Atmel Corp. v. AUTHENTEC, INC.

ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND CROSS-MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Plaintiffs Atmel Corporation, Atmel Switzerland, Atmel France and Atmel SARL and Defendant Authentec, Inc. dispute the meaning of several terms and phrases used in U.S. Patent No. 6,289,114 (the '114 patent) and U.S. Patent No. 6,459,804 (the '804 patent). Plaintiffs and Defendant each ask the Court to adopt their proposed construction of the disputed terms and phrases. In addition, Plaintiffs move for partial summary judgment. Defendant opposes the motion, cross-moves for summary judgment and moves for an exceptional case finding. Plaintiffs oppose those motions. The motions were heard on May 1, 2008. The Court has considered the parties’ papers and oral argument. The Court finds it unnecessary to construe the disputed claim terms. Construing the claims as Plaintiffs propose for the purpose of the motions, the Court denies Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment, grants Defendant’s motion for summary judgment and denies Defendant’s motion for an exceptional case finding.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs and Defendant are competitors that produce biometric fingerprint sensors used to secure small electronic…