Last week we reported on Judge Sue Robinson’s opinion denying a motion to dismiss for lack of sufficient standing in MobileMedia Ideas, LLC v. Apple Inc., C.A. No. 10-258-SLR (D. Del. Aug. 16, 2012) (read about that decision here). The case is now moving forward on the merits, and Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge has issued a memorandum order regarding MobileMedia Ideas’ (“MMI”) assertion of the common interest privilege.
As detailed in the previous post, MMI is a patent holding entity for Sony and Nokia. Apple, the defendant in this suit, served third party subpoenas seeking documents from three Nokia entities that had previously been shared between Nokia, Sony, and MMI. Each Nokia entity objected to the subpoenas based on the attorney-client privilege. Apple conceded that the common legal interest privilege might apply to the documents because Sony and Nokia worked together to develop a litigation strategy for MMI. But Apple contested whether each document shared among the parties was shared specifically for the purpose of furthering a joint legal strategy, as is required for the common interest privilege to apply. See MobileMedia Ideas LLC v. Apple Inc., C.A. No. 10-258-SLR/MPT, at 1-10 (D. Del. Sep. 10, 2012).
After considering all of the evidence, Judge Thynge found that the common interest privilege applied to the documents Apple sought: “Apple’s argument that the transfer of the patent prosecution files and [invention disclosure forms (“IDFs”)] to MMI were not to further a joint legal strategy is refuted by the Formation and Operating Agreements which provide the central purpose of MMI was ‘to acquire, develop, administer and manage [i]ntellectual [p]roperty rights’ related to the inventions obtained from the Nokia and Sony entities.” Id. at 12. Also, “since the formation of MMI, Nokia, Sony and their respective wholly owned subsidiaries have provided assistance and cooperation to MMI’s outside attorneys . . . . Such future cooperation, which may involve providing additional materials, does not imply that the original transfer of the patent prosecution files and the IDFs was merely to effectuate transfer of the patents.” Id. at 13. Furthermore, [t]he exchanges by Sony [and] Nokia . . . were made under non-disclosure agreements with the understanding the parties shared a common legal interest. . . . A common legal interest agreement . . . was also executed [and] it acknowledged litigation was contemplated.” Id. at 15-16. Finally, Sony and Nokia “receive a percentage of the recovery from any successful enforcement by MMI of the transferred patents confirming their common interest in MMI prevailing in the present litigation.” Id. at 16.
Judge Thynge therefore concluded that the “language, provisions and tenor of the [various agreements] clearly indicate at the time of their execution, the Nokia and Sony entities anticipated litigation for enforcement of the transferred patents. As evidenced by the various agreements, the purpose of the transfer of the patent prosecution files and the IDFs were part of the joint legal strategy involving the Nokia and Sony entities that began before MMI’s formation and continued thereafter. MMI and the Nokia and Sony entities have operated with the expectation that any shared privilege communications would be confidential and protected from disclosure. The Nokia and Sony entities, as licensees, clearly share a common legal interest in MMI prevailing in this action. That as a result of the Formation Agreement, MMI is now the owner of the patents does not eviscerate or prevent the sharing of a common legal interest with Nokia and Sony.” Id. at 14.
MobileMedia Ideas LLC v. Apple Inc., C.A. No. 10-258-SLR/MPT (D. Del. Sep. 10, 2012).
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