M A R C H 2 0 0 2 The Federal Circuit Last month at “PRACTICING THE PRIOR ART” IS NOT A POSTJUDGMENT SALES DATA WILL NOT Month at a Glance DEFENSE TO LITERAL INFRINGEMENT AFFECT DAMAGES AWARD Accused infringers are not free to flout the Evidence of postjudgment sales data showing requirement of proving invalidity by clear and market acceptance of noninfringing alternative is convincing evidence by asserting a “practicing not sufficient to modify damages award. Fiskars, prior art” defense to literal infringement under Inc. v. Hunt Mfg. Co. , No. 01-1193 (Fed. Cir. the less stringent preponderance of evidence Feb. 15, 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 standard. Tate Access Floors, Inc. v. Interface Architectural Res., Inc. , No. 01-1275 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 7, 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 DISTRICT COURT FAILED TO CONSTRUE DILIGENCE FOUND IN PREPARATIONS AIMED CLAIMS BEFORE INVALIDATING THEM AT COMMERCIAL PRACTICE OF PROCESS Claims must be properly construed before being Building of a manufacturing plant in U.S. to prac- considered against potentially invalidating public tice the claimed process is evidence of diligence use and sales activities. Dana Corp. v. American toward reduction to practice. Scott v. Koyama , Axle & Mfg., Inc. , No. 01-1008 (Fed. Cir. No. 01-1161 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 27, 2002) . . . . . .1 Feb. 12, 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 NONINFRINGEMENT FINDING IN ANDA SUIT DOES NOT ESTOP LATER SUIT AGAINST COMMERCIAL PRODUCT COURT “MOLDS” INFRINGEMENT FINDING Federal Circuit remands for claim construction in ON LOST-FOAM CASTING PATENT Washington, DC 202-408-4000 relation to actual tablets manufactured under the Equivalent structures found for means-plus- ANDA. Bayer AG v. Biovail Corp ., No. 01-1329 function analysis. Vulcan Eng’g Co. v. FATA (Fed. Cir. Feb. 7, 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Aluminum, Inc. , No. 00-1533 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 5, 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Palo Alto 650-849-6600 OPINIONS OF COUNSEL FOR PATENTEE ARE NOT NECESSARILY RELEVANT IN DETER- MINING WHETHER A CASE IS EXCEPTIONAL Patentee’s failure to procure a favorable infringe- LAN PATENT LIMITED TO DISCLOSED Atlanta ment opinion prior to lawsuit may be relevant, 404-653-6400 EMBODIMENT but is not conclusive of whether a case is excep- Court limits claim scope to embodiment in tional; it also has diminished significance if evi- specification given requirements of claims. dence precludes SJ of noninfringement. Epcon Datapoint Corp. v. Standard Microsystems Corp. , Cambridge Gas Sys., Inc. v. Bauer Compressors, Inc. , No. No. 99-1239 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 15, 2002) 617-452-1600 01-1043 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 1, 2002) . . . . . . . . . .2 (nonprecedential decision) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 OFFERS TO LICENSE DO NOT SUPPORT Tokyo 011-813-3431-6943 PERSONAL JURISDICTION Fairness and reasonableness demand that a pat- COURT REVERSES JMOL AND REINSTATES JURY entee be free to inform a party who happens to VERDICT OF INFRINGEMENT be located in a particular forum of suspected District court’s claim constructions found Brussels 011-322-646-0353 infringement without the risk of being subjected overly restrictive based on embodiments from to a lawsuit in that forum. Hildebrand v. Steck specification. Schreiber Foods, Inc. v. Beatrice Mfg. Co. , No. 01-1087 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 7, Cheese, Inc. , No. 00-1303 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 27, 2002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2002) (nonprecedential decision) . . . . . . . . . .6 EDITED BY VINCE KOVALICK This publication brings you a synopsis of patent cases decided last month by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit based on slip opinions received from the court. You can review and download the full text of each opinion by visiting our Web site ( www.finnegan.com ).
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