Press Releases
CHICAGO - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled in favor of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione clients, Alpine Electronics, Inc. and Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., industry leaders in multimedia products that include high performance mobile and vehicle navigation systems.
Plaintiff, Encyclopaedia Britannica (EB), a provider of learning and knowledge products, sought to reverse a district court's 2008 ruling that EB's asserted U.S. Patent No. 5,241,671 ('671) was invalid. According to Alpine's attorney Christopher A. Harkins, "Alpine did not infringe any valid patent and, therefore, fought to protect the interests of its customers."
Alpine is a long-standing client of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States. The Brinks attorneys representing Alpine in this matter were Gary M. Ropski, Laura Beth Miller, Cynthia A. Homan and Christopher A. Harkins.
"EB had argued the '671 was a pioneering patent that covered user-friendly multimedia database search systems," said Gary M. Ropski, president of Brinks. "But all claims were declared invalid as indefinite, because the patent failed to disclose structure with the particularity necessary to put the public on notice of what was covered. We are pleased we could accomplish this result in a cost-effective manner for Alpine."
EB originally filed its patent application in 1989, which issued as the '671 patent in 1993. In a rare action, however, the Commissioner of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) undertook a reexamination of EB's patent from 1993 until 2002, when the USPTO issued a reexamination certificate. EB filed its patent infringement lawsuit against Alpine and others in 2005 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division. "This should close the book on Encyclopaedia Britannica's attempt to enforce the '671 patent," said Alpine lawyer Laura Beth Miller of Brinks.
Alpine Electronics, Inc. is one of the leading manufacturers of mobile electronics specializing in mobile multimedia, digital entertainment and navigational products. For additional information, visit www.alpine-usa.com.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione serves the intellectual property needs of clients around the world. Brinks has more than 180 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents who specialize in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, and copyright law. The firm also advises on issues relating to intellectual asset management, trade secret, unfair competition, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments for companies in the electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering sectors; the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and nanotechnology industries, and for companies whose work relates to Internet and computer technology law. The firm's trademark practice works on behalf of clients who deal in a wide variety of products and services. Founded in 1917, Brinks is based in Chicago and has five additional offices across the country.
