Smartflash, LLC v. Apple, Inc.

17-697 U.S. Supreme Court Closed 6 patents
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Infringement action filed 9 Nov 2017 in the U.S. Supreme Court and closed 8 Jan 2018, with 6 patents asserted. Recorded basis of termination: appeal denied.

Case recordPatsnap Litigation Data·

Case record

Patents involved
US7334720B2US8033458B2US8336772B2US8118221B2US8061598B2US7942317B2
Case no.
17-697
Verdict cause
Infringement action
Court
U.S. Supreme Court
Court level
Supreme Court
Case region
District of Columbia
Judge
None recorded
Trial level
Judicial review
Filed – Closed
9 Nov 2017 – 8 Jan 2018
Duration
60 days
Basis of termination
Appeal Denied
Products & marks
Apple hardware or software product (iPhone, iPad, TV, Mac computer, operating system software) that include any version of iTunes or the App Store app that can access iTunes Store, Mac App Store and others, “Hero Academy” app, “Grub Guardian” and “WizardBlox” apps and others
Source: Patsnap Litigation Data. Case 17-697, U.S. Supreme Court. Open this record in Eureka
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Patent at issue
US7334720B2 Inactive App. US11/336758

Data storage and access systems

SMARTFLASH LLC

Data storage and access systems are described for downloading and paying for data such as audio and video data, text, software, games and other types of data. A portable data carrier has an interface for sending and receiving data, non-volatile data memory for storing received content data and non-volatile payment validation memory for providing payment validation data to an external device. The carrier may also store a record of access made to the stored content, and content use rules for controlling access to the stored content. Preferred embodiments store further access control data and supplementary data such as hot links to web sites and/or advertising data. A complementary data access terminal, data supply computer system and data access device are also described. The combination of payment data and stored content data and, in preferred embodiments, use rule data, helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to data such as compressed music and video data, especially over the Internet.

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Patent standing
Legal status
Inactive
Granted
26 Feb 2008
Earliest priority
25 Nov 1999
Est. expiry
25 Oct 2020
Validity challenges
9 on recordCBM2015-00029 · Other · filed by Apple Inc.CBM2014-00105 · Other · filed by Apple Inc.CBM2015-00118 · filed by Apple Inc.CBM2014-00104 · Other · filed by Apple Inc.CBM2014-00190 · filed by Samsung Electronics America, Inc.CBM2015-00125 · Other · filed by Google Inc.CBM2014-00196 · filed by Samsung Electronics America, Inc.CBM2015-00127 · Other · filed by Apple Inc.CBM2015-00028 · Other · filed by Apple Inc.
Licences recorded
None recorded
Classification
G06K5/00G06F21/10G06K17/00G06Q20/04G06Q20/12G06Q20/34G06Q20/36G06Q30/06G06Q40/00G07F7/08G07F17/16G10K15/02H04N5/913H04N7/173H04N21/2543H04N21/266H04N21/433
Prosecution counsel
Rimon
US7334720B2 patent drawing, figure 1
Fig. 1 · US7334720B2, from the published patent document
US7334720B2 patent drawing, figure 2
Fig. 2 · US7334720B2, from the published patent document
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US8033458B2 Inactive App. US12/943847

Data storage and access systems

SMARTFLASH LLC

Data storage and access systems enable downloading and paying for data such as audio and video data, text, software, games and other types of data. A portable data carrier has an interface for sending and receiving data, data memory for storing received content data, and payment validation memory for providing payment validation data to an external device. The carrier may also store a record of access made to the stored content, and content use rules for controlling access to the stored content. Embodiments store further access control data and supplementary data such as hot links to web sites and/or advertising data. A complementary data access terminal, data supply computer system, and data access device are also described. The combination of payment data and stored content data and use rule data helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to data such as compressed music and video data, especially over the Internet.

Read claims and description in Eureka
Patent standing
Legal status
Inactive
Granted
11 Oct 2011
Earliest priority
25 Oct 2000
Est. expiry
25 Oct 2020
Validity challenges
7 on recordCBM2015-00119 · Other · filed by Apple Inc.CBM2015-00016 · filed by Apple Inc.CBM2014-00197 · filed by Samsung Electronics America, Inc.CBM2014-00106 · filed by Apple Inc.CBM2015-00123 · filed by Apple Inc.CBM2014-00107 · Other · filed by Apple Inc.CBM2014-00192 · filed by Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Licences recorded
None recorded
Classification
G06K5/00G06F21/10G06K17/00G06Q20/04G06Q20/12G06Q20/34G06Q20/36G06Q30/06G06Q40/00G07F7/08G07F17/16G10K15/02H04N5/913H04N7/173H04N21/2543H04N21/266H04N21/433
Prosecution counsel
Rimon
US8033458B2 patent drawing, figure 1
Fig. 1 · US8033458B2, from the published patent document
US8033458B2 patent drawing, figure 2
Fig. 2 · US8033458B2, from the published patent document
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Also asserted in this case

4 more

The docket lists 6 asserted patents. Full bibliographic detail, drawings and prosecution history for the remaining 4 asserted patents are one query away in Eureka.

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Source: Patsnap patent data + case record. Bibliographic fields and drawings reproduced from the published patent document. Break down the claims
Parties & counsel

Parties of record

Counsel of record

AttorneyForRole
Aaron M. PannerSmartflash, LLCPlaintiff
Mark Andrew PerryApple, Inc.Defendant
Source: case record + Patsnap company data. Attorney names appear as recorded in the docket. Compare both portfolios
Outcome

Basis of termination

From the record · verbatim

Case 17-697 · U.S. Supreme Court · closed 8 January 2018
Source: case record, verbatim. The quoted paragraph is the basis-of-termination text as filed.

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Who else has this plaintiff sued? Every case naming Smartflash, with the patent, court and outcome for each Could my product read on this patent? Claim-by-claim comparison against your own design What else is litigated in this field? The dispute map for data recognition & presentation
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is case 17-697?

17-697 is a patent infringement action brought by Smartflash, LLC against Apple, Inc., filed on 9 Nov 2017 in the U.S. Supreme Court. The case closed on 8 January 2018.

Which patents were asserted in 17-697?

US7334720B2 (“Data storage and access systems”), assigned to SMARTFLASH LLC, currently inactive; US8033458B2 (“Data storage and access systems”), assigned to SMARTFLASH LLC, currently inactive; US8336772B2 (“Data storage and access systems”), assigned to SMARTFLASH LLC; US8118221B2 (“Data storage and access systems”), assigned to SMARTFLASH LLC; US8061598B2 (“Data storage and access systems”), assigned to SMARTFLASH LLC; US7942317B2 (“Data storage and access systems”), assigned to SMARTFLASH LLC. The record also lists Apple hardware or software product (iPhone, iPad, TV, Mac computer, operating system software) that include any version of iTunes or the App Store app that can access iTunes Store, Mac App Store and others, “Hero Academy” app, “Grub Guardian” and “WizardBlox” apps and others.

How long did case 17-697 take?

60 calendar days, from filing on 9 Nov 2017 to closure on 8 January 2018.

Who were the attorneys and the judge in 17-697?

Aaron M. Panner is recorded as counsel for plaintiff Smartflash. Mark Andrew Perry appears for defendant Apple.

Answers reproduce fields from the case record for 17-697 and do not constitute legal advice. Ask your own question
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General information only. This page reproduces publicly available court docket data for case 17-697 and is provided for general information and reference only. It is not legal advice and must not be relied upon as such. It does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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No characterisation of the parties or the outcome. This page reports what the record contains. Nothing here should be read as an assertion that any party infringed, that any patent is valid or invalid, that any settlement occurred, or that any party prevailed. The filing of a claim is not a court finding, and a docket marked “closed” does not by itself establish infringement, validity, settlement or a decision on the merits.

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