Pinpoint v. Amazon. (N.D. Ill. Aug 31, 2004) (Posner, J.).
Pinpoint has sued Amazon for infringement of its patented system for scheduling broadcast and providing access to video programs. (E.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,758,257). Pinpoint claims that Amazon’s website infringes by providing personalized book and music video suggestions.
In its most recent press release, Pinpoint announced that Judge Richard A. Posner of the 7th Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals will be sitting by designation as the district judge presiding over the jury trial. According to Judge Posner’s order in the case, the jury trial will begin at 9:00 am on December 6.
Always Controversial
Judge Posner has a reputation for thinking outside the box. In his last patent case, Posner created a new equitable defense to infringement that would bar enforcement of a patent when the patentee’s own conduct significantly inhibits non-infringing practice of the prior art. That case, SKB v. Apotex [I, II, III, IV], involving hemihydrates, was affirmed by the Federal Circuit but is currently being considered for an en banc rehearing.
It is speculated that the Apotex case has sparked some contention within the halls of the CAFC. This speculation stems from the fact that the en banc petition has been sitting undecided for over six months.
Now a Blogger
After a stint as a guest blogger at Professor Larry Lessig’s blog, Judge Posner has started a blog in cooperation with Nobel Winner Gary Becker. The Becker-Posner blog is not fully functional yet, but keep your eyes peeled.
Links:
My Prior Post on Pinpoint v. Amazon
More Info on the Pinpoint v. Amazon