Amazon Opposes Ex Parte Application to Be Deposed by Chinese Firm

U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik in Seattle signed an order Thursday directing his clerk to assign a civil action number to a Sept. 16 ex parte application from Chinese company Sailed Technology for permission to serve deposition and discovery subpoenas on Amazon for alleged patent infringement. Amazon filed a motion Wednesday to deny Sailed’s application, and “in light of the contested nature of this proceeding,” assigning the case a docket number is appropriate, said Lasnik. “Sailed seeks highly invasive and confidential discovery without providing Amazon with an opportunity to respond and correct the record -- an unfairly prejudicial outcome that the Court should not allow,” said Amazon’s motion to deny. The court should order Sailed to refile its application as a “noticed motion” to be heard on a regular calendar, said Amazon. Sailed has brought multiple patent infringement actions in Nanjing, China, alleging Amazon Echo- and Fire-series products infringe one or more Sailed patents, said the ex parte application. Amazon is a named defendant in these actions and Amazon’s name is printed on the package of accused products, it said.