"On appeal, the dispute centered on U.S. Patent No. 8,454,186, owned by Willis, which relates to pre-lit artificial trees with decorative lighting. The patented technology, commercialized by Willis in its One Plug trees, allows the modular trunk portions of the tree to be mechanically and electrically connected simultaneously, regardless of their rotational orientation. This innovation eliminated the need for manually connecting separate electrical cords between tree sections."
"The CAFC upheld the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota's decision to deny Polygroup's post-trial motions for judgment as a matter of law (JMOL) on obviousness and for a new trial on damages. As a result, the ruling included an award of nearly $42.5 million in damages to Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Chief Judge Moore authored the opinion, joined by Judge Stark and District Judge Oetken."
The Federal Circuit affirmed a jury verdict that found Polygroup liable for infringing U.S. Patent No. 8,454,186 and upheld the district court's denial of Polygroup's JMOL motion on obviousness and request for a new damages trial. The patent covers pre-lit artificial trees with modular trunks that mechanically and electrically connect simultaneously regardless of rotational orientation, implemented in Willis's One Plug trees. Willis narrowed its district-court case to claim 15, which requires coaxial trunk connectors, following multiple PTAB proceedings and IPR petitions. A jury found claim 15 not invalid and awarded $42,494,772 in damages; the Federal Circuit sustained the verdict.
Read at IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]