Dow Chem. Co. v. NOVA Chems. Corp., No. 14-1431 (Fed. Cir. 2015)
Annotate this CaseIn 2005, Dow sued NOVA, alleging infringement of claims of patents covering ethylene polymer compositions (a type of plastic) with improved modulus, yield strength, impact strength, and tear strength. These polymers can be made into films that can be down-gauged (made thinner) without losing strength. A jury found the asserted claims to be infringed and not invalid. The Federal Circuit affirmed, holding that the asserted claims were not indefinite. The district court granted supplemental damages in the form of lost profits and reasonable royalties and denied Dow’s request for enhanced damages. Subsequently, the Supreme Court decided Nautilus v. Biosig Instruments (2014), establishing a new standard: “a patent is invalid for indefiniteness if its claims, read in light of the specification delineating the patent, and the prosecution history, fail to inform, with reasonable certainty, those skilled in the art about the scope of the invention. The Federal Circuit then held that the intervening change resulting from Nautilus provides an exception to the doctrine of law of the case or issue preclusion. Reviewing the supplemental damages award, the court evaluated the indefiniteness of the claims under the Nautilus standard, held that the claims are indefinite, and reversed the award of supplemental damages.
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