COMMIL V. CISCO

​Issue: Intellectual Property
Court: U.S. Supreme Court

Term: October 2014
Oral Argument: March 31, 2015
Vote: 6-2
Opinion: Justice Kennedy
Lower Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Question Presented:
Whether the Federal Circuit erred in holding that a defendant's belief that a patent is invalid is a defense to induced infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271(b).

RLC's Position:
The RLC joined a group of retailers on an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm the lower court’s decision that a defendant’s good-faith belief that a patent is invalid is a defense to induced infringement. 

Case Outcome:
The Court held that a defendant's belief regarding patent validity is not a defense to an induced infringement claim.

Case Procedure and Documents:

• Petition for Certiorari filed January 2014
• Petition granted December 2014
• U.S. Supreme Court Opinion filed May 2015

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