Source: https://litigation.consusgroup.com/2017/03/30/troll-bites-quest-dgx-symbology-innovations-llc-v-quest-diagnostics-incorporated/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 06:48:50+00:00

Document:
03-30-2017 – Quest Diagnostics was just sued by Symbology for alleged breach of its patents relating to QR codes.
Plaintiff, § CIVIL ACTION NO.
C); and 7,992,773 (the “‘773 patent”, attached hereto as Exhibits D) (collectively the “Patents-InSuit”) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271, and to recover damages, attorney’s fees, and costs.
Preston Road, Suite 400, Plano, TX 75093.
Upon information and belief, Defendant is a company organized under the laws of Delaware, having a principal place of business at 3 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940. Upon information and belief, Defendant may be served with process at Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Rd., Suite 400, Wilmington, DE 19808.
The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§1331 and 1338(a) because the action arises under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq.
This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant by virtue of its systematic and continuous contacts with this jurisdiction, including having the right to transact business in New Jersey, as well as because of the injury to Symbology, and the cause of action Symbology has risen, as alleged herein.
this judicial district, in a manner that infringes the Patents-In-Suit.
Specifically, Defendant solicits business from and markets its services to consumers within New Jersey, including the geographic region within the District of New Jersey, by providing products/services that requires the use of a method for presenting information about an object on a portable electronic device, as described in the Patents-In-Suit.
Venue lies in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§1391 and 1400(b).
On April 23, 2013, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) duly and legally issued the ‘752 patent, titled “System and method for presenting information about an object on a portable electronic device” after a full and fair examination.
Symbology is presently the owner of the patent, having received all right, title and interest in and to the ‘752 patent from the previous assignee of record. Symbology possesses all rights of recovery under the ‘752 patent, including the exclusive right to recover for past infringement.
claims. Defendant uses, inter alia, methods that perform all the steps recited in at least one claim of the ‘752 patent.
On February 18, 2014, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) duly and legally issued the ‘369 patent, titled “System and method for presenting information about an object on a portable electronic device” after a full and fair examination.
claims. Defendant uses, inter alia, methods that perform all the steps recited in at least one claim of the ‘369 patent.
On January 20, 2015, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) duly and legally issued the ‘190 patent, titled “System and method for presenting information about an object on a portable electronic device” after a full and fair examination.
The ‘190 patent contains three independent claims and seventeen dependent claims.
Defendant uses, inter alia, methods that perform all the steps recited in at least one claim of the ‘190 patent.
The invention claimed in the ‘190 patent comprises a method for enabling a portable electronic device to retrieve information about an object when the object’s symbology, is detected.
On August 9, 2011, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) duly and legally issued the ‘773 patent, titled “System and method for presenting information about an object on a portable electronic device” after a full and fair examination.
Symbology is presently the owner of the patent, having received all right, title and interest in and to the ‘773 patent from the previous assignee of record. Symbology possesses all rights of recovery under the ‘773 patent, including the exclusive right to recover for past infringement.
The ‘773 patent contains three independent claims and fifteen dependent claims.
The invention claimed in the ‘773 patent comprises a method for enabling a portable electronic device to retrieve information about an object when the object’s symbology, is detected.
Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 to 26.
service of the present complaint.
of 35 U.S.C. § 271.
Defendant’s brochure for ClariSure Oligo-SNP Postnatal Chromosomal Microarray Analysis.
For example, on information and belief, Defendant has at least internally tested the functionality of its QR codes in connection with its promotional material. On information and belief, Defendant has captured a digital image of a QR code associated with promotional material, an example of which is shown below.
On information and belief, at least through internal testing, Defendant has used a digital image capturing device of a portable electronic device, such as the camera component of a smart phone for example, to capture a digital image of the QR code associated with its products/services and promotional material.
scanning technology loaded onto the portable electronic device. The scanning technology detects symbology (for example, a pattern within the QR code) associated with an object (for example, the product or service associated with the QR code). On information and belief the scanning technology is used to decode the symbology to obtain a decode string. The decode string is sent to a remote server for further processing. Based on the decode string, the remote server sends information associated with the QR code, which is received by the user of the portable electronic device and displayed on a display associated with the portable electronic device.
device is information related to Defendant’s products/services, and includes a website providing additional information about the product/service as shown below.
On information and belief, Defendant, at least during internal use and testing, uses a visual detection system (e.g., a smartphone camera and QR code scanning application) that is configured to automatically detect symbology (e.g., the QR code scanning application and its associated camera will automatically detect symbology in a QR code when said code is scanned).
By engaging in the conduct described herein, Defendant has injured Symbology and is thus liable for infringement of the ‘752 patent, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271.
monetary damages and is entitled to a monetary judgment in an amount adequate to compensate for Defendant’s past infringement, together with interests and costs.
infringing activities are enjoined by this Court. As such, Symbology is entitled to compensation for any continuing and/or future infringement up until the date that Defendant is finally and permanently enjoined from further infringement.
Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 to 40.
In violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271, Defendant is now, and has been directly infringing the ‘369 patent.
Defendant has had knowledge of infringement of the ‘369 patent at least as of the service of the present complaint.
On information and belief, Defendant has, at least through internal testing, used or incorporated QR codes in promotional material, associating such QR codes with products and/or services. One specific example of Defendant’s activity involves the use of QR codes on Defendant’s brochure for ClariSure Oligo-SNP Postnatal Chromosomal Microarray Analysis.
For example, on information and belief, Defendant has at least internally tested the functionality of its QR codes in connection with its promotional material. On information and belief, Defendant has captured a digital image of a QR code associated with its promotional material, an example of which is shown below.
information associated with the QR code, which is received by the user of the portable electronic device and displayed on a display associated with the portable electronic device.
For example, if a user scans a QR code associated with Defendant’s promotional material, scanning technology decodes the pattern of the QR code to obtain a decode string and sends the decode string to a remote server. The server returns information associated with the QR code. In this example, the information received by the user and displayed on the portable electronic device is information about Defendant’s products/services, and includes a website providing additional information related to the product as shown below.
configured to automatically detect symbology (e.g., the QR code scanning application and its associated camera will automatically detect symbology in a QR code when said code is scanned).
By engaging in the conduct described herein, Defendant has injured Symbology and is thus liable for infringement of the ‘369 patent, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271.
Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 to 54.
In violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271, Defendant is now, and has been directly infringing the ‘190 patent.
scanning technology loaded onto the portable electronic device. The scanning technology detects symbology (for example, a pattern within the QR code) associated with an object (for example, the products or service associated with the QR code). On information and belief the scanning technology is used to decode the symbology to obtain a decode string. The decode string is sent to a remote server for further processing. Based on the decode string, the remote server sends information associated with the QR code, which is received by the user of the portable electronic device and displayed on a display associated with the portable electronic device.
information related to the product as shown below.
By engaging in the conduct described herein, Defendant has injured Symbology and is thus liable for infringement of the ‘190 patent, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271.
Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1 to 68.
In violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271, Defendant is now, and has been directly infringing the ‘773 patent.
belief, Defendant has captured a digital image of a QR code associated with its promotional material, an example of which is shown below.
amount of information is received, the decode string is sent to a remote server for processing and a second amount of information (e.g., website and content related to Defendant’s products or services) about the object is received by the portable electronic device. On information and belief the first and second amounts of information are then combined to obtain cumulative information (e.g., a display of both the URL and the corresponding website related to Defendant’s products or services) to be displayed in the portable electronic device (e.g., on the display of the smart phone or tablet).
Defendant’s products/services, as shown below.
Furthermore, an on information and belief, the portable electronic device utilized by Defendant, at least during internal use and testing, allows for a visual detection system (e.g. the camera functionality in combination with the QR Code Scanning application) to run in the background with respect to other systems associated with the mobile device (e.g. the QR Code scanning application and its corresponding camera functionality can run in the background in standby), the visual detection systems comprising one or more visual detection applications (e.g. QR code scanning applications) and one or more visual detection devices (e.g. the camera integrated on the smartphone), the one or more visual detection devices configured to detect the symbology associated with the object (e.g. the camera on the smartphone is configured to detect and decode QR codes via the QR code scanning application). As shown below, the visual detection systems can run in the background with respect to other systems associated with the portable electronic device.
By engaging in the conduct described herein, Defendant has injured Symbology and is thus liable for infringement of the ‘773 patent, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 271.
Symbology demands a trial by jury of any and all causes of action.
That Symbology have such other and further relief as this Court may deem just and proper.

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