Patent Law

Projecting Junk

By Gary Odom and Jordan Kuhn

The lament by so-called patent reformers is that pissant patent holders assert junk patents. Well, so do supposedly respectable companies. Seiko Epson sued Coretronic for patents related to display projectors for DVD players and computers. Coretronic counter-claimed with its own patents. Now, thanks to prior art search by the other side, all seven patents involved have been dropped or ruled invalid in summary judgment. One of Epson's patents was ruled a clunker in light of one of its own products.

O'Melveny & Myers and Oliff & Berridge represent Epson. Alston & Bird represents Coretronic. Tidy work on the defense, lousy job on the offense.

Full post as published by The Patent Prospector on May 19, 2009 (boomark / email).