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Blog 'belkin' » Belkin Wins Appeal Against ACCO
Patent Infringement Ruling is Reversed

Federal Circuit overturns 2004 district court ruling stating ACCO Brands lacked substantial evidence to support their infringement claim against Belkin’s Key Lock

COMPTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Belkin International, Inc., the global leader in connectivity solutions, announces that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington D.C. reversed a May 2004 finding of infringement by Belkin with respect to a laptop computer lock patent held by Kensington, a division of ACCO Brands, Inc.

Belkin appealed the 2004 decision by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas to the Federal Circuit, arguing that the jury’s findings of induced infringement and willful infringement are not supported by substantial evidence. Further, Belkin contended that the jury award of damages is unsupported by substantial evidence and that the district court abused its discretion by awarding Kensington enhanced damages and attorney fees.

In a unanimous decision made on September 12, 2007, the Federal Circuit agreed with Belkin on each of these points, stating “ACCO failed to prove the threshold requirement of direct infringement” and “failed to point to specific instances of direct infringement.” Therefore, the Federal Circuit reversed the district court’s judgment of induced infringement, and vacated the district court’s judgment with respect to willfulness, enhanced damages, and attorney fees against Belkin.

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