Driscoll's, Inc. v. California Berry Cultivars, LLC

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 DRISCOLL’S, INC., and DRISCOLL’S No. 2:19-cv-00493-TLN-CKD OF EUROPE B.V., 12 Plaintiffs, 13 ORDER v. 14 CALIFORNIA BERRY CULTIVARS, 15 LLC, and DOUGLAS SHAW, 16 Defendants. 17 18 This matter is before the Court on Defendants California Berry Cultivars, LLC (“CBC”) 19 and Douglas Shaw’s (“Shaw”) (collectively, “Defendants”) Motion for Summary Judgment. 20 (ECF No. 138.) Plaintiffs Driscoll’s, Inc. and Driscoll’s of Europe B.V.’s (collectively, 21 “Driscoll’s”1) filed an opposition. (ECF No. 143.) Defendants filed a reply. (ECF No. 147.) For 22 the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion. 23 /// 24 /// 25 /// 26 27 1 The singular “Driscoll’s” is how Plaintiffs Driscoll’s, Inc. and Driscoll’s of Europe B.V. refer to themselves in the Second Amended Complaint, and the Court refers to them the same 28 here. 1 I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND2 2 Driscoll’s holds various strawberry patents and alleges Defendants infringed on several of 3 those patents. (ECF No. 59.) At the outset, the parties do not dispute the following fundamentals 4 of strawberry reproduction and breeding. Strawberry plants can reproduce both asexually and 5 sexually. (ECF No. 146-2 at 2.) Cultivated strawberries are typically reproduced asexually by 6 allowing the plants to produce offshoots called “runners.” (Id.) The runners produce their own 7 crown and root systems and become new “daughter” plants that are genetically identical to the 8 plant they came from, called the “mother” plant. (Id.) 9 In contrast, sexual reproduction, or crossbreeding, produces genetically new and distinct 10 progeny through the combination of the genetics of the two parent plants. (Id.) Strawberry seeds 11 are the product of sexual reproduction. (Id. at 3.) In sexual reproduction of strawberries, pollen 12 from the male part of one strawberry plant flower fertilizes the female part of another strawberry 13 plant flower. (Id.) Each parent plant has both male and female parts, meaning neither is “male” 14 or “female,” but the plant donating the pollen is typically referred to as the “father” or paternal 15 parent, while the plant that is fertilized and on which the seeds develop is typically referred to as 16 the “mother” or maternal parent. (Id.) In any given cross between two strawberry varieties, 17 either plant can serve as the paternal or maternal plant, but it is convention in the field to 18 designate which plant serves as the male parent and which plant serves as the female parent. (Id.) 19 A successful cross results in production of numerous seeds, all of which share the same parents, 20 and each of which is a genetically distinct “sibling” to the other seeds. (Id. at 4.) The collection 21 of sexually reproduced progeny from a cross between two parent plants is referred to as a 22 “family.” (Id.) Individual progeny within the family that are selected for further development are 23 called “selections.” (Id. at 5.) Each selection germinates from a single seed. (Id.) 24 The instant case involves the alleged infringement of three of Driscoll’s patents (the 25 “Patented Plants”): (1) PP 18,878; (2) PP 22,247; (3) and PP 23,400. (Id. at 5–6.) The ‘878 26 patent is directed to the Amesti variety of strawberry. (Id. at 6.) The ‘247 patent is directed to the 27 28 2 The following facts are undisputed unless otherwise noted. 1 Lusa variety of strawberry. (Id.) The ‘400 patent is directed to the Marquis variety of strawberry. 2 (Id.) Each of the Patented Plants is a single selection from a cross between two other varieties, 3 and the asexual, i.e., genetically identical, reproductions of that plant. (Id.) 4 CBC seeks to identify promising selections from its crosses, patent them, and eventually 5 license them to strawberry growers around the world. (Id. at 11.) From 2014 to 2017, the first- 6 generation progeny of CBC’s breeding program came from crosses carried out in Spain based on 7 crossing plans that CBC created. (Id.) The crossing plans specifically identified Amesti, Lusa, 8 and Marquis and directed that crosses be performed with those varieties. (Id. at 11–12.) CBC 9 transmitted the 2015, 2016, and 2017 crossing plans to International Semillas, LLC/Eurosemillas3 10 personnel located in Spain to perform the crosses in Spain. (Id. at 12.) Eurosemillas harvested 11 the seeds resulting from the crosses and shipped the seeds to the United States and Canada. (Id. 12 at 18.) The seeds were germinated into seedlings and planted.4 (Id.) 13 On March 29, 2019, Driscoll’s initiated the instant action. (ECF No. 1.) On April 29, 14 2022, Driscoll’s filed the operative Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”), alleging the following 15 claims: (1) declaratory relief in the form of a judgment from this Court; (2) infringement of U.S. 16 Plant Patent No. 18,878 (“Amesti”); (3) infringement of U.S. Plant Patent No. 22,247 (“Lusa”); 17 and (4) infringement of U.S. Plant Patent No. 23,400 (“Marquis”).5 (ECF No. 59.) Defendants 18 filed answers with counterclaims against Driscoll’s. (ECF Nos. 78, 79.) Defendants filed the 19 instant motion for summary judgment on August 21, 2024. (ECF No. 138.) 20 21 3 The parties refer to Eurosemillas and International Semillas interchangeably, and it appears both names refer to the same entity. (ECF No. 146-2 at 13.) The Court will refer to this 22 entity as Eurosemillas throughout this Order. 23 4 Driscoll’s purports to dispute certain facts presented in this section. (ECF No. 146-2 at 2– 18.) However, Driscoll’s does not present evidence refuting these facts. Rather, Driscoll’s 24 provides additional facts to support arguments raised in its motion. As such, the Court finds there is no material dispute as to these facts, which are included to provide general background 25 information. The Court will discuss additional facts related to the parties’ arguments below. 26 5 The Court previously dismissed Driscoll’s intentional interference with a contract claim 27 and unfair competition claim with leave to amend. (ECF No. 77.) Driscoll’s opted not to file an amended complaint within the given deadline, and the Court denied Driscoll’s subsequent motion 28 to amend filed a year later. (ECF No. 148.) 1 II. STANDARD OF LAW 2 Summary judgment is appropriate when the moving party demonstrates no genuine issue 3 of any material fact exists and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. 4 R. Civ. P. 56(a); Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 157 (1970). Under summary 5 judgment practice, the moving party always bears the initial responsibility of informing the 6 district court of the basis of its motion, and identifying those portions of “the pleadings, 7 depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file together with affidavits, if any,” 8 which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. 9 Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). “[W]here the nonmoving party will bear the burden of proof 10 at trial on a dispositive issue, a summary judgment motion may properly be made in reliance 11 solely on the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file.” Id. at 12 324 (internal quotation marks omitted). Indeed, summary judgment should be entered against a 13 party who does not make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to 14 that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. Id. at 322. 15 If the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to the opposing 16 party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact does exist. Matsushita Elec. Indus. 17 Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 585–87 (1986); First Nat’l Bank of Ariz. v. Cities Serv. 18 Co., 391 U.S. 253, 288–89 (1968). In attempting to establish the existence of this factual dispute, 19 the opposing party may not rely upon the denials of its pleadings, but is required to tender 20 evidence of specific facts in the form of affidavits, and/or admissible discovery material, in 21 support of its contention that the dispute exists. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). The opposing party must 22 demonstrate that the fact in contention is material, i.e., a fact that might affect the outcome of the 23 suit under the governing law, Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986), and that 24 the dispute is genuine, i.e., the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for 25 the nonmoving party. Id. at 251–52. 26 In the endeavor to establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing party need not 27 establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. First Nat’l Bank of Ariz., 391 U.S. at 28 288–89. It is sufficient that “the claimed factual dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to 1 resolve the parties’ differing versions of the truth at trial.” Id. Thus, the “purpose of summary 2 judgment is to ‘pierce the pleadings and to assess the proof in order to see whether there is a 3 genuine need for trial.’” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., 475 U.S. at 587 (quoting Rule 56(e) 4 advisory committee’s note on 1963 amendments). 5 In resolving the summary judgment motion, the court examines the pleadings, depositions, 6 answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with any applicable affidavits. Fed. 7 R. Civ. P. 56(c); SEC v. Seaboard Corp., 677 F.2d 1301, 1305–06 (9th Cir. 1982). The evidence 8 of the opposing party is to be believed and all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the 9 facts pleaded before the court must be drawn in favor of the opposing party. Anderson, 477 U.S. 10 at 255. Nevertheless, inferences are not drawn out of the air, and it is the opposing party’s 11 obligation to produce a factual predicate from which the inference may be drawn. Richards v. 12 Nielsen Freight Lines, 602 F. Supp. 1224, 1244–45 (E.D. Cal. 1985), aff’d, 810 F.2d 898 (9th Cir. 13 1987). To demonstrate a genuine issue that necessitates a jury trial, the opposing party “must do 14 more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” 15 Matsushita Elec., 475 U.S. at 586. “Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational 16 trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party, there is no ‘genuine issue for trial.’” Id. at 587. 17 III. ANALYSIS 18 Driscoll’s patent infringement claims are brought pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 271 and 163. 19 (ECF No. 59 at 7–12.) Section 271 provides, “Except as otherwise provided in this title, whoever 20 without authority makes, uses, offers to sell, or sells any patented invention, within the United 21 States or imports into the United States any patented invention during the term of the patent 22 therefor, infringes the patent.” 35 U.S.C. § 271(a). Section 163, the Plant Patent Act, states, “In 23 the case of a plant patent, the grant shall include the right to exclude others from asexually 24 reproducing the plant, and from using, offering for sale, or selling the plant so reproduced, or any 25 of its parts, throughout the United States, or from importing the plant so reproduced, or any parts 26 thereof, into the United States.” 35 U.S.C. § 163. 27 Driscoll’s seeks to hold Defendants liable for two distinct types of infringing conduct: (1) 28 the crossbreeding that took place in Spain with the use of Patented Plants; and (2) the importation 1 and use of seeds in the United States that had been grown on Patented Plants in Spain.6 (See ECF 2 No. 59.) Defendants move for summary judgment as to all of Driscoll’s remaining claims. (ECF 3 No. 140 at 9.) Specifically, Defendants argue they are entitled to summary judgment on Claims 4 One through Four because Driscoll’s cannot produce sufficient evidence that Defendants 5 infringed any of the patents at issue.7 (Id.) Defendants argue: (1) there is no evidence that 6 Defendants asexually reproduced any of the Patented Plants; (2) a seed that grows on an asexually 7 reproduced plant is not “part” of a plant within the meaning of the Plant Patent Act; (3) there is no 8 evidence that Defendants imported or used seeds in the United States that had been grown on a 9 Patented Plant because Driscoll’s cannot establish a Patented Plant served as the maternal plant in 10 any given cross; and (4) Defendants cannot be liable for conduct that took place in Spain. (ECF 11 No. 140 at 14–15.) As will be discussed, the Court finds the Defendants’ third and fourth 12 arguments to be dispositive. Therefore, the Court need not and does not address Defendants’ first 13 two arguments. The Court will address Defendants’ third and fourth arguments in turn. 14 A. Importation and Use of Seeds in the United States 15 Based on the arguments before the Court, it appears that Driscoll’s theory of infringement 16 for Defendants’ importation and use of seeds in the United States requires Driscoll’s to prove by a 17 preponderance of the evidence that Defendants imported and/or used seeds in the United States 18 19 6 Driscoll’s gives the Court no reason to believe there is any other basis for liability. In the statement of undisputed facts, Driscoll’s asserts “[g]enetic evidence establishes that progeny of 20 Driscoll’s patented plants from these crosses were present in California in 2019, which is at least circumstantial evidence that the crosses were performed in the United States.” (ECF No. 146-2 at 21 14.) Driscoll’s does not raise this argument in its opposition brief. The Court also notes 22 Driscoll’s fails to cite any other evidence that could support a reasonable inference that crossbreeding occurred in the United States. Therefore, the Court concludes Driscoll’s fails to 23 properly raise this argument, and the Court declines to address it. 24 7 Defendants argue in the absence of patent infringement, Driscoll’s is not entitled to any of the declaratory relief it seeks in Claim One. (ECF No. 140 at 9.) In opposition, Driscoll’s agrees 25 that its declaratory relief claim is tied to its allegations of infringement. (ECF No. 146-1 at 19.) 26 Defendants alternatively move for partial summary judgment on the issue of damages. 27 (Id.) As will be discussed, the Court agrees with Defendants that Driscoll’s fails to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to infringement. Accordingly, the Court need not and does not 28 address Defendants’ alternative argument regarding damages. 1 that had been grown on a Patented Plant. This would require Driscoll’s to establish that a 2 Patented Plant was used as the maternal plant in a cross and that Defendants imported and/or used 3 seeds from such a cross in the United States. 4 Defendants contend Driscoll’s cannot prove that Patented Plants were used as maternal 5 plants in the crosses performed in Spain or that Defendants imported and/or used seeds resulting 6 from such a cross in the United States. (ECF No. 140 at 27–28.) Defendants argue CBC’s 7 crossing plans from 2015 and 2016 do not specify which member of any cross was to be the 8 maternal and paternal parent, nor is there evidence of how Eurosemillas executed the crosses 9 those years. (Id. at 27 (citing ECF No. 138-3 at 47–53 (2015 and 2016 crossing plans)).) 10 Defendants argue although CBC’s 2017 crossing plan does identify maternal and parental parents, 11 it is undisputed those seeds were shipped to Canada. (Id. at n.5 (citing ECF No. 138-1 at 3 12 (VandenLangenberg stating Eurosemillas shipped the seeds from 2017 crosses to Canada, he 13 germinated the seeds in Canada in July 2017, and he brought germinated seedlings to California 14 in August 2017)).) Defendants also cite deposition testimony from Driscoll’s strawberry breeding 15 expert, David Small, who indicated that specifying which plants are maternal or paternal plants in 16 a strawberry cross has no material effect on the outcome of the cross. (Id. at 28 (citing ECF No. 17 138-3 at 16).) Lastly, Defendants acknowledge CBC’s 2016 crossing plan lists a single cross, 18 116.013, between two Patented Plants (Marquis and Lusa), but Defendants argue the genetic 19 parentage analysis from Driscoll’s expert, Dr. Stephen Dellaporta, confirms that 116.013 did not 20 proceed according to plan and was actually a cross between Marquis and a non-Driscoll’s variety. 21 (Id. at n.6 (citing ECF No. 140 at 44–47).) Defendants emphasize that Dr. Dellaporta testified his 22 methodology has “never made a mistake.” (Id. (citing ECF No. 138-3 at 25 (stating “our 23 algorithm is extremely accurate . . . we’re able to identify every single parent of thousands and 24 thousands of samples” and the algorithm “never made a mistake”)).) 25 In opposition, Driscoll’s asserts there is sufficient evidence to raise triable issues as to 26 whether Patented Plants were used as maternal plants and as to whether Defendants imported 27 and/or used seeds grown on such plants. (ECF No. 146-1 at 12, 15.) First, Driscoll’s argues there 28 is evidence that many of the plants sampled from CBC’s fields in 2019 had Driscoll’s patented 1 varieties Marquis, Amesti, or Lusa in their parentage. (Id. at 12 (citing ECF No. 146-3 at 381, 2 490).) Second, Driscoll’s argues CBC admitted in an interrogatory response that it used 3 Driscoll’s patented varieties as both the male and female in each cross and the seeds from the 4 2015 and 2016 crosses were sent to the United States. (Id. (citing ECF No. 146-3 at 33, 34 5 (“[P]arent cultivars were used as both male and female parents”)).) Third, Driscoll’s argues that 6 in 2017, CBC’s breeding plans explicitly called for Driscoll’s plants to be used as the female 7 parent. (Id. at 13 (citing ECF No. 146-3 at 33, 360).) Driscoll’s contends that despite CBC’s 8 position that it imported those seeds to Canada, a jury could discount that position given the 9 genetic evidence of progeny in California. (Id.) Fourth, Driscoll’s notes that Defendants 10 referenced a planned cross between Marquis and Lusa. (Id. (citing ECF No. 138 at 15 n.6).) 11 Driscoll’s argues that if the cross between the two Patented Plants proceeded as planned, one 12 necessarily would have supplied the seeds.8 (Id. (citing ECF No. 146-3 at 68 (VandenLangenberg 13 testimony discussing the planned cross between Marquis and Lusa variety)).) 14 The Court agrees with Defendants that Driscoll’s fails to produce evidence that would 15 allow a reasonable jury to find by a preponderance of the evidence that a Patented Plant was used 16 as a maternal plant in any given cross, or that Defendants imported or used seeds from such a 17 cross in the United States. See Guidroz-Brault v. Missouri Pac. R. Co., 254 F.3d 825, 829 (9th 18 Cir. 2001) (“To survive summary judgment, [non-moving parties] have the burden to produce 19 some evidence, other than speculation or guesswork.”); Neely v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 20 584 F.2d 341, 346 (9th Cir. 1978) (affirming grant of summary judgment where “the evidence 21 simply fail[ed] to provide enough information from which a fair-minded juror could logically 22 8 In a separate section of its opposition, Driscoll’s asserts there is a triable issue as to 23 whether Defendants possessed any of the Patented Plants. (ECF No. 146-1 at 14.) Driscoll’s fails to tie this assertion to any specific argument. In reply, Defendants dispute Driscoll’s assertion. 24 (ECF No. 147 at 6.) Absent meaningful argument from Driscoll’s, the Court finds this factual dispute is not material and the Court does not address it. 25 In addition, in a footnote, Driscoll’s argues the fact that Dr. Dellaporta’s genetic testing in 26 2019 determined the cross labeled 116.013 did not include Lusa is not determinative of whether 27 any seeds with both Marquis and Lusa as a parent were imported by CBC in 2016. (Id. at n.4.) This argument lacks clarity, and the Court declines to address it. 28 1 infer that one explanation of the cause of the [injury] is more likely true than another”). 2 Driscoll’s does not dispute that the 2015 and 2016 crossing plans involved crossing 3 Patented Plants with other varieties not at issue in this case, and that those crossing plans do not 4 specify which plants were to be used as the maternal and paternal plants. All but one of the 5 planned crosses from 2015 and 2016 involving a Patented Plant also involved another variety. 6 While it is possible a Patented Plant was used as a maternal plant at some point, Driscoll’s fails to 7 persuade the Court that it can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that a Patented Plant was 8 used as the maternal plant in any given cross, or that Defendants imported or used seeds from 9 such a cross. There was only one proposed cross — 116.013 from the 2016 crossing plan — that 10 involved a planned cross between two Patented Plants, meaning one of those Patented Plants 11 would have been the maternal plant. However, Plaintiff fails to rebut Defendants’ evidence 12 indicating that 116.013’s genetic analysis revealed that the actual cross involved a Patented Plant 13 and another variety. Even if the cross had proceeded as planned, Driscoll’s fails to explain how it 14 could establish which of the two Patented Plants served as the maternal plant. Although the 2017 15 crossing plan did specify which plants were to be used as maternal and paternal plants, Driscoll’s 16 fails to rebut Defendants’ evidence that the seeds from the 2017 crossing plan were sent to 17 Canada and germinated there — not the United States.9 Driscoll’s vaguely argues a jury could 18 discount CBC’s position given the genetic evidence of progeny in California. (ECF No. 146-1 at 19 13.) However, Driscoll’s fails to cite any evidence that would allow the jury to arrive at that 20 conclusion other than by pure speculation. 21 The Court is unpersuaded by Driscoll’s argument that there are triable issues about 22 whether Defendants imported or used seeds grown on a Patented Plant because plants sampled 23 from CBC’s fields in 2019 had Patented Plant varieties in their parentage. (ECF No. 146-1 at 12.) 24 The mere existence of progeny of Patented Plants in Defendants’ fields in 2019 does not support 25 even an inference that Defendants imported and used seeds that were grown on a Patented Plant, 26 as opposed to the other variety in any given cross. Driscoll’s argument that Defendants stated in 27 9 As will be discussed below, Driscoll’s fails to persuade the Court Defendants can be liable 28 for allegedly infringing conduct that took place outside the United States. 1 an interrogatory response that “parent cultivars were used as both male and female parents” is 2 similarly unpersuasive. (Id.) Driscoll’s fails to explain how such an admission, if true, would 3 allow a jury to find without guessing that Defendants used a Patented Plant as a maternal plant in 4 any given cross or that Defendants imported or used seeds from such a cross. Indeed, Driscoll’s 5 omits the entirety of the interrogatory response, which states, 6 With respect to the 2015 and 2016 crosses, the seed from the multiple fruit was combined, and the seed parent was not recorded, and as a 7 result, the identity of which parent bore the fruit with the seed of a given variety and which parent produced the pollen of a given variety 8 is not known. The 2017 crossing plans indicated that certain plants were to be used as males or females when breeding. CBC is not 9 aware whether [Eurosemillas] followed these plans. 10 (ECF No. 146-3 at 33.) Lastly, Driscoll’s does not address the testimony from its strawberry 11 breeding expert, Small, who testified that specifying which plants are maternal or paternal plants 12 in a strawberry cross has no material effect on the outcome of the cross. (ECF No. 138-3 at 16.) 13 In sum, the Court concludes Driscoll’s fail to produce sufficient evidence that would 14 allow the trier of fact to find, without using speculation or guesswork, that Defendants used a 15 Patented Plant as a maternal plant in any given cross or that Defendants imported or used seeds in 16 the United States resulting from such a cross. See Guidroz-Brault, 254 F.3d at 829; Neely, 584 17 F.2d at 346. Accordingly, Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is GRANTED as to 18 Driscoll’s infringement claims based on Defendants’ importation and use of seeds. 19 B. Crossbreeding in Spain 20 Defendants next argue Driscoll’s claims based on crossbreeding that occurred in Spain fail 21 for three reasons. (ECF No. 140 at 29–32.) First, Defendants assert United States patents do not 22 have extraterritorial reach. (Id. at 29–31.) Second, Defendants argue that without direct 23 infringement, there can be no claim for inducement of infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271(b). 24 (Id. at 31.) Third, Defendants contend they did not infringe the Plant Patents under 35 U.S.C. § 25 271(f). (Id. at 31–32.) The Court will address each argument separately. 26 i. Extraterritoriality 27 Defendants argue direct infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271(a) requires unauthorized 28 conduct “within the United States” and the Plant Patent Act likewise limits infringement to 1 domestic conduct. (ECF No. 140 at 29.) Defendants further argue it is undisputed that the 2 crossbreeding took place in Spain. (Id.) In opposition, Driscoll’s does not dispute that the 3 crossbreeding took place in Spain. Rather, Driscoll’s argues Defendants controlled the 4 crossbreeding activities from the United States and sought to obtain the benefit in California.10 5 (ECF No. 146-1 at 16–17 (citing WesternGeco LLC v. ION Geophysical Corp., 585 U.S. 407, 6 413–14 (2018); NTP, Inc. v. Research In Motion, Ltd, 418 F.3d 1282, 1317 (Fed. Cir. 2005)).) 7 Both 35 U.S.C. 271(a) and the Plant Patent Act only apply to domestic conduct. 35 8 U.S.C. 271(a) (prohibiting infringing conduct that occurs “within the United States” or 9 importation “into the United States”); 35 U.S.C. § 163 (prohibiting infringing conduct that occurs 10 “throughout the United States” and importation “into the United States”). Driscoll’s fails to 11 persuade the Court that those statutes apply to conduct that took place outside of the United 12 States. Driscoll’s quotes WesternGeco for the general proposition that “[i]f the conduct relevant 13 to the statute’s focus occurred in the United States, then the case involves a permissible domestic 14 application of the statute, even if other conduct occurred abroad.” (ECF No. 146-1 at 16 (citing 15 WesternGeco, 585 U.S. at 414 (internal quotation marks omitted)).) However, Driscoll’s does not 16 provide meaningful analysis of WesternGeco, which sets forth “a two-step framework for 17 deciding questions of extraterritorality.” 585 U.S. at 413. Absent any argument from Driscoll’s 18 about how WesternGeco applies to this case, the Court declines to discuss it. 19 Driscoll’s also argues the control-and-benefit test from NTP applies. (ECF No. 146-1 at 20 16–17.) In NTP, the Federal Circuit discussed “where” an infringing use of a system patent 21 occurs. 418 F.3d at 1317. The NTP court held “[t]he use of a claimed system under [§] 271(a) is 22 the place at which the system as a whole is put into service, i.e., the place where control of the 23 system is exercised and beneficial use of the system obtained.” Id. Driscoll’s cites Corteva 24 Agriscience LLC v. Inari Agric., Inc., 743 F. Supp. 3d 603, 617 (D. Del. 2024), to support the 25 10 Driscoll’s argues this Court previously found Driscoll’s adequately alleges that CBC engaged in “‘direct infringement by exercising control over and putting’ its patented varieties or 26 parts thereof ‘into service from within the United States.’” (ECF No. 146-1 at 16 (citing ECF No. 27 32 at 8).) The Court did not previously engage in a full analysis of the arguments presented in the instant motion and is not bound by this statement from its prior Order, which was decided at the 28 pleading stage. 1 proposition that the same reasoning should apply to plant patents. (ECF No. 146-1 at 16–17.) 2 Driscoll’s does not provide any analysis of Corteva, which does not involve the Plant Patent Act. 3 Further, Corteva does not appear to support Driscoll’s argument, as the Corteva court 4 distinguished and declined to apply NTP, noting that NTP was a case “about multi-component 5 and cross-border computer systems.” 743 F. Supp. 3d at 617. Therefore, Driscoll’s fails to 6 persuade the Court that Defendants can be liable for crossbreeding that took place in Spain when 7 §§ 271(a) and 163 explicitly apply only to conduct that takes place in the United States. See also 8 Regents, 2017 WL 9531948 at *6 (granting summary judgment of non-infringement with respect 9 to CBC’s breeding activities in Spain). 10 For these reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to 11 crossbreeding activities that took place in Spain. 12 ii. 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) 13 35 U.S.C. § 271(b) states, “Whoever actively induces infringement of a patent shall be 14 liable as an infringer.” Defendants argue Driscoll’s cannot assert a claim pursuant to § 271(b) for 15 conduct that occurred in Spain because there is no viable claim for direct infringement. (ECF No. 16 140 at 31.) In opposition, Driscoll’s argues Defendants induced the infringing activity in Spain 17 by directing, controlling, and encouraging the infringing activity. (ECF No. 146-1 at 18.) 18 Driscoll’s does not dispute that a claim brought pursuant to § 271(b) is dependent on 19 establishing direct infringement. See Limelight Networks, Inc. v. Akamai Techs., Inc., 572 U.S. 20 915, 922 (2014); Joy Techs., Inc. v. Flakt, Inc., 6 F.3d 770, 774 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (“Liability for 21 either active inducement of infringement or for contributory infringement is dependent upon the 22 existence of direct infringement.”). Driscoll’s cites a single case, TecSec, Inc. v. Adobe Inc., 978 23 F.3d 1278, 1286 (Fed. Cir. 2020), for the proposition that “[a] defendant is liable for ‘induced 24 infringement under § 271(b)’ if the defendant took certain affirmative acts to bring about the 25 commission by others of acts of infringement and had ‘knowledge that the induced acts constitute 26 patent infringement.’” (ECF No. 146-1 at 18.) However, Driscoll’s fails to meaningfully discuss 27 TecSec and how it applies to the instant case. As discussed, there are no viable direct 28 infringement claims in this case because Defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to the 1 importation and use of seeds in the United States and as to crossbreeding that took place in Spain. 2 Therefore, the Court thus finds Defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to the § 271(b) 3 claim based on clear authority requiring a predicate direct infringement claim to bring a § 271(b) 4 claim. See Limelight Networks, 572 U.S. at 922. 5 Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to the § 6 271(b) theory of infringement. 7 iii. 35 U.S.C. § 271(f) 8 Lastly, Defendants argue they are entitled to summary judgment on Driscoll’s claim that 9 Defendants violated 35 U.S.C. § 271(f), which concerns exporting uncombined components of 10 patented inventions from the United States. (ECF No. 140 at 31.) Defendants argue there is no 11 evidence Defendants exported Patented Plants, or any component thereof, from the United States, 12 and § 271(f) does not apply to plant patents. (Id. at 32.) In opposition, Driscoll’s argues 13 Defendants have not admitted where they acquired Driscoll’s plants, and to the extent Driscoll’s 14 plant material was supplied from the United States, such activity is covered by § 271(f). (ECF 15 No. 146-1 at 19.) Further, Driscoll’s argues a court recently allowed such a claim for activities 16 involving a plant protected by a utility patent. (Id. (citing Corteva, 743 F. Supp. 3d at 618).) 17 As an initial matter, Driscoll’s does not specify which subsection of § 271(f) it is 18 invoking. Defendants assert Driscoll’s invokes § 271(f)(1). (ECF No. 140 at 31.) Absent 19 argument to the contrary, the Court presumes this to be correct. Section 271(f)(1) states, 20 “Whoever without authority supplies or causes to be supplied in or from the United States all or a 21 substantial portion of the components of a patented invention, where such components are 22 uncombined in whole or in part, in such manner as to actively induce the combination of such 23 components outside of the United States in a manner that would infringe the patent if such 24 combination occurred within the United States, shall be liable as an infringer.” 25 Defendants correctly point out that Driscoll’s cites no evidence that Defendants supplied 26 or caused to be supplied components of a patented invention “in or from the United States.” 27 (ECF No. 140 at 32.) In opposition, Driscoll’s hypothetically asserts, without citing any 28 evidence, that Defendants may have supplied plant material to Eurosemillas in Spain. (ECF No. 1 | 146-1 at 19.) Driscoll’s also vaguely argues the Corteva court recently allowed such a claim to 2 | proceed for a utility patent involving plants, but Driscoll’s notes that there was evidence in 3 | Corteva that the infringer exported seeds from the United States to Belgium. (/d.) Driscoll’s has 4 | not presented any evidence that Defendants exported any component of a Patented Plant from the 5 | United States, nor does Driscoll’s persuade the Court that Corteva has any bearing on this case. 6 Therefore, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to the 35 7 | U.S.C. § 271(f) theory of infringement. 8 IV. CONCLUSION 9 For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ Motion for Summary 10 | Judgment. (ECF No. 138.) The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in Defendants’ favor 11 | as to Plaintiff's claims. The Court notes Defendants assert various counterclaims, including 12 | claims for declaratory relief of non-infringement and invalidity of the patents. (See ECF Nos. 78, 13 | 79.) While it appears this Order resolves some of Defendants’ counterclaims, the parties’ briefing 14 | is silent on this issue. Therefore, the parties are ORDERED to file a joint status report not later 15 | than seven (7) days from the electronic filing date of this Order indicating how they intend to 16 || proceed as to Defendants’ counterclaims. 17 The Clerk of Court is further directed to file this Order under seal because it contains or 18 | refers to material subject to sealing orders. Within seven (7) days of the filing date of this Order, 19 | the parties shall file a stipulated proposed redacted version of this Order, redacting only those 20 || portions of the Order containing or referring to material for which the Court has granted a motion 21 | to seal and which the parties still request be sealed. The parties shall also email a PDF copy of 22 | the proposed redacted order, without any ECE headers, to tlhorders@caed.uscourts.gov. The 23 | Court will review the parties’ proposal and issue a redacted version of the order. 24 IT IS SO ORDERED. 25 || Date: March 25, 2025 7, 26 ssa f 27 TROY L. NUNLEY CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 28 14