Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Supreme Court Broadens Ability to Obtain Attorney's Fees in Patent Cases

By Kristin Shusko
October 02, 2014

The Supreme Court has recently issued opinions relaxing the standards for awarding attorney's fees against a patent enforcer, beginning with its decision on April 29, 2014, in Octane Fitness, LLC v. ICON Health and Fitness, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 1749, 188 L. Ed. 2d 816 (2014).

In Octane Fitness, ICON Health & Fitness sued Octane Fitness, LLC for patent infringement. After the district court granted summary judgment in Octane's favor, Octane moved for attorney's fees under the Patent Act's fee-shifting provision. Section 285 of the Patent Act allows a court to grant attorney's fees to the prevailing party in exceptional cases. 35 U.S.C. '285. The district court denied Octane its claim for attorney's fees finding that the lawsuit was not objectively baseless and that there was no evidence of subjective bad faith. Octane Fitness, LLC, at 1755.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment Image

On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office Image

A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.