OPTICAL DISC CORP. v. Del Mar Avionics
Opinion
Opinion
Pfaelzer, J.
MEMORANDUM OF DECISION-CORRECTED VERSION (7:4— “1992” TO “1993”)
On January 9, 2001, Del Mar Avionics (“Del Mar”) filed three motions pertaining to U.S. Patent No. 5,297,129 (“the ’129 patent”): Summary Adjudication of Invalidity for Failure to Disclose Best Mode, Summary Adjudication of Invalidity on the Ground of On-Sale Bar, and Summary Adjudication of Invalidity of Claims 21 and 24 of the Patent. On February 26, 2001, the Court heard oral argument and took the matters under submission.
INTRODUCTION
Optical Disc Corporation (“ODC”) and Del Mar are competitors in the field of compact disc mastering technology. ODC brought this action against Del Mar for patent infringement and related state law claims. ODC alleges, inter alia, that Del Mar’s FireTrac mastering system, used in the manufacture of compact discs, infringes most claims of the ’129 patent.
The ’129 patent covers certain aspects of optical recording, a process involving the storage of information onto a light sensitive medium. Specifically, the claims of the ’129 patent are directed toward the heart of a CD/DVD mastering system: the laser write signal used to store information on the optical medium.