at 11:30 a.m.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 22, 2006

____________________________

PATRICIA V. TRUMBULL

United States Magistrate Judge

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