Federal Circuit Affirms $95 Million Verdict in E-Cigarette Patent Battle Between Altria and Reynolds
Briefly

The Federal Circuit's decision in Altria v. R.J. Reynolds offers crucial insights into patent damages methodology, particularly concerning comparable licenses and apportionment.
The court examined how Altria’s expert derived a 5.25% royalty rate from comparable licenses, specifically through an agreement between Fontem and Nu Mark.
According to Altria’s expert, using Nu Mark’s sales projections with the 5.25% royalty would yield around $44 million, aligning closely with the $43 million lump-sum payment.
This case builds on established precedent from Lucent Technologies, emphasizing the need for careful apportionment and consideration of how damages relate to the patented invention.
Read at Patently-O
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