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STATE OF MICHIGAN
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF OAKLAND
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF OAKLAND
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THE SCO GROUP, INC.,
a Delaware corporation,
Plaintiff,
vs.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation,
Defendant.
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THE SCO GROUP, INC.,
Plaintiff,
vs.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION,
Defendant.
Civil Action No. 04-056587-CKB
Honorable Rae Lee Chabot
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COMPLAINT AND JURY DEMAND
Case No. 04-056587-CK
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ANSWER AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES OF
DEFENDANT DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
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NOW COMES Plaintiff, The SCO Group, Inc. (“SCO”) by and through its
attorneys, Seyburn, Kahn, Ginn, Bess & Serlin, P.C., and Boies,
Schiller & Flexner LLP, and for its Complaint against Defendant
DaimlerChrysler Corporation (“DC”) alleges as follows:
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Defendant DaimlerChrysler Corporation ("DCC"), through its counsel,
Dykema Gossett
PLLC, for its Answer and Affirmative Defenses to the Complaint
("Complaint") of Plaintiff The
SCO Group, Inc. ("Plaintiff") states as follows:
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Introduction
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INTRODUCTION
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1. SCO is the exclusive licensor of software licenses for the UNIX
operating system. These software licenses are agreements that restrict
the permitted use of the UNIX operating system. To help insure
compliance with the restrictions on such permitted use, the licenses
include a monitoring and reporting mechanism designed to detect (and
thus deter) violations of those agreed limits. Specifically, the
licenses require licensees to certify their compliance with those
restrictions. Like all provisions in the license, these reporting and
monitoring provisions exist only because they have been agreed to by
the licensee.
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1.
DCC is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
to the
truth of the remaining allegations contained in paragraph 1 of the
Complaint.
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2. SCO has requested that DC provide the contractually required
certification that DC is complying with the terms of its UNIX
technology license. SCO has thus asked DC to certify--as contractually
it must-- that its use of UNIX technology is within the agreed
parameters of permitted use established by the license.
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2.
DCC is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
to the
truth of the allegations contained in the first sentence of paragaraph
2 of the Complaint. DCC
denies the allegations contained in the second sentence of paragraph 2
of the Complaint.
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3. DC agreed to and accepted the terms of its UNIX license. DC has
received very substantial benefits as a result of entering that license
and DC has never challenged the validity of that license.
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3.
DCC denies the allegations of paragraph 3 of the Complaint, except that
it admits
that it is the successor in interest to Chrysler Motors Corporation for
an agreement designated
SOFT-01341 between AT&T Information Systems and Chrysler Motors
Corporation.
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4. Nevertheless, DC has refused to provide the contractually
required certification of compliance that SCO requested. DC has in fact
refused even to respond to SCO’s request. It would be irrational and
contrary to DC’s self-interest for DC to violate the license’s
certification requirement’s in this way unless DC was also violating
the license’s limits on permitted use of UNIX technology, precluding DC
from certifying compliance.
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4.
DCC is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
to the
truth of the allegations contained in the first and second sentences of
paragraph 4 of the
Complaint. DCC denies the allegations contained in the third sentence
of paragraph 4 of the
Complaint.
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5. By refusing to provide the certification that the license
requires as a means of enabling SCO to monitor compliance with, and
thus protect, the rights that DC agreed to respect, DC has compelled
SCO to institute this litigation to secure a judicial remedy.
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5.
DCC denies the allegations contained in paragraph 5 of the Complaint.
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Parties, Jurisdiction and Venue
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Parties, Jurisdiction and Venue
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6. Plaintiff SCO is a Delaware corporation with its principal place
of business in the County of Utah, State of Utah.
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6.
DCC is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
to the
truth of the allegations contained in paragraph 6 of the Complaint.
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7. Defendant DC is a Delaware corporation with its principal place
of business in the County of Oakland, State of Michigan.
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7.
DCC admits that it is a Delaware corporation with its principal place
of business
in the County of Oakland, State of Michigan.
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8. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over SCO’s Complaint
because the amount in controversy exceeds the sum of Twenty-Five
Thousand ($25,000.00) Dollars and/or is otherwise within the equitable
jurisdiction of this Court.
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8.
Paragraph 8 of the Complaint states legal conclusions to which no
answer is
required. To the extent an answer may be required, DCC denies the
allegations contained in
paragraph 8 of the Complaint.
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9. Venue is properly situated in Oakland County, Michigan because DC
has a place of business in Oakland County.
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9.
Paragraph 9 of the Complaint states legal conclusions to which no
answer is
required. To the extent an answer may be required, DCC denies the
allegations contained in
paragraph 9 of the Complaint.
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Background Facts
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Background Facts
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10. UNIX is a computer software operating system. Operating systems
serve as the link between computer hardware and the various software
programs (known as applications) that run on the computer. Operating
systems allow multiple software programs to run at the same time and
generally function as a “traffic control” system for the different
software programs that run on a computer.
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10.
DCC admits that UNIX is a computer software operating system. DCC is
without
knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of
the remaining allegations
contained in paragraph 10 of the Complaint.
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11. In the business-computing environment for the Fortune 1000 and
other large corporations (often called the “enterprise computing
market”), UNIX is widely used.
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11.
DCC is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
to the
truth of the allegations contained in paragraph 11 of the Complaint.
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12. The UNIX operating system was originally developed by AT&T
Bell Laboratories (“AT&T”). After successful in-house use of the
UNIX software, AT&T began to license UNIX as a commercial product
for use in enterprise applications by other large companies.
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12.
DCC is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
to the
truth of the allegations contained in paragraph 12 of the Complaint.
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13. Over the years, AT&T Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of AT&T, and its related companies, licensed UNIX for
widespread enterprise use. Pursuant to a license with AT&T, various
companies, including International Business Machines, Hewlett-Packard,
Inc., Sun Microsystems, Inc., Silicon Graphics, Inc., and Sequent
Computer Systems, became some of the principal United States-based UNIX
vendors, among many others.
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13.
DCC is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
to the
truth of the allegations contained in paragraph 13 of the Complaint.
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14. These license agreements place restrictions on the valuable
intellectual property developed by AT&T, which allow UNIX to be
available for use by others while, at the same time, protecting
AT&T’s (and its successor’s) rights.
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14.
DCC is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
to the
truth of the allegations contained in paragraph 14 of the Complaint.
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15. Through a series of corporate acquisitions, SCO presently owns
all right, title and interest in and to UNIX and UnixWare operating
system source code, software and sublicensing agreements, together with
copyrights, additional licensing rights in and to UNIX and UnixWare,
and claims against all parties breaching such agreements.
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15.
Paragraph 15 of the Complaint states legal conclusions to which no
answer is
required To the extent an answer may be required, DCC denies the
allegations contained in
paragraph 15 of the Complaint.
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16. During the past few years a competing, and free, operating
system known as Linux has been transformed from a non-commercial
operating system into a powerful general enterprise operating system.
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16.
DCC is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
to the
truth of the allegations contained in paragraph 16 of the Complaint.
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17. Linux is a computer software operating system that, in material
respects, is a variant or clone of UNIX System V. According to leaders
within the Linux community, Linux is not just a “clone,” but is
intended to displace UNIX System V.
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17.
DCC is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as
to the
truth of the allegations contained in paragraph 17 of the Complaint.
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FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
(Breach of Contract/Declaratory Judgment)
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FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
(Breach of Contract/Declaratory Judgment)
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18. Plaintiff incorporates and re-alleges paragraphs 1 - 17 above.
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18.
DCC incorporates its responses to the preceding paragraphs as if set
forth fully
herein.
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19. SCO is the successor to AT&T under that certain Software
Agreement originally executed by and between AT&T and Chrysler
Motors Corporation designated as SOFT-01341 (the “DC Software
Agreement” or the “Agreement”). The DC Software Agreement specifies the
terms and conditions for use of authorized distributions of UNIX System
V source code, including modifications and derivative works based
thereon, by Defendant. The DC Software Agreement is attached hereto as
Exhibit “A.”
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19.
Paragraph 19 of the Complaint states legal conclusions to which no
answer is required.
To the extent an answer may be required, DCC denies the allegations set
forth in
paragraph 19 of the Complaint and further states that the AT&T
Information Systems, Inc.
Software Agreement, Agreement No. SOFT-01341, entered into by Chrysler
Motors Corporation
and AT&T Information Systems, Inc. (the "License Agreement") speaks
for itself. To the extent
that paragraph 19 contains allegations which purport to characterize
the contents of the License
Agreement, DCC denies them.
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20. With respect to the scope of rights granted for use of the
System V source code under Section 2.01 of the DC Software Agreement,
Defendant received the following rights in UNIX:
[A] personal, nontransferable
and nonexclusive right to use in the United States each
Software Product identified in the one or more Supplements hereto, solely
for Licensee’s own internal business purposes
and solely on or in conjunction with Designated CPUs for such Software
Product. Such right to use includes the right to modify
such Software Product and to prepare derivative works
based on such Software Product, provided that any such
modification or derivative work that contains any part of a Software
Product subject to this Agreement is treated hereunder the
same as such Software Product. (Emphasis
added.)
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20.
Paragraph 20 of the Complaint states legal conclusions to which no
answer is required.
To the extent an answer may be required, DCC denies the allegations set
forth in
paragraph 20 of the Complaint and further states that the License
Agreement speaks for itself.
To the extent that paragraph 20 contains allegations which purport to
characterize the contents of
the License Agreement, DCC denies them.
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21. Defendant agreed in §2.06 of the DC Software Agreement to
the following restrictions on use of the
Software Product (including System V source code, derivative works and
methods based thereon):
No right is granted by this Agreement for the use of
Software Products directly for others, or for any use of
Software Products by others . . . .
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21.
Paragraph 21 of the Complaint states legal conclusions to which no
answer is required.
To the extent an answer may be required, DCC denies the allegations set
forth in
paragraph 21 of the Complaint and further states that the License
Agreement speaks for itself.
To the extent that paragraph 21 contains allegations which purport to
characterize the contents of
the License Agreement, DCC denies them.
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22. Defendant agreed in §7.09 of the DC Software Agreement to
the following restrictions on transfer of
the Software Product, including resulting modifications or derivative
works of UNIX System V:
[N]othing in this Agreement grants to Licensee the right to
sell, lease or otherwise transfer or dispose of a Software Product in
whole or in part.
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22.
Paragraph 22 of the Complaint states legal conclusions to which no
answer is required.
To the extent an answer may be required, DCC denies the allegations set
forth in
paragraph 22 of the Complaint and further states that the License
Agreement speaks for itself.
To the extent that paragraph 22 contains allegations which purport to
characterize the contents of
the License Agreement, DCC denies them.
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23. Defendant agreed under §7.05(a) of the DC Software
Agreement to the following restrictions on confidentiality
of the Software Product:
Licensee agrees that it shall hold all parts of the
Software Products subject to this Agreement in confidence
for [SCO]. Licensee further agrees that it shall not make
any disclosure of any or all
of such Software Products (including methods or concepts
utilized therein) to anyone, except to employees of
Licensee to whom such disclosure is necessary to the use for which
rights are granted hereunder. Licensee shall appropriately notify each
employee to whom any such disclosure is made that such disclosure is
made in confidence and shall be kept in confidence by such employee.
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23.
Paragraph 23 of the Complaint states legal conclusions to which no
answer is required.
To the extent an answer may be required, DCC denies the allegations set
forth in
paragraph 23 of the Complaint and further states that the License
Agreement speaks for itself.
To the extent that paragraph 23 contains allegations which purport to
characterize the contents of
the License Agreement, DCC denies them.
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24. Consistent with these restrictions, in § 2.05, Defendant
also agreed to account to SCO on an annual basis regarding its use of
System V software licensed pursuant to the Software Agreement.
Specifically, § 2.05 provides as follows:
On [SCO’s] request, but not more frequently than annually,
Licensee shall furnish to [SCO] a statement, certified by an authorized
representative of Licensee, listing the location, type and serial
number of all Designated CPUs hereunder and stating that the use by
Licensee of Software Products subject to this Agreement has been
reviewed and that each such Software Product is being used solely on
such Designated CPUs (or temporarily on back-up CPUs) for such Software
Products in full compliance with the provisions
of this Agreement. (Emphasis added.)
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24.
Paragraph 24 of the Complaint states legal conclusions to which no
answer is required.
To the extent an answer may be required, DCC denies the allegations set
forth in
paragraph 24 of the Complaint and further states that the License
Agreement speaks for itself.
To the extent that paragraph 24 contains allegations which purport to
characterize the contents of
the License Agreement, DCC denies them.
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25. Section 2.05 of the Software Agreement is designed to insure
compliance by DC “with the provisions of this Agreement,” and
to do so by supplying a monitoring mechanism that prevents and deters
violations of the Software Agreement.
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25.
Paragraph 25 of the Complaint states legal conclusions to which no
answer is required.
To the extent an answer may be required, DCC denies the allegations set
forth in
paragraph 25 of the Complaint and further states that the License
Agreement speaks for itself.
To the extent that paragraph 25 contains allegations which purport to
characterize the contents of
the License Agreement, DCC denies them.
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26. By letter dated December 18, 2003, SCO requested that DC provide
the writing required under § 2.05 certifying that DC was “in full
compliance with the provisions of [the Software Agreement].” Although
DC should have been in a position to produce such a compliance
certification on shorter notice, SCO’s letter requested that the
required certification be provided within 30 days of receipt of that
letter. (The SCO December 18, 2003, letter is attached hereto as
Exhibit “B”).
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26.
DCC denies the allegations set forth in paragraph 26 of the Complaint
and states
that the letter dated December 18, 2003 alleged in paragraph 26 of the
Complaint (the "SCO
Letter") speaks for itself. To the extent that paragraph 26 contains
allegations which purport to
characterize the contents of the SCO Letter, DCC denies them.
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27. DC has refused to comply with its obligations under § 2.05
of the Software Agreement. Specifically, DC has refused even to respond
to SCO’s request for the contractually required compliance
certification within 30 days, or at any time since. DC has thereby
refused to state that it is not now violating its obligations under the
Software Agreement, and DC has refused to state that it has not in the
past been violating its obligations under the Software Agreement. DC
has refused to provide such a certification even though it is also one
of DC’s express obligations under the Software Agreement to provide
such a certification.
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27.
DCC denies the allegations contained in paragraph 27 of the Complaint.
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28. On information and belief, DC’s refusal to certify that it is
not violating the DC Software Agreement is also based, in part, on DC’s
use of UNIX technology, in violation of the DC Software Agreement, in
migrating its installed base to the Linux operating system.
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28.
DCC denies the allegations contained in paragraph 28 of the Complaint.
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29. It would be irrational and contrary to DC’s self-interest for it
to continue to withhold the requested certification and thereby violate
the Software Agreement’s reporting requirements if DC were not also
violating the Software Agreement’s non-reporting, core substantive
requirements.
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29.
DCC denies the allegations contained in paragraph 29 of the Complaint.
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Prayer for Relief
Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court:
Enter an order that DC has violated § 2.05 of the Software
Agreement by refusing to provide the certification of compliance with
the “provisions” of that Agreement;
Enter an order declaring that DC has not complied with, and instead
has violated, the provisions of the Software Agreement with which
§ 2.05 required DC to certify compliance;
Enter an order permanently enjoining DC from further violations of
the DC Software Agreement; and
Issue a mandatory injunction requiring DC to remedy the effects of
its past violations of the DC Software Agreement; and
Award damages in an amount to be determined at trial; and
Enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff together with costs, attorneys’
fees and any such other or different relief that the Court may deem to
be equitable and just.
Jury Demand
SCO demands trial by jury on all issues so triable.
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WHEREFORE, Defendant DaimlerChrysler Corporation respectfully requests
that this
Court dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint with prejudice, award DCC its costs
and attorney's fees as
may be permitted by law, and grant such other relief as may be
appropriate.
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AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
Defendant DaimlerChrysler Corporation ("DCC"), through its counsel,
Dykema Gossett
PLLC, for its Affirmative Defenses to the Complaint ("Complaint") of
Plaintiff The SCO Group,
Inc. states as follows:
1
Failure to State a Claim. The Complaint fails to state a
claim against DCC upon
which relief can be granted.
2
Waiver, Estoppel, Laches, Unclean Hands and Acquiescence.
Plaintiff's claims
are barred by the doctrines of waiver, estoppel, laches, unclean hands
and/or acquiescence.
3
Lack of Capacity to Sue. Plaintiff is not a party to the
License Agreement
attached to the Complaint, and therefore Plaintiff may lack the
capacity to sue.
4
Lack of Standing. Plaintiff is not a party to the License
Agreement attached to the
Complaint, and therefore Plaintiff may lack standing to sue. Plaintiff
also lacks standing to sue
because the terms of Plaintiff's contract with Novell, Inc. ("Novell")
require Plaintiff to waive its
right to enforce the License Agreement upon Novell's request, which,
upon information and
belief, Novell has expressly requested Plaintiff to do.
5
Lack of Case or Controversy. Plaintiff's action for
declaratory judgment fails for
lack of a case or controversy because DCC did not breach the License
Agreement.
6
Lack of Breach/Cure of Alleged Breach. Plaintiff fails to
identify a duty under
the License Agreement that DCC breached, and DCC has cured any alleged
failure to comply
with an actual duty under the License Agreement. Nothing set forth
herein shall be construed as
an admission by DCC that it has failed to comply with any duty under
the License Agreement.
7
Mitigation of Damages. The damages sought by Plaintiff are
not recoverable
because Plaintiff has failed to mitigate its damages.
8
Plaintiff's Claims are Moot. The claims asserted in the
Complaint are moot
because DCC has provided Plaintiff with a proper certification under
the License
Agreement.
9
Bar by Third-Party Contract. Plaintiff is barred from
asserting the claims in the
Complaint by its contract with Novell, Inc.
10
Reservation of Right. DCC reserves the right, upon
completion of its discovery
and investigation or otherwise, to assert such additional defenses as
may be appropriate.
WHEREFORE, Defendant DaimlerChrysler Corporation respectfully requests
that this
Court dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint with prejudice, award DCC its costs
and attorney's
fees as may be permitted by law, and grant such other relief as may be
appropriate.
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