In Re: Cellnet Data Systems, Inc., Debtor Schlumberger Resource Management Services, Inc. v. Cellnet Data Systems, Inc

327 F.3d 242, 66 U.S.P.Q. 2d (BNA) 1667, 50 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 27, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 8146, 41 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 72, 2003 WL 1983835
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit
DecidedApril 30, 2003
Docket02-2546
StatusPublished
Cited by79 cases

This text of 327 F.3d 242 (In Re: Cellnet Data Systems, Inc., Debtor Schlumberger Resource Management Services, Inc. v. Cellnet Data Systems, Inc) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re: Cellnet Data Systems, Inc., Debtor Schlumberger Resource Management Services, Inc. v. Cellnet Data Systems, Inc, 327 F.3d 242, 66 U.S.P.Q. 2d (BNA) 1667, 50 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 27, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 8146, 41 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 72, 2003 WL 1983835 (3d Cir. 2003).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

NYGAARD, Circuit Judge.

This appeal presents us with an issue of first impression involving elections under *244 11 U.S.C. § 365(n). CellNet Data Systems, Inc. sold its intellectual property to Schlumberger Resource Management Services, Inc., which specifically excluded the assets and liabilities of certain licensing agreements under the terms of the sale. After CellNet rejected those licensing agreements under 11 U.S.C. § 365(a) of the bankruptcy code, the licensee exercised its rights under § 365(n) to continue to use the intellectual property, subject to the royalty payments due under the original license. Both CellNet, as party to the contract, and Schlumberger, as holder of the intellectual property, claim the right to receive the royalty payments. The District Court determinéd that Schlumberger had expressly severed the royalties from the intellectual property by the terms of the purchase agreement and that the royalties remained in CellNet’s estate. Although CellNet then rejected the license, the licensee, by operation of § 365(n), elected to enforce the license and thus the District Court concluded that the royalties due under the revived contract belonged to CellNet. We will affirm.

I. Jurisdiction and Standard of Review

The Bankruptcy Court had subject matter jurisdiction over the initial proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b). The District Court’s jurisdiction for the bankruptcy appeal is found in 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1). Our jurisdiction over this appeal arises from 28 U.S.C. § 158(d). We exercise plenary review of an order issued by a district court sitting as an appellate court in review of the bankruptcy court. In re Top Grade Sausage, Inc., 227 F.3d 123, 125 (3d Cir.2000). Pursuant to Rule 8013 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, on appeal, findings of fact by the bankruptcy court are set aside if clearly erroneous. A factual finding is clearly erroneous when “the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395, 68 S.Ct. 525, 92 L.Ed. 746 (1948). We review legal conclusions de novo and mixed questions of law and fact under a mixed standard, affording a clearly erroneous standard to integral facts, but exercising plenary review of the lower court’s interpretation and application of those facts to legal precepts. In re Top Grade Sausage, Inc., 227 F.3d at 125.

II. Background

The essential facts are not in dispute, rather how those facts operate is at issue. In 1997, CellNet, a developer of a wireless data network for meter reading, now in bankruptcy, entered into a joint venture with Bechtel Enterprises, Inc., forming a company called BCN Data Systems LLC. As part of the joint venture, CellNet entered into several licensing agreements with BCN, that provided BCN with an exclusive license to use CellNet’s intellectual property outside the United States. In return, CellNet received a royalty payment equal to three percent of BCN’s gross revenues. The License Agreements also contained a covenant that CellNet would provide technological support to BCN during the lifetime of the Agreements.

Three years later, with CellNet on the verge of bankruptcy, Appellant, Schlum-berger, proposed the sale of CellNet’s assets. Schlumberger and CellNet entered into a Proposal Letter under which Schlumberger would purchase “all or substantially all of the assets and business operations of [CellNet] and its subsidiaries.” The January 31, 2000 Proposal Letter also provided that Schlumberger “would acquire all assets of [CellNet] free and clear of all liens other than certain *245 liens to be agreed (the ‘Assets’), other than the Excluded Assets (as defined below), used in, held for use in, or related to the business and operations of [CellNet].” Thus, the proposal contemplated that certain assets of CellNet would not be subject to the ultimate purchase agreement. However, the term “Excluded Assets” was left open for future agreement by the parties.

CellNet filed for bankruptcy on February 4, 2000. On March 1, 2000, Schlum-berger and CellNet entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement that mirrored the intent of the Proposal Letter, in that Schlumberger would purchase all of Cell-Net’s assets, subject only to certain excluded assets. This time, however, the agreement included language that explained:

At any time prior to March 25, 2000, [Schlumberger] shall be entitled unilaterally to amend this Agreement, including without limitation Schedules 1.01(a)(i) (Stock Acquired), 1.01(b) (Excluded Contracts) and 1.01(e) (Excluded Assets) attached hereto, solely for the purpose of excluding any or all of the stock, assets, liabilities and agreements of [CellNet] pertaining to [CellNet’s] joint venture with Bechtel Enterprises, Inc., or its affiliates, (collectively, the “BCN Assets and Liabilities”) from the stock, assets, liabilities and agreements being acquired or assumed by [Schlum-berger] hereunder.

Thus, the Purchase Agreement provided that Schlumberger would purchase all of CellNet’s intellectual property, etc., but would be able to specifically exclude all stocks, assets, liabilities, and agreements pertaining to CellNet’s venture with BCN. 1 Pursuant to a letter by counsel on March 24, 2000, Schlumberger elected to exercise its right to exclude the BCN assets and liabilities. The letter went on to specifically designate the License Agreements between CellNet and BCN as assets and liabilities excluded from the purchase under the heading “Excluded Contracts.”

Despite excluding the License Agreements, Schlumberger asserted a right to the royalties under the Agreements prior to the approval of the Asset Purchase Agreement by the bankruptcy court. This was based on the belief that CellNet would have to reject the Agreements under § 365(a) as executory contracts that it could not fulfill and that Schlumberger would then be entitled to the royalties as owner of the underlying intellectual property. CellNet believed otherwise, but in an effort to complete the sale of its assets, agreed to reject the License Agreements and preserve the right of the parties to contest ownership of the royalties. The parties memorialized the decision to reject the License Agreements under § 365(a) in an additional section of the Asset Purchase Agreement. The new section read:

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
327 F.3d 242, 66 U.S.P.Q. 2d (BNA) 1667, 50 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 27, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 8146, 41 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 72, 2003 WL 1983835, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-cellnet-data-systems-inc-debtor-schlumberger-resource-management-ca3-2003.