Vanderlande Industries v. International Trade Commission
The Appellate Court affirmed the ITC’s holding that Vanderlande unlawfully imported a sorting system. (U.S. Patent No. 5,127,510). Vanderlande was unable to show that the patent owners (Siemens/Rapistan) committed the first element of equitable estoppel:
(1) The patentee, who usually must have knowledge of the true facts, communicates something in a misleading way, wither by words, conduct or silance.
Thus, the court found no estoppel. Additionally, the ITC’s claim construction was affirmed.