Tag: design patent
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Range of Motion v. Armaid: Federal Circuit Declines to Rework Judge-Jury Roles in Design Patent Infringement
The Federal Circuit’s August 11, 2026 order denying panel rehearing and rehearing en banc in Range of Motion Products, LLC v. Armaid Company Inc., Case No. 23-2427 (Fed. Cir. August 11, 2026), leaves intact a precedential design patent decision that gives judges significant responsibility at two stages of infringement litigation. Courts may construe a design…
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Range of Motion Prods v. Armaid: Narrow Design Patent Scope and the Growing Role of “Plainly Dissimilar”
On February 2, 2026, the Federal Circuit affirmed summary judgment of non-infringement in Range of Motion Products, LLC v. Armaid Company Inc., No. 23-2427, reinforcing two increasingly important themes in design patent litigation: (1) aggressive narrowing of design patent scope through functionality-based claim construction, and (2) the continued willingness of courts to resolve infringement at…
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Smartrend v. Opti-Luxx: When Claim Construction Undoes Patent Infringement Verdicts
The Federal Circuit’s decision in Smartrend Manufacturing Group (SMG), Inc. v. Opti-Luxx Inc., Nos. 2024-1616, 2024-1650 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 13, 2025), offers a layered and instructive treatment of two recurring fault lines in patent litigation: claim construction in design patents and the limits of the doctrine of equivalents in utility patents. In a single opinion,…
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Top Brand LLC v. Cozy Comfort Company LLC: Federal Circuit Reverses $18.5M Infringement Verdict Based on Design Patent Disclaimer and Weak Trademark Use
In a significant ruling that underscores the Federal Circuit’s evolving approach to design patent claim scope and the evidentiary burden in trademark cases, the court in Top Brand LLC v. Cozy Comfort Company LLC, No. 24-2191 (Fed. Cir. July 17, 2025), reversed a jury’s $18.5 million verdict for design patent and trademark infringement. Charles Gideon…
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Court of Appeals Decision in Lashify, Inc. v. International Trade Commission: Key Takeaways
On March 5, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision in Lashify, Inc. v. International Trade Commission, a case concerning intellectual property rights in the context of international trade and the domestic industry requirement under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The ruling has significant implications…
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PS Products v. Panther Trading: Federal Circuit Upholds Sanctions for Frivolous Patent Lawsuit
The Federal Circuit has affirmed a district court’s sanctions against PS Products (PSP) and its attorney for filing a meritless design patent infringement case, reinforcing courts’ authority to penalize frivolous litigation. The case underscores the importance of proper venue selection, valid infringement claims, and adherence to litigation ethics. litigation. The case underscores the importance of…