1:25-cv-01095
Ricoh Co Ltd v. Zoom Communications Inc
I. Executive Summary and Procedural Information
- Parties & Counsel:
- Plaintiff: Ricoh Company, Ltd. (Japan)
- Defendant: Zoom Communications, Inc. f/k/a Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (Delaware)
- Plaintiff’s Counsel: Ashby & Geddes; Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
- Case Identification: 1:25-cv-01095, D. Del., 01/13/2026
- Venue Allegations: Venue is alleged to be proper in the District of Delaware because Defendant is incorporated in Delaware, conducts substantial business in the state, and has committed acts of patent infringement there.
- Core Dispute: Plaintiff alleges that Defendant’s cloud-based communication and collaboration products, marketed as the "Zoom Workplace" platform, infringe seven U.S. patents related to video conferencing, interactive whiteboarding, and associated collaboration technologies.
- Technical Context: The technology at issue involves software and systems for remote collaboration, a market that has seen significant growth and has become a critical component of modern business operations.
- Key Procedural History: The complaint alleges Defendant had knowledge of the asserted patents prior to the lawsuit, citing a notice letter sent by Plaintiff’s counsel on April 11, 2024. The complaint further alleges pre-suit knowledge by pointing to several U.S. patents issued to Zoom that cite members of the family of one of the asserted patents.
Case Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2010-05-06 | U.S. Patent No. 10,931,917 Priority Date |
| 2011-02-28 | U.S. Patent No. 11,546,548 Priority Date |
| 2011-01-01 | Defendant Zoom Founded (approx. date) |
| 2012-03-22 | U.S. Patent No. 11,256,464 Priority Date |
| 2012-08-01 | U.S. Patent No. 11,516,278 Priority Date |
| 2013-01-01 | Defendant Zoom Launches First Service (approx. date) |
| 2014-03-31 | U.S. Patent No. 10,909,059 Priority Date |
| 2015-05-09 | U.S. Patent No. 10,904,487 Priority Date |
| 2018-11-29 | U.S. Patent No. 11,289,093 Priority Date |
| 2021-01-26 | U.S. Patent No. 10,904,487 Issues |
| 2021-02-02 | U.S. Patent No. 10,909,059 Issues |
| 2021-02-23 | U.S. Patent No. 10,931,917 Issues |
| 2022-02-22 | U.S. Patent No. 11,256,464 Issues |
| 2022-03-29 | U.S. Patent No. 11,289,093 Issues |
| 2022-11-29 | U.S. Patent No. 11,516,278 Issues |
| 2023-01-03 | U.S. Patent No. 11,546,548 Issues |
| 2024-04-11 | Plaintiff Sends Notice Letter to Defendant |
| 2026-01-13 | First Amended Complaint Filed |
II. Technology and Patent(s)-in-Suit Analysis
U.S. Patent No. 10,904,487 - *Integration Of Videoconferencing With Interactive Electronic Whiteboard Appliances*
Issued January 26, 2021
The Invention Explained
- Problem Addressed: The patent background describes limitations of interactive whiteboard appliances, noting their restricted ability to run other applications, such as videoconferencing, concurrently with a whiteboard sharing session (’487 Patent, col. 1:35-38). The complaint frames this as an inability to effectively manage concurrent application windows on devices not natively configured for that purpose (Compl. ¶55, 61).
- The Patented Solution: The invention provides an “application manager” software that runs on the whiteboard appliance to coordinate between a whiteboard application and a collaboration client (’487 Patent, col. 2:67-3:6). This manager controls window layering, for example, by maintaining a videoconferencing window on top of the whiteboard window during a session and provides a graphical user interface to switch between the two applications (’487 Patent, Abstract; FIG. 1).
- Technical Importance: This solution claims to improve the operation of specialized computing devices by enabling concurrent window management and unified controls without requiring hardware modifications (Compl. ¶55, 92).
Key Claims at a Glance
- The complaint provides an exemplary analysis of independent method claim 15 and also references apparatus claim 1 and computer-readable media claim 8 (Compl. ¶99, 106).
- Independent Claim 15 (Method):
- Displaying an interactive whiteboard session window on a whiteboard device, wherein a selection menu to receive an instruction for starting a video conference session is overlaid on the whiteboard window; and
- After receiving the instruction, overlaying a videoconference window on the interactive whiteboard session window.
- The complaint notes that dependent claims 2-7 add further details to the asserted independent claims (Compl. ¶104).
U.S. Patent No. 10,909,059 - *Transmission Terminal, Non-Transitory Recording Medium, Transmission Method, And Transmission System*
Issued February 2, 2021
The Invention Explained
- Problem Addressed: The patent addresses usability issues in multi-party video conferences where the number of participants is large (’059 Patent, col. 1:44-47). As participant numbers increase, video feeds shrink, making it difficult to know who is in the conference; concurrently, it was not always possible to display the total number of participating terminals (’059 Patent, col. 3:54-57; Compl. ¶131).
- The Patented Solution: The invention is a transmission terminal that displays not only the video feeds from other participants but also separately displays "information concerning a total number of transmission terminals participating" in the conference (’059 Patent, col. 3:58-61). The system is designed to handle situations where the number of video feeds displayed is smaller than the total number of participants, ensuring the user is aware of the full attendance (’059 Patent, col. 25:17-36; FIG. 20).
- Technical Importance: This approach improves user awareness in large conferences by providing a persistent participant count, which avoids information overload and eliminates the need to switch display modes to see a participant list (Compl. ¶128).
Key Claims at a Glance
- The complaint asserts independent method claims 4 and 6 (Compl. ¶190, 191).
- Independent Claim 4 (Method):
- Displaying on a screen information concerning a total number of transmission terminals participating in a video conference;
- Displaying on the screen respective sets of image data from those terminals;
- Wherein a number of the sets of image data displayed is smaller than the total number of participating terminals.
- Independent Claim 6 (Method):
- Displaying on a screen information concerning a total number of transmission terminals participating in a video conference;
- Displaying on the screen respective sets of image data from those terminals;
- Wherein the total number of transmission terminals participating is greater than a number of the sets of image data displayed.
- The complaint also notes that dependent claims add further unconventional elements (Compl. ¶188).
U.S. Patent No. 10,931,917 - *Transmission Terminal, Transmission Method, And Computer-Readable Recording Medium Storing Transmission Program*
Issued February 23, 2021
The Invention Explained
The patent addresses the problem of increased processing load on a central management system when external devices (like a presenter's laptop) are used for screen sharing, as conventional systems required those devices to be registered (’917 Patent, col. 2:6-11). The solution is a transmission terminal that can receive display data directly from a connected external device and transmit it to other conference participants without requiring the external device to log into the management system (Compl. ¶214).
Asserted Claims
The complaint asserts at least independent method claim 8 (Compl. ¶266).
Accused Features
The complaint accuses Zoom Rooms, as implemented on hardware like a DTEN D7, of infringing when a user shares content from an external device, such as an iPhone, that is not logged into the Zoom management system (Compl. ¶272, 277).
U.S. Patent No. 11,256,464 - *Communication System, Communication Device, And Computer Program*
Issued February 22, 2022
The Invention Explained
The patent addresses the problem of optimally displaying different image types, such as participant videos and shared presentation content, across one or more displays to improve visibility (’464 Patent, col. 1:40-43). The solution involves a communication device with a display control circuit that can automatically switch display schemes, for example, by moving shared material to a second display when sharing begins and removing it when sharing ends, without user input (Compl. ¶294, 323).
Asserted Claims
The complaint asserts at least independent method claim 5 (Compl. ¶353).
Accused Features
The complaint accuses communication devices such as the DTEN D7 running Zoom Rooms, which can operate with a single display or with dual displays, of practicing the claimed method for managing participant video and shared screen content (Compl. ¶359, 364).
U.S. Patent No. 11,289,093 - *Apparatus, System, And Method Of Display Control, And Recording Medium*
Issued March 29, 2022
The Invention Explained
The patent addresses the difficulty of navigating a recorded meeting audio file to find a specific moment (’093 Patent, col. 1:26-33). The invention provides a system that converts recorded voice data into timestamped text data and displays it alongside a graphical playback control (e.g., a slider). When a user selects a portion of the text, the system automatically moves the playback control to the corresponding time in the audio recording (Compl. ¶377, 384).
Asserted Claims
The complaint asserts at least independent method claim 17 (Compl. ¶434).
Accused Features
The complaint accuses Zoom's Cloud Recording feature, which provides an audio transcript alongside the video playback, where selecting text in the transcript repositions the playback timeline (Compl. ¶436, 439-445).
U.S. Patent No. 11,516,278 - *Transmission Management System, Transmission System, And Recording Medium*
Issued November 29, 2022
The Invention Explained
The patent describes a problem in communication systems where destinations have fixed, generic names (e.g., "Tokyo office"), but more context-appropriate names (e.g., "Project Team") may be desirable depending on the communication scenario (’278 Patent, col. 1:63-2:3). The solution is a transmission management system that can manage multiple destination name data items for a single destination, allowing users to create and display meeting-specific names (Compl. ¶458, 498).
Asserted Claims
The complaint asserts at least independent method claim 16 (Compl. ¶533).
Accused Features
The complaint accuses the functionality within Zoom Meetings that allows a user to update their display name during a scheduled meeting (Compl. ¶539, 542).
U.S. Patent No. 11,546,548 - *Transmission Management Apparatus*
Issued January 3, 2023
The Invention Explained
The patent addresses the problem in large video conferences where shrinking video display areas make it difficult for users to identify which terminals are attending (’548 Patent, col. 1:50-57). The invention is a transmission management apparatus that provides automatic identification information (e.g., a list of names) about participants independent of the video feeds, allowing users to see who is attending regardless of the number of participants (Compl. ¶557).
Asserted Claims
The complaint asserts at least independent method claim 9 (Compl. ¶673).
Accused Features
The complaint accuses the Zoom feature that provides an "identification name list of sites," such as the participant list, which displays the names and attendance status of users in a meeting (Compl. ¶684, 685).
III. The Accused Instrumentality
Product Identification
The accused products and services are collectively marketed as the “Zoom Workplace” platform, which was formerly known as “Zoom One” (Compl. ¶37, 39). This platform includes, but is not limited to, Zoom Meetings, Zoom Rooms, Zoom Whiteboard, Zoom Sessions, Zoom Webinars, and Zoom Cloud Recording (Compl. ¶41).
Functionality and Market Context
The accused products provide cloud-based communication and collaboration services accessible via web portals and downloadable applications for computers and mobile devices (Compl. ¶36). The platform is marketed as a unified system for meetings, chat, and other collaborative functions, as shown in a screenshot from Defendant's website (Compl. p. 10, ¶37). The complaint alleges that these products enable users to conduct virtual meetings and collaborative sessions, supporting a wide range of individual and enterprise customers (Compl. ¶36).
IV. Analysis of Infringement Allegations
’487 Patent Infringement Allegations
| Claim Element (from Independent Claim 15) | Alleged Infringing Functionality | Complaint Citation | Patent Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| an interactive whiteboard session window, including at least an interactive whiteboard session content area, to be displayed on a display of a whiteboard device, wherein a selection menu to receive an instruction for starting a video conference session is overlaid on the interactive whiteboard session window; | Zoom Rooms allegedly presents a home screen with a selection menu including a "Whiteboard" icon. Upon selection, an interactive whiteboard window opens, which itself contains an overlaid selection menu with a "START MEETING" option. | ¶112, 113 | col. 2:31-34 |
| and after receiving the instruction for starting the video conference session via the selection menu overlaid on the interactive whiteboard session window, a videoconference window to be overlaid on the interactive whiteboard session window. | After a user selects the "START MEETING" option from the menu overlaid on the whiteboard session, a video conference session is started and a videoconference window is overlaid on the interactive whiteboard window. | ¶114, 115 | col. 5:66-6:8 |
- Identified Points of Contention:
- Scope Questions: A potential issue may be whether the initial home screen of the Zoom Rooms application constitutes an "interactive whiteboard session window" as required by the first element of the claim. The complaint's evidence shows a whiteboard icon on a general menu, and a subsequent screen where a meeting can be started from the whiteboard (Compl. p. 32-33). The sequence alleged in the complaint may raise questions about whether the "selection menu" is overlaid on the "whiteboard session window" in the manner claimed.
’059 Patent Infringement Allegations
| Claim Element (from Independent Claim 4) | Alleged Infringing Functionality | Complaint Citation | Patent Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| displaying on a screen of the transmission terminal, information concerning a total number of transmission terminals participating in the video conference, | Zoom displays a total number of participants (e.g., "52") on the screen during a video conference, which allegedly informs the user of the total number of transmission terminals. | ¶197 | col. 4:58-64 |
| and displaying, on the screen of the transmission terminal, respective sets of image data transmitted by transmission terminals participating in the video conference to each other, | Zoom displays the video feeds from the various participants in the video conference on the user's screen. | ¶197 | col. 4:30-39 |
| wherein a number of the sets of image data... is smaller than the total number of transmission terminals participating in the video conference. | In a large meeting, Zoom displays a number of video feeds (e.g., 49) that is smaller than the total number of participants (e.g., 52), as depicted in a provided screenshot. | ¶198 | col. 25:17-36 |
- Identified Points of Contention:
- Technical Questions: The infringement allegation appears to map directly onto the functionality shown in the complaint's screenshot of a large gallery view meeting (Compl. p. 59). A potential point of contention could revolve around the specific technical architecture of the accused system compared to the "transmission management apparatus" and "transmission terminals" described in the patent (’059 Patent, FIG. 1), and whether Zoom's cloud-based server and client architecture operates in a corresponding way.
V. Key Claim Terms for Construction
’487 Patent
- The Term: "interactive whiteboard session window"
- Context and Importance: This term is central because Claim 15 requires the "selection menu to receive an instruction for starting a video conference session" to be "overlaid on the interactive whiteboard session window." The infringement theory depends on whether the screen from which a user initiates a whiteboard-based meeting in the accused product qualifies as this specific type of window.
- Intrinsic Evidence for Interpretation:
- Evidence for a Broader Interpretation: The patent describes the invention in the context of an "interactive whiteboard appliance" generally (’487 Patent, col. 1:23-24). One might argue that any primary user interface window of such an appliance, from which collaborative sessions are managed, falls within the scope of the term.
- Evidence for a Narrower Interpretation: FIG. 3A of the patent, which is described as depicting the appliance before a videoconference is initiated, explicitly labels element 302 as the "Interactive Whiteboard Session Window" and shows it as a blank canvas with drawing tools (’487 Patent, col. 8:1-5). This suggests the "whiteboard session window" is the active application window itself, not a preceding home screen.
’059 Patent
- The Term: "information concerning a total number of transmission terminals"
- Context and Importance: The complaint alleges that a numerical display of the participant count (e.g., "52") meets this limitation (Compl. ¶197). The scope of "information concerning" will determine whether a simple integer is sufficient to infringe.
- Intrinsic Evidence for Interpretation:
- Evidence for a Broader Interpretation: The plain language of the claim does not specify the format or level of detail required for the "information." A simple number is factually information concerning the total.
- Evidence for a Narrower Interpretation: The specification discloses embodiments where an "auxiliary area" displays not only the number of participants but also other data like "Terminal ID," "Elapsed conference time," and "Network bandwidth information" (’059 Patent, col. 46:4-10; FIG. 18). A party could argue that the term, read in light of the specification, implies a richer set of data than just a participant count.
VI. Other Allegations
- Indirect Infringement: The complaint alleges that Defendant induces infringement by providing its software for download and providing instructions, advertisements, and technical support that encourage infringing use by its customers (Compl. ¶117, 203). The complaint also alleges contributory infringement on the basis that the accused products are a material part of the patented inventions and are not staple articles of commerce suitable for substantial non-infringing use (Compl. ¶118, 204).
- Willful Infringement: Willfulness is alleged based on both pre- and post-suit knowledge. The complaint alleges pre-suit knowledge based on Zoom's own issued patents citing to the family of the ’487 Patent (Compl. ¶46). It further alleges knowledge for all asserted patents from at least the date of a notice letter sent on April 11, 2024, and from at least the filing date of the original complaint (Compl. ¶116, 120).
VII. Analyst’s Conclusion: Key Questions for the Case
- A central issue across multiple asserted patents will be one of definitional scope and sequence: Does the operation of Zoom's software platform, which allows users to launch various functions from a general interface, meet the specific sequences recited in the claims? For example, with the '487 Patent, the case may turn on whether launching a video conference from a whiteboard application is the same as overlaying a video start menu on a pre-existing "interactive whiteboard session window."
- A second key question will be one of architectural correspondence: The asserted patents often describe systems with specific hardware components like a "transmission terminal" or a "transmission management apparatus." The infringement allegations map these claim elements onto Defendant's modern, cloud-based, software-as-a-service architecture. The case will likely involve significant disputes over whether the accused software clients and server infrastructure are structurally and functionally equivalent to the claimed systems.
- A third core issue will be the timing and basis for willful infringement: The complaint alleges knowledge based on citations in Defendant's own patent portfolio prior to any direct contact. A key legal question will be whether such citations are sufficient to establish the "subjective willfulness" prong of the post-Halo standard for conduct preceding the April 11, 2024 notice letter.