OSRAM v. ITC (Fed. Cir. 2007) (non-precedential)
Many patent litigators see the International Trade Commission (ITC) as the preferred forum for stopping imports of infringing products. In particular, when compared with district court litigation, Section 337 ITC actions move to conclusion much more quickly; offer a better chance of immediate preliminary relief; and allow for “general exclusion orders” to stop imports industry-wide (i.e., those injunctions cover particular accused infringers as well as other non-parties). The ITC has no power to award damages — However, injunctive relief does not require that the patentee prove-up the eBay factors.
One limitation of Section 337 ITC actions is that they can only be pursued when the imports threaten a US industry for the protected article. (US industry must either exist or be “in the process of being established.” 19 USC 1337(a)(2). This ‘domestic industry test’ has been interpreted to require that the domestic product also infringe the patent. Alloc v. ITC, 342 F.3d 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
In this case, the ITC’s original claim construction of a term limiting the size of luminous pigment grains resulted in a finding that OSRAM’s US sales were not covered by the patent. On appeal, the CAFC modified the claim construction holding — and consequently found that OSRAM’s products are covered by their own patent.
Judge Dyk dissented on the claim construction issue.
Notes:
- Prosecution thoughts: This case provides a concrete example of one reason why the most important claims in a patent are usually directed at covering the client’s actual (or expected) product.
- The claim construction issue here is actually quite interesting. The disputed limitation reads as follows: “a mean grain diameter d50 # 5 μm”. The appeal focused on whether the mean grain diameter should be calculated on a number-based average (average diameter) or a volume basis (diameter of grain with average volume). This analysis is complicated by the fact that the claimed d50 term generally indicates a median – not a mean. Judge Dyk sided with the ITC holding that the volume based average should be used because that is the “commercial standard.” The majority chose the number based diameter calculation for reasons well-dissected by Judge Dyk.