Latest news with #patentinfringement
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Medtronic's $106m heart valve patent infringement ruling overturned
The US Court of Appeals has overturned a $106.5m ruling wherein a California court jury found that Medtronic infringed on a heart valve replacement method developed by Colibri Heart Valve. Colibri sued Medtronic in 2020, alleging that the medtech giant's Evolut transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) systems for treating severe aortic stenosis infringed on its patented method for controlled release of replacement heart valves. The Colorado-based company's filing with a California court alleged that Medtronic's systems infringed on its patented method (No. 8,900,294) of partially deploying a replacement valve from the delivery apparatus and recapturing the valve within the delivery apparatus before full deployment if it looks like the positioning will be off. Colibri's lawsuit asserted that Medtronic learned about its patented methods in a 2014 conference call and during a presentation given by Colibri CEO Joseph Horn about its technology to Medtronic's marketing director and senior clinical programme manager. The patent claimed the 'do-over' method of partial deployment could involve pushing out the valve from an outer sheath of the delivery apparatus or retracting the outer sheath to expose the valve. The case went to trial in 2023, with Medtronic attesting that the accused's use of its product involved partial deployment by retracting, not pushing. During the trial, Colibri dropped its initial assertion of 'literal' infringement and relied solely on the doctrine of equivalents to establish patent infringement using the accused method. Medtronic sought judgment as a matter of law (JMOL) to get this change rejected, deeming the entire premise of the lawsuit invalid; however, the invalidity challenge was rejected. Medtronic was subsequently found to have 'induced infringement', with Colibri awarded $106.5m in damages. The overrule from the US Court of Appeals read: 'We now conclude that prosecution history estoppel, based on Colibri's cancelling of a claim to 'retraction' for partial deployment of the replacement valve and Colibri's own recognition of the close linkage of the subject matter of the cancelled and retained claims, bars application of the doctrine of equivalents. We therefore reverse the district court's denial of JMOL of noninfringement.' A Medtronic spokesperson told Reuters that the court outcome 'affirms our longstanding position that Colibri's patent infringement claims lacked merit". Medical Device Network has reached out to Colibri for comment. "Medtronic's $106m heart valve patent infringement ruling overturned" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
01-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Apple owes $110 million in wireless tech patent case, US jury says
July 1 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab must pay a Spanish patent owner more than $110.7 million in damages for infringing a patent related to wireless communications technology, a Delaware federal jury said in a verdict made public on Tuesday. The jury agreed with TOT Power Control, opens new tab that wireless chips in Apple's iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches violated TOT's patent rights in technology used in the 3G wireless standard. An Apple spokesperson said that the company was disappointed with the verdict and plans to appeal. TOT CEO Alvaro Lopez-Medrano said in a statement that the company was "thrilled that its fundamental cellular power saving technology has been validated by a jury in Delaware." Lopez-Medrano, a Spanish engineer, formed TOT to license technology he invented for managing "how power is used to respond to decreases and increases in the ratio of radio signal to interference," according to TOT's 2021 complaint. TOT's lawsuit said that Apple's mobile devices include transceivers that use its patented technology without a license. Apple denied the allegations and argued that the patents were invalid. The jury found that Apple infringed one of the two TOT patents at issue in the case. TOT has filed similar lawsuits against mobile-device makers LG and Samsung in Delaware that are still ongoing. The case is TOT Power Control SL v. Apple Inc, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:21-cv-01302. For TOT: Denise De Mory, Elizabeth Day, Corey Johanningmeier and Tara Zurawski of Bunsow De Mory For Apple: Jeff Castellano of DLA Piper
Android Authority
26-06-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
These Pixels are banned in one of Google's biggest markets, and more could follow
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority TL;DR The Google Pixel 7 series has received a sales ban in Japan after Google lost a court battle. A Japanese court ruled that Google infringed on standard-essential patents by Pantech. Pantech has also requested a sales injunction against the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 smartphone families. The Google Pixel line is among the most popular phone brands in Japan, being ranked in the top three for 2024. However, trouble is brewing as a series of Google phones has just been banned in the market. ET News and Mlex report that Pantech has successfully won a court battle in Japan over Google's patent infringement. This legal victory means that the Pixel 7 series can no longer be sold in the market. The Japanese court found that Google infringed on Pantech's standard-essential patents. These patents are key to smartphones and are typically licensed under FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) terms. The patent at the center of the suit relates to 'control signal mapping' technology used in LTE networks. According to ET News, a major reason why the court ruled in favor of a sales ban was Google's 'insincere and uncooperative attitude.' More Pixel phones to be banned in Japan? It should go without saying that the Pixel 7 series is almost three years old and has since been succeeded by the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 lines. So Google is highly unlikely to see a sales hit in Japan as a result of this ruling. However, Pantech has also filed a sales injunction lawsuit against the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series. If this sales ban is granted, it would undoubtedly have a far bigger impact on Google's bottom line in the region. This would be a particularly large blow for Google as it's been among the top three players in Japan for a while now. Counterpoint Research also noted that Japan beat the US for Pixel shipments back in Q1 2023. Pantech was a major player in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but it became a casualty during these early smartphone years. Instead, fellow Korean brands LG and Samsung became significantly more successful. The company has since been acquired and is now a 'patent monetization business.' It's aggressively gone after major companies, earning legal wins over OnePlus and Pokemon Go developer Niantic. It's also settled with smartphone brand BLU. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Reuters
05-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Amazon settles State Farm lawsuit alleging it stole elder care technology
June 5 (Reuters) - Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab has settled a lawsuit by insurance company State Farm accusing the e-commerce giant of copying its patented technology to develop elder care services for Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa, according to a filing in Delaware federal court. The companies asked the court, opens new tab on Wednesday to dismiss the case with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled. State Farm said in a statement on Thursday that the case had been settled under confidential terms. Spokespersons and attorneys for Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Bloomington, Illinois-based State Farm sued Amazon in 2022, in what the insurance company said was its first-ever patent infringement lawsuit. According to the complaint, State Farm met with Amazon in 2019 and 2020 about incorporating its Sundial senior-care assistance technology into Alexa-enabled devices. The lawsuit had accused Amazon of copying patented Sundial features, including its "circle of friends" for coordinating caregiver responsibilities, a chatbot for seniors to interact with the platform, and check-in and monitoring services. Amazon had denied the allegations and argued that the patents were invalid. The case is State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Inc, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:22-cv-01447. For State Farm: Michael De Vries, Adam Alper, Akshay Deoras, Kat Li and Leslie Schmidt of Kirkland & Ellis For Amazon: Doug Lumish of Latham & Watkins, Adam Greenfield of White & Case Read more: State Farm lawsuit says Amazon stole elder-care technology
GSM Arena
30-05-2025
- Business
- GSM Arena
Samsung hit with $117M fine over patent infringement
Samsung found itself under a patent infringement case filed with the U.S. District Court in Texarkana, Texas. The court reached an early verdict and ordered Samsung to pay out $117.7 million in damages. The plaintiff? Maxell (formerly Hitachi Maxell), whose patents related to Galaxy smartphone and tablet unlocking tech, data management and smart home platforms were violated. The current case was initially filed back in September 2023 when Maxell accused Samsung of violating seven of its patents by selling a variety of products, including the SmartThings station alongside smartphones, laptops and home appliances all using Maxell's patented tech. Samsung SmartThings station According to a report shared by The Korea Herald, Samsung licensed Maxell's patents for the duration of ten years back in 2011. Once the initial agreement expired in 2021, Samsung continued using the patented tech without renegotiating its license with Maxell. The Japanese company then filed legal complaints across several district courts across the U.S, Germany and Japan. Samsung can appeal the current district court decision to a higher court, and is expected to do so, which means this legal battle is far from over. Source
