DCT

2:25-cv-04310

Litepanels Ltd v. COLT Intl Clothing

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I. Executive Summary and Procedural Information

  • Parties & Counsel:
  • Case Identification: 2:25-cv-04310, C.D. Cal., 05/13/2025
  • Venue Allegations: The complaint does not contain specific allegations establishing the basis for venue in the Central District of California.
  • Core Dispute: Plaintiff alleges patent infringement related to LED lighting technology for film, television, and video production.
  • Technical Context: The technology concerns the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in portable, stand-mounted light panels, which offer advantages in heat reduction, power efficiency, and color control over traditional incandescent and fluorescent lighting.
  • Key Procedural History: U.S. Patent No. 7,318,652 underwent an ex parte reexamination, with a certificate issued on February 7, 2025, confirming the patentability of claims 1-5. U.S. Patent No. 7,972,022 also underwent an ex parte reexamination, with a certificate issued on October 24, 2024, confirming the patentability of claims 1-9. These proceedings may inform the court's view on the validity of the confirmed claims against prior art considered by the USPTO.

Case Timeline

Date Event
2001-09-07 Earliest Priority Date for ’652, ’290, and ’022 Patents
2008-01-15 U.S. Patent No. 7,318,652 Issues
2009-03-31 U.S. Patent No. 7,510,290 Issues
2011-07-05 U.S. Patent No. 7,972,022 Issues
2024-10-24 Reexamination Certificate for ’022 Patent Issues
2025-02-07 Reexamination Certificate for ’652 Patent Issues
2025-05-13 Complaint Filing Date

II. Technology and Patent(s)-in-Suit Analysis

The complaint does not specify which patents or claims are asserted. For the purpose of this report, the analysis is based on the patents provided.

U.S. Patent No. 7,318,652 - "Versatile Stand-Mounted Wide Area Lighting Apparatus"

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 7,318,652, "Versatile Stand-Mounted Wide Area Lighting Apparatus," issued January 15, 2008 (’652 Patent).

The Invention Explained

  • Problem Addressed: The patent describes drawbacks of conventional incandescent and fluorescent lighting systems used in film and photography, including excessive heat generation, high power consumption, large size, and undesirable changes in color hue when dimmed (ʼ652 Patent, col. 2:4-53).
  • The Patented Solution: The invention proposes a lighting system using an arrangement of low-power lamp elements, such as LEDs, on a lightweight panel or frame. This frame can be mounted on a stand and may include an opening for a camera to view through, providing illumination from the camera's perspective. The system allows for electronic control over the intensity and color of the light elements, individually or in groups (ʼ652 Patent, Abstract; col. 4:1-9; Fig. 1).
  • Technical Importance: This approach offered a cooler, more power-efficient, and color-stable lighting alternative that was more portable and versatile than the customized, cumbersome lighting setups common in the industry at the time (ʼ652 Patent, col. 2:54-63).

Key Claims at a Glance

  • The complaint does not identify any asserted claims. Independent claim 1, whose patentability was confirmed in reexamination, is representative.
  • Essential elements of Independent Claim 1 include:
    • A lighting system for illuminating a subject in film or video.
    • A portable frame with a panel having a mounting surface.
    • A plurality of semiconductor light elements on the mounting surface emitting light in a color temperature range suitable for image capture.
    • At least one of the light elements emits light in a daylight or tungsten color temperature range.
    • A focusing element for adjusting the focus and/or direction of the emitted light.
    • The portable frame is adapted to be mounted to and readily disengaged from a stand.
  • The complaint does not reserve the right to assert dependent claims.

U.S. Patent No. 7,510,290 - "Stand-Mounted Light Panel for Natural Illumination in Film, Television or Video"

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 7,510,290, "Stand-Mounted Light Panel for Natural Illumination in Film, Television or Video," issued March 31, 2009 (’290 Patent).

The Invention Explained

  • Problem Addressed: The patent addresses the need for portable, versatile, and self-powered lighting solutions for film and television, noting that camera-mounted fixtures can deplete camera batteries and that other battery packs are often heavy and cumbersome (’290 Patent, col. 3:56-4:6).
  • The Patented Solution: The invention describes a lighting apparatus comprising an LED light panel with a self-contained battery unit that securably attaches to the outside of the panel frame. The apparatus is designed with adapters for mounting to a camera or a stand and can be provided as a kit with accessories like diffusion lenses, color gels, and a compact stand (’290 Patent, Abstract).
  • Technical Importance: This configuration provides an integrated, portable, and self-powered lighting system that enhances flexibility and convenience for on-location filming and photography (’290 Patent, col. 4:5-15).

Key Claims at a Glance

  • The complaint does not identify any asserted claims. Independent claim 1 is representative.
  • Essential elements of Independent Claim 1 include:
    • An apparatus for illuminating a subject for film, photography, or video.
    • A frame with a front.
    • A plurality of semiconductor light elements on the front of the frame providing a continuous source of illumination in a color temperature suitable for image capture (daylight or tungsten).
    • A dimmer for user adjustment of illumination intensity.
    • The frame is adapted for mounting to and disengaging from a stand via a stand adapter bracket.
    • The stand adapter bracket comprises a yoke, and the frame is configured to swivel and/or tilt when mounted to the yoke.
  • The complaint does not reserve the right to assert dependent claims.

U.S. Patent No. 7,972,022 - "Stand-Mounted Light Panel for Natural Illumination in Film, Television or Video"

  • Patent Identification: U.S. Patent No. 7,972,022, "Stand-Mounted Light Panel for Natural Illumination in Film, Television or Video," issued July 5, 2011 (’022 Patent).
  • Technology Synopsis: This patent, a continuation of the ’290 patent, further details a stand-mountable LED light panel for film and television. It focuses on the combination of the LED panel, a dimmer, and a stand adapter bracket comprising a yoke that allows the panel to be swiveled and tilted for directional lighting control. The patent also describes embodiments with a self-contained, attachable battery unit (’022 Patent, Abstract; col. 4:20-33). The patentability of its independent claim 1 was confirmed during ex parte reexamination (’022 Reexam. Cert., col. 2:10-11).
  • Asserted Claims: The complaint does not specify asserted claims; independent claims 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 16, 18, 23, 24, 25, and 50 are available for assertion.
  • Accused Features: The complaint does not specify any accused features for this patent.

III. The Accused Instrumentality

The complaint, which names "Colt International Clothing, Inc. d/b/a/ Colt LED" as the defendant, does not identify any specific accused products, methods, or services (Compl. p. 1). It also provides no details regarding the functionality, market context, or commercial importance of any accused instrumentality.

IV. Analysis of Infringement Allegations

The complaint does not contain a claim chart or provide any specific infringement allegations mapping elements of the asserted claims to features of an accused instrumentality. Therefore, no analysis of infringement allegations is possible based on the provided documents.

No probative visual evidence provided in complaint.

V. Key Claim Terms for Construction

As the complaint provides no infringement allegations or theory of the case, there is no basis to identify specific claim terms that may be central to a dispute. Analysis of key terms for construction is therefore not possible.

VI. Other Allegations

The complaint does not allege indirect infringement or willful infringement (Compl. pp. 1-2).

VII. Analyst’s Conclusion: Key Questions for the Case

As the complaint lacks specific allegations, the case remains undefined. However, based on the asserted patents and the nature of the defendant, the dispute, once developed, may center on the following questions:

  • A primary issue will be one of claim scope and validity: While claims from the ’652 and ’022 patents survived reexamination, litigation allows for a broader and potentially more thorough search for prior art. The definition and scope of terms such as "focusing element" (’652 Patent, Claim 1) and a "yoke" that permits swiveling and tilting (’290 Patent, Claim 1), foundational to the claimed inventions, will likely be tested against prior art in the field of professional lighting equipment preceding the 2001 priority date.
  • A key evidentiary question will be one of technical implementation: Once accused products from Colt LED are identified, the case will turn on whether their specific construction reads on the patent claims. For example, does an accused product's mounting hardware meet all the structural and functional limitations of the claimed "stand adapter bracket" and "yoke," or is there a material difference in its mechanism of attachment and adjustment?
  • A potential legal question involves the patent family relationship: The asserted patents are all continuations stemming from the same 2001 application. A question for the court could be whether statements, arguments, or amendments made during the prosecution of one patent (or its reexamination) limit the scope of related claims in the other patents under the doctrine of prosecution history estoppel.