Multiple Joint Infringers of Process Claims: How Close Is Close Enough?

Typically, in an action concerning infringement of a process patent, the activities of an individual party are alleged to infringe one or more of the process patent claims. Under certain circumstances, however, the combined activities of two or more parties may constitute infringement of a process patent claim. Often, courts analyze these situations by determining if 'some connection' exists between the parties whose activities are being combined. This standard, in our view, ultimately defines more activities as infringing than is warranted. A more appropriate standard would be a 'working in concert' standard.

19 minute readSeptember 29, 2006 at 11:36 AM
By
Lindsey A. Repose
Daniel A. Wilson
Multiple Joint Infringers of Process Claims: How Close Is Close Enough?

Typically, in an action concerning infringement of a process patent, the activities of an individual party are alleged to infringe one or more of the process patent claims. Under certain circumstances, however, the combined activities of two or more parties may constitute infringement of a process patent claim.

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