U.S. Water Services, Inc. v. Novozymes A/S, No. 15-1950 (Fed. Cir. 2016)
Annotate this CaseU.S. Water’s patents disclose methods for reducing or preventing fouling (the deposit of insoluble by products on equipment) by the addition of the enzyme phytase during the process of producing ethanol from milled grain. In U.S. Water’s suit, alleging indirect infringement, Novozymes counterclaimed for declaratory judgment of noninfringement, invalidity, and inequitable conduct. The district court found certain claims invalid as inherently anticipated by prior art references, but declined to find inequitable conduct by U.S. Water, based on representations made during the application process. The Federal Circuit vacated with respect to inherent anticipation. There is a material dispute as to whether adding phytase in the manner disclosed in prior art will necessarily lead to a reduction of insoluble organometallic salt deposits as claimed in the patents. The court, affirmed in part, finding no genuine dispute as to a fact material to the inequitable conduct inquiry.
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