Monday, April 29, 2013

Trenton Industries v. A. E. Peterson Manufacturing Co. case brief

Trenton Industries v. A. E. Peterson Manufacturing Co. case brief
165 F.Supp. 523

CASE SYNOPSIS: Plaintiff, inventor of a patented improvement in infant high chairs, filed suit against defendant for patent infringement and to recover compensation for defendant's use of the patented device prior to issuance of the patent.

FACTS: Plaintiff, assignee corporation of patented improvement to infant high chairs, sued defendant corporation for patent infringement and unjust enrichment for damages resulting from defendant's use of plaintiff's idea. Plaintiff disclosed the invention to defendant prior to the patent's issuance, proposing a license agreement under which defendant would manufacture chairs and pay plaintiff royalties.

ANALYSIS:
The court found for defendant on count one. Because it did not contain the required element of novelty, the patent was invalid. However, the court found for plaintiff on count two. Defendant was exposed to plaintiff's invention for the purpose of agreement negotiations, and then marketed a high chair containing features from plaintiff's invention. Defendant was unjustly enriched, and plaintiff was entitled to damages from the date of invention disclosure until issuance of the patent.

CONCLUSION: The court found for defendant on the first count, because it found the patent invalid, but for plaintiff on the second count, because defendant was unjustly enriched by using plaintiff's idea, disclosed to defendant in hopes of reaching a license agreement.

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