Abbott Laboratories has sued a former employee for trademark infringement and theft of trade secrets, accusing him of selling other manufacturers’ COVID-19 tests on behalf of Abbott. Attorneys for Abbott filed the complaint on Tuesday, seeking a preliminary injunction against Justin Brown as well as monetary damages. Abbott said it fired Brown from his sales […]
Patent Infringement
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Arthrex challenge to constitutionality of patent judges
The U.S. Supreme Court said today that it will review a 2019 appeals court ruling in a patent spat between Arthrex and Smith+Nephew (NYSE:SNN), in which the appeals court judges found that Patent Trial and Appeal Board judges are unconstitutionally appointed. The 2019 ruling by the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. could […]
U.S. Patent Office to move forward with claims in Medtronic-Axonics patent battle
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Patent Trial and Appeal Board is moving forward with claims from Axonics Modulation Technologies (NSDQ:AXNX) against Medtronic (NYSE:MDT). Axonics develops the r-SNM sacral neuromodulation system, which it touts as the first of its kind approved for sale in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia and the only SNM device approved […]
Everything you need to know about medical device creation
Medtech development is hard. Medical device creation can require manufacturing know-how in areas as wide-ranging as electrical components, high-performance polymers, molding and machining – and that doesn’t even include the required expertise in design, regulatory requirements and achieving reimbursement. The good news is that the companies serving the medical device industry have become specialized experts. […]
Cochlear agrees to $75M in attorneys’ fees in patent spat
Cochlear Ltd. (ASX:COH) has agreed to pay $75 million in attorneys’ fees on top of the $268 million in damages it was ordered to pay two competitors in June in a long-running patent fight. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on March 16 upheld a U.S. District Court decision that awarded the […]
Hackers targeted medtech and other IP for Chinese government, indictment claims
A federal grand jury in Spokane, Wash. has indicted two Chinese nationals on charges that they hacked into medtech companies and hundreds of other businesses, governments and organizations — in some cases on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security. The 11-count indictment, which the U.S. Department of Justice announced today, alleges that Li […]
Integer wins appeal in patent dispute with AVX
An appeals court has upheld a $22.2 million jury verdict in a long-standing patent spat between Integer Holdings (NYSE:ITGR), formerly known as Greatbatch, and AVX, now part of Kyocera. In a ruling released today, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court decision that AVX intentionally infringed certain Integer patents with its Ingenio […]
BREAKING: Abbott, Edwards settle heart device patent spats
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) and Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW) said this afternoon that they have agreed to settle all outstanding patent disputes related to transcatheter mitral and tricuspid repair products, and Edwards has made an one-time payment of $368 million to Abbott, according to an SEC filing. The agreement will result in the dismissal of all pending cases or appeals […]
Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes Care bury the hatchet on potential IP disputes
Two major insulin pump makers — Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) and Tandem Diabetes Care (NSDQ:TNDM) — announced today that they’ve inked a non-exclusive patent cross-license agreement related to diabetes treatment tech. The companies said the agreement will allow them to focus on innovation while avoiding the distraction of potential legal disagreements. The deal could be but another example of […]
Zimmer Biomet to pay Conformis $9.6m to settle patent disputes
Conformis (NSDQ:CFMS) and Zimmer Biomet (NYSE:ZBH) have agreed to settle all patent disputes over Conformis’ knee and hip replacement products and Zimmer’s knee, shoulder and hip replacement devices, according to an SEC filing today. The two companies have also agreed to cross-license their respective technologies, and Zimmer Biomet will pay Conformis $9.6 million by January 15, 2021, […]
Cochlear loses appeal over $268m in patent damages
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a U.S. District Court decision that awarded $268 million in damages from Cochlear Ltd. (ASX:COH) to two competitors in a patent dispute. Yesterday’s ruling comes after several years of legal battles over the patents for hearing implants, and likely won’t be the end, as Cochlear is […]
