Opinion ID: 615422
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Underlying Complaint and Patents-in-Suit

Text: Dish [2] sells satellite television programming. Aplt.App. at 2156. The present insurance coverage dispute arises from a patent infringement suit brought against Dish by Ronald A. Katz Technology Licensing, L.P. (RAKTL). Ronald A. Katz Tech. Licensing, LP v. EchoStar Commc'ns Corp. and EchoStar Satellite LCC, Case No. C-07-03151 WDB (N.D.Cal). In its amended complaint, RAKTL alleged that Dish had infringed one or more claims in each of twenty-three patents. Aplt.App. at 167 ¶ 45. RAKTL asserted that Dish did so by making, using, offering to sell, and/or selling ... automated telephone systems, including without limitation the DISH Network customer service telephone system, that allow [Dish's] customers to perform pay-per-view ordering and customer service functions over the telephone. Id. Although the record reveals little more about how Dish actually used the technologies at issue, the complaint does provide some general background regarding RAKTL's patents: Among [the inventor's] most prominent and well-known innovations are those in the field of interactive call processing. [His] inventions in that field are directed to the integration of telephonic systems with computer databases and live operator call centers to provide interactive call processing services. Id. at 162 ¶ 10. RAKTL alleged that its patents have multiple fields of use, including but not limited to financial services call processing, automated securities transactions, automated credit card authorization services, automated wireless telecommunication services and support, automated health care services, and product and service support. Id. at 163 ¶ 17. Each of the patents-in-suit contains detailed claims outlining numerous possible applications for the technology. Id. at 2177-2744. Insurers concede that at least six of the claims Dish may have infringed explicitly mention advertising or product promotion. See Insurers' Response Brief (Ins. Resp. Br.) at 60 (citing Aplt.App. at 2269, 2271, 2681 (claims describing [a] process ... wherein [the] operating format is an automated promotional format; an automated promotional format for promoting... products; and [a] telephone interface system ... wherein said select interactive operating format involves advertising of a product for sale)).