MasterObjects, Inc. v. Meta Platforms, Inc.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MASTEROBJECTS, INC., Plaintiff, No. C 21-05428 WHA

v.

META PLATFORMS, INC., ORDER RE MOTION TO STRIKE

AND MOTION FOR SANCTIONS

Defendant.

15 INTRODUCTION In this patent-infringement action, alleged infringer moves to strike patent owner’s expert reports due to patent owner’s purported failure to include the theories raised in those reports in its contentions. Patent owner, in turn, accuses alleged infringer of discovery chicanery that reportedly caused this issue in the first place, and moves for sanctions. Both motions are DENIED. STATEMENT This action between patent owner MasterObjects, Inc. and alleged infringer Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook), involves autocomplete technology. Autocompletion suggests ways for the user to complete her search as she actively types it into a search bar. MasterObjects originally brought this action in the United States…