DCT

2:24-cv-00743

Zugara Inc v. Joiuss Ltd

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I. Executive Summary and Procedural Information

  • Parties & Counsel:
  • Case Identification: 2:24-cv-00743, E.D. Tex., 09/10/2024
  • Venue Allegations: Venue is asserted on the basis that the Defendant, a foreign corporation, is subject to personal jurisdiction in the district due to its business activities, including offering for sale and selling its products to customers in Texas.
  • Core Dispute: Plaintiff alleges that Defendant’s e-commerce website, which features a "Virtual Try On" tool for glasses and sunglasses, infringes a patent related to simulating the wearing of items using an augmented reality interface.
  • Technical Context: The technology at issue involves augmented reality (AR) systems for online retail, which overlay digital models of products onto a live camera feed of a user to create an interactive "virtual try-on" experience.
  • Key Procedural History: The asserted patent claims priority back to provisional applications filed in 2009. The complaint alleges ownership of the patent and notes its examination by the USPTO, but does not mention any prior litigation or post-grant proceedings involving the patent.

Case Timeline

Date Event
2009-08-12 '517 Patent Priority Date
2015-11-09 '517 Patent Application Filing Date
2019-11-19 '517 Patent Issue Date
2024-09-10 Complaint Filing Date

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

U.S. Patent No. 10,482,517 - "Providing A Simulation Of Wearing Items Such As Garments And/Or Accessories"

The complaint asserts U.S. Patent No. 10,482,517, issued November 19, 2019. (Compl. ¶1; ’517 Patent, cover).

The Invention Explained

  • Problem Addressed: The patent’s background section identifies a key barrier in e-commerce for wearable goods: potential customers cannot try items on before purchase, forcing them to "speculate as to whether they will like a given wearable good once they try it on." (’517 Patent, col. 1:33-36).
  • The Patented Solution: The invention solves this problem with a system that provides a "virtual-outfitting interface." This system captures a live video feed of a user, recognizes the user’s body parts, and overlays a selected "virtual-wearable item" (e.g., virtual glasses) onto the user's image in real-time. The result is a "composite video feed" where the user appears to be wearing the item, which can be viewed and manipulated through the interface. (’517 Patent, Abstract; col. 3:11-25).
  • Technical Importance: This technology sought to replicate the in-store fitting room experience online, aiming to increase consumer confidence and reduce a significant friction point in the online sale of apparel and accessories. (’517 Patent, col. 1:39-43).

Key Claims at a Glance

  • The complaint asserts at least independent claim 1. (Compl. ¶25).
  • The essential elements of independent claim 1 include:
    • A system with one or more hardware processors configured to:
    • Obtain a live video feed from a client computing platform;
    • Recognize the position and/or orientation of a user's body part(s) within the video feed;
    • Provide a "virtual-outfitting interface" that includes a main display portion and an icon overlaid upon it;
    • The main display portion includes a composite video feed incorporating the user's live video and a virtual-wearable item;
    • The virtual item's position, size, and orientation are determined so it moves with the user in real-time; and
    • Provide a "social-networking tool" presented in the interface, allowing the user to interface with social-networking services.

III. The Accused Instrumentality

Product Identification

The accused instrumentalities are the "Virtual Try On Glasses and Sunglasses" module and associated Augmented Reality (AR) advertising tools available on Defendant's website, https://www.joiuss.com/. (Compl. ¶¶14-15).

Functionality and Market Context

The accused product is an e-commerce feature that allows online shoppers to use their device's camera to "turn[] your device's screen into a virtual mirror, in real time." (Compl. ¶15). As depicted in a screenshot of the user interface, the system requires the user to grant permission for the website to "Use your cameras." (Compl. Fig. 3, p. 6). Once activated, the feature superimposes images of eyeglasses onto the user's live video feed, allowing them to see how different styles might look. (Compl. ¶15, Fig. 1). A separate screenshot shows a product gallery page with "TRY ON" buttons on various products, which presumably launch the virtual try-on module. (Compl. Fig. 2, p. 5). The complaint alleges these tools are used to advertise, sell, and promote Defendant's eyewear products. (Compl. ¶14).

IV. Analysis of Infringement Allegations

The complaint references an "Exhibit A" containing a detailed infringement analysis, but this exhibit was not filed with the complaint. (Compl. ¶25). The infringement theory is instead summarized in prose. (Compl. ¶26).

'517 Patent Infringement Allegations

| Claim Element (from Independent Claim 1) | Alleged Infringing Functionality | Complaint Citation | Patent Citation |
|:-----------------------------------------------|:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| obtain, from a client computing platform, a live video feed | The accused product obtains a live video feed from the user's device. A screenshot shows the system requesting camera access from the user. | ¶26, Fig. 3 | col. 8:59-64 |
| recognize a position and/or orientation of one or more body parts of a user within the live video feed | The system recognizes the position and/or orientation of the user's body parts (e.g., face) to properly place the virtual glasses. | ¶26 | col. 5:3-12 |
| provide a virtual-outfitting interface... including... a main display portion and an icon that is overlaid upon the main display portion | The accused product provides a "Virtual Try On" interface, which constitutes the claimed virtual-outfitting interface. A screenshot shows the main interface. | ¶26, Fig. 1 | col. 3:11-20 |
| wherein the main display portion includes a composite video feed that incorporates the live video feed of the user and a first virtual-wearable item | The main display shows a composite video feed that combines the user's live video with the selected virtual glasses. | ¶26 | col. 4:40-48 |
| wherein a position, size, and/or orientation of the first virtual wearable item is determined such that the first virtual wearable item moves... so that the user appears to be wearing the first virtual-wearable item in real time | The virtual glasses move with the user's head in real-time, creating the appearance that the user is wearing them. | ¶26 | col. 5:13-27 |
| provide a social-networking tool graphically presented in the virtual-outfitting interface, the social-networking tool allowing the user to interface with one or more social-networking services | The accused product is alleged to provide a social-networking tool that allows the user to interface with social-networking services. | ¶26 | col. 6:47-54 |

  • Identified Points of Contention:
    • Technical Questions: The complaint asserts in a conclusory manner that the accused product provides a "social-networking tool." (Compl. ¶26). However, it offers no specific factual allegations or visual evidence (e.g., a "share to Facebook" button) to demonstrate the existence or operation of such a tool within the accused interface. The strength of the infringement allegation for this element is therefore difficult to assess from the complaint alone.
    • Scope Questions: The meaning of "icon that is overlaid upon the main display portion" may be a point of contention. The question will be whether the claim requires the icon to be superimposed directly on the live video portion of the display, or if an icon located in an adjacent frame or menu within the overall interface would satisfy the limitation.

V. Key Claim Terms for Construction

  • The Term: "social-networking tool"
  • Context and Importance: This term appears to be a critical limitation, as infringement of Claim 1 requires its presence. Practitioners may focus on this term because the complaint provides no specific factual allegations to support its existence in the accused product, making it a potential point of non-infringement.
  • Intrinsic Evidence for Interpretation:
    • Evidence for a Broader Interpretation: The specification describes the tool as allowing a user to "interface with one or more social-networking services" and provides a non-exhaustive list including "Facebook™, MySpace™, Twitter™." (’517 Patent, col. 6:47-52). A plaintiff may argue this covers any functionality that enables sharing content to such platforms.
    • Evidence for a Narrower Interpretation: The claim requires the tool to be "graphically presented in the virtual-outfitting interface." (’517 Patent, col. 17:1-5). A defendant may argue this requires a specific, persistent graphical element within the primary AR interface, not merely a share option that appears on a different screen after a user takes a snapshot.

VI. Other Allegations

  • Indirect Infringement: The complaint alleges inducement based on Defendant providing instructions, advertising, and technical support that allegedly guide customers to use the accused products in an infringing manner. (Compl. ¶27). It also alleges contributory infringement, asserting the products have special features with no substantial non-infringing uses. (Compl. ¶28).
  • Willful Infringement: Willfulness is alleged based on Defendant’s purported "objective recklessness" and an alleged "policy or practice of not reviewing the patents of others." (Compl. ¶¶30-31). The complaint alleges knowledge of the patent "at least as of the date when it was notified of the filing of this action," which primarily supports a theory of post-suit willful infringement. (Compl. ¶29).

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

  • A key evidentiary question will be one of factual support: can the Plaintiff produce evidence that the accused "Virtual Try On" product actually contains a "social-networking tool" as required by Claim 1? The complaint's current lack of specific allegations on this element suggests this will be a central point of dispute.
  • The case may also hinge on claim construction: a core issue will be the scope of the phrase "icon that is overlaid upon the main display portion." The resolution will depend on whether this term requires the icon to be superimposed directly upon the composite video feed itself, or if placement within a surrounding user-interface frame is sufficient to meet the limitation.