December 2009

Legal Judo – Using Their Own Information Against Them

Submitted by patentadmin on Thu, 12/31/2009 - 20:28

A patent owner, suing for infringement of his patent, may find that the defendant has substantial arguments as to non-infringement. However, if there is a pending continuation of the patent-in-suit, the patent owner may be able to overcome such non-infringement defenses by adding new claims to the continuation, which are specifically tailored to the defendant’s products or services.

i4i Redux

Submitted by patentadmin on Thu, 12/31/2009 - 20:25

An earlier blog, The End Of a Rule?, dealt with Microsoft’s appeal of an award of TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS in damages to i4i in a patent infringement case. As we noted, the appellate judges asked questions and made statements which seemed to indicate that they favored Microsoft’s position. Well, the decision is now in. Microsoft lost!

Giving With One Hand, Taking Away With The Other

Submitted by patentadmin on Thu, 12/31/2009 - 20:23

“Whoever marks upon, or affixes to, or uses in advertising in connection with any unpatented article, the word ‘patent’ or any word or number importing that the same is patented, for the purpose of deceiving the public … Shall be fined not more than $500 for each such offense.” 35 U.S.C. §292(a)

“… [a]ny person may sue for the penalty, in which event one-half shall go to the person suing and the other to the use of the United States.” 35 U.S.C. §292(b)

Raising the Bar On Non-Obviousness

Submitted by patentadmin on Tue, 12/29/2009 - 20:16

Much has been written about the decision of the Supreme Court in KSR Int’l. Co. v. Teleflex, Inc. Unfortunately, much of this writing is philosophical blather which only serves to obfuscate the case holding. A recent decision of the C.A.F.C., Perfect Web Technologies, Inc. v. InfoUSA, Inc., however, may provide some much needed clarification.

An Answer – Almost

Submitted by patentadmin on Tue, 12/29/2009 - 20:10

The famous – or infamous, if you’re an N.P.E. – eBay decision has eliminated the automatic injunction formerly awarded to prevailing patentees. Now, the courts are to apply the “4 part test” traditionally applicable to the award of equitable relief. As a practical matter, the trial court must now decide whether the prevailing patentee will suffer any “irreparable harm” if the scum sucking infringer continues to infringe. All well and good – if you’re not an N.P.E. – but which party bears the burden of proving the “irreparable harm”?

Stay Tuned For The Next Exciting Chapter

Submitted by patentadmin on Mon, 12/28/2009 - 20:14

While the world – at least the patent world – awaits the Supreme Court decision in In re Bilski, the trial courts continue to hand down surprisingly consistent decisions based upon the C.A.F.C.’s Bilski decision. Given that everyone now seems to understand the existing decision, it seems a shame that the Supreme Court could – and probably will – upset the apple cart by rendering an entirely new decision which will, at least for a while, confuse everyone.

Acacia Research Corp. Division Loses Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Verizon Wireless and Other Carriers

Submitted by patentadmin on Thu, 12/24/2009 - 00:00

December 24, 2009 - Last week, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia found that Verizon Wireless and other wireless carriers did not infringe the patent of DNT LLC, a unit of Acacia Research Corp.

Florida Company Found Guilty in Trademark Registration Scam

Submitted by patentadmin on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 09:27

December 23, 2009 - A judge in Tallahassee, Florida ruled on December 18 that a company called the Federated Institute for Patent and Trademark Registry and its president, Bernd Taubert, violated the state's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by sending out direct mail pieces that looked like invoices for trademark registration.

The Cost Of Inconsistency

Submitted by patentadmin on Mon, 12/21/2009 - 21:10

Some time ago, Smith & Nephew, Inc. sued Arthrex, Inc., claiming it had infringed a patent related to suture anchors for repairing damaged tissue. The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded $15M in damages. The trial court then granted the plaintiff a permanent injunction. Arthrex, as losing defendants are wont to do, appealed. Earlier this month, the C.A.F.C. handed down its decision. (Smith & Nephew Inc. et al. v. Arthrex Inc.)

General Patent Corporation Secures New Licensee for DTL’s Cellular Communications Patent

CC Communications Licenses the Digital Output Transducer Patent

Suffern, N.Y., December 21, 2009 − General Patent Corporation (GPC), a leading patent licensing and enforcement firm, announced today on behalf of its client, Digital Technology Licensing LLC (DTL), that it has licensed DTL's cellular communications patent to CC Communications of Fallon, Nev.

What Happens In Vegas

Submitted by patentadmin on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 13:42

Several recent blogs have dealt with cases of clients suing their former counsel. Now, we have a case of a federal judge suing government lawyers, alleging that his Fifth Amendment rights have been violated. Porteous v. Baron et al. (For those readers who don’t watch LAW & ORDER on television, the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution established the right against self-incrimination.)

Starbucks vs. "Charbucks" in Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

Submitted by patentadmin on Tue, 12/15/2009 - 09:27

December 15, 2009 - Starbucks Corp. has sued the Black Bear Micro Roastery in Tuftonbury, New Hampshire, for diluting its trademark. At issue is the family-owned company's "Charbucks" coffee blend. The name of the blend is an obvious play on "Starbucks" that also highlights the dark-roasted characteristic of the coffee.

A Very High Price

Submitted by patentadmin on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 22:14

Nearly five years ago, NTP successfully asserted five patents against Research in Motion (RIM), winning a judgment of $53.7M and the award of a permanent injunction. The district court stayed enforcement of the injunction, pending an appeal to the Court Of Appeals For The Federal Circuit. The C.A.F.C. upheld many of the district court findings, but remanded the case to reconsider some of the claim construction issues. Before the lower court could revisit these issues, the parties settled the case.

General Patent Corporation Settles Patent Infringement Lawsuit with Audiovox

Advanced Video Technologies Licenses Its Full Duplex Single Chip Video Codec Patent to Audiovox

Suffern, N.Y., December 14, 2009 − General Patent Corporation (GPC), a leading patent licensing and enforcement firm, announced today on behalf of its client, Advanced Video Technologies LLC (AVT), that it settled a patent infringement lawsuit between AVT and Audiovox Electronics Corporation (Audiovox) of Hauppauge, N.Y.

A True Golf Fanatic

Submitted by patentadmin on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 22:09

Among the types of prior art which may be considered by a patent examiner during examination of a patent application is “printed publications.” Fine, so what, exactly, is a “printed publication?”

In order to qualify as a printed publication, a reference “must have been sufficiently accessible to the public interested in the art.” It is “sufficiently accessible” if it was “disseminated or otherwise made available to the extent that persons interested and ordinarily skilled in the subject matter or art, exercising reasonable diligence, can locate it.”

What Were They Thinking?

Submitted by patentadmin on Wed, 12/09/2009 - 22:08

The past year has seen a growing trend towards clients suing their attorneys (actually, their former attorneys) for legal malpractice. While many of these suits may be well-founded, it would appear that one, at least, is not. (Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. Greenberg Traurig LLP et al.)

Apple Ordered to Pay $21.7 Million in Patent Infringement Lawsuit Judgment

Submitted by patentadmin on Wed, 12/09/2009 - 09:27

December 9, 2009 - Last week it was reported that the judgment has been finalized in the lawsuit between Apple and OPTi Inc. In April of this year, a jury found in OPTi's favor and Apple was ordered to pay $19 million.

Now that the judgment has been finalized, Apple has been ordered to pay an additional $2.7 million in pre-judgment interest.

N.P.E.s Rejoice

Submitted by patentadmin on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 10:13

A patent owner whose patent is being infringed by the importation of infringing goods into this country may be able to sue the importer (scum sucker) in the International Trade Commission (I.T.C.). While the I.T.C. cannot award damages to a prevailing patent owner, it will (except in rare cases) issue an “exclusionary order” barring the further importation of infringing goods. Such an order is, in effect, quite similar to a permanent injunction.

Two Veterans of General Patent Corporation Mark Ten Years with the Company

Suffern, N.Y., December 3, 2009 − General Patent Corporation (GPC), a leading patent licensing and enforcement firm, announced today that two veterans of the company – Paul J. Lerner, General Patent’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel, and Kathlene P. Ingham, the company’s Director of Licensing – both mark ten years with the company this month.

Very Interesting

Submitted by patentadmin on Tue, 12/01/2009 - 20:17

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Once, the Ford Motor Company was one of the richest and most powerful commercial enterprises in the world. Now, attorneys argue, in court, that it may be unable to pay the damages awarded by a jury which found Ford guilty of patent infringement. (Jacob Krippelz, Sr. v. Ford Motor Company.)

A year ago, the jury awarded Krippelz $23 Million in damages for infringement of his patent on a “puddle lamp” which is built into the side view mirrors of certain Ford automobiles.