In Netgear, Inc. v. Ruckus Wireless, Inc., C.A. No. 10-999-SLR, Judge Robinson denied defendant’s Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims of direct infringement, induced and contributory infringement, and willful infringement. Id. at 1. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint in this action against defendant for infringement of four patents-in-suit relating to wireless communication technology. Id. In the amended complaint, plaintiff alleged that defendant “induces and/or contributes to infringement by third parties, and willfully infringes the patents-in-suit.” Id. at 2. Defendant moved to dismiss these allegations for failure to state a claim. Id. at 1-2. Defendant argued that the amended complaint should be dismissed because it: “(1) lacks basic factual support; (2) fails to comply with Form 18; (3) fails to state a claim for indirect infringement; and (4) fails to sufficiently allege willful infringement.” Id. at 2. The Court, however, disagreed. Regarding the claims for direct infringement, the Court concluded that plaintiff’s amended complaint asserts a cause of action for direct infringement “in a manner sufficient for defendant to formulate a response and defense” and that it “provides sufficient factual support and mimics Form 18.” Id. at 7. In its analysis, the Court noted that because, among other things, the amended complaint mimicked Form 18 and identified, by name, certain of defendant’s products that allegedly infringe the patents-in-suit, it complied with “the level of detail required to satisfy the pleading standard for Form 18.” Id. at 5. Similarly, regarding the sufficiency of plaintiff’s claims for inducement and contributory infringement, the Court held that they too were “facially plausible” and provided “defendant with adequate notice” of plaintiff’s indirect infringement claims. Id. at 10-11. Lastly, regarding the claims for willful infringement, the Court found that plaintiff sufficiently alleged that defendant had “pre-filing knowledge” of at least one of the patents-in-suit and that defendant had “infringed and continues to infringe the patent.” Id. at 11. Moreover, the Court expressly declined “to require more detail with respect to plaintiff’s willful infringement claims than is required by Form 18.” Id. at 11.
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