Competence Of Proffered Counsel Opinions Is Relevant To Willful Infringement
Client Alert | 1 min read | 03.03.06
In upholding a district court decision concerning willful infringement and the awarding of attorneys' fees, a Federal Circuit panel in Golden Blount, Inc v. Peterson Co. , (Nos. 04-1609,05-1141,-1202; February 15, 2006) finds, in agreement with the district court, that the accused infringer could not rely on oral opinion of counsel to avoid willful infringement because counsel did not examine either the patent‘s prosecution history or the accused device. The panel views Knorr Bremse as addressing only adverse inferences based on absence of an opinion letter. In this case the accused infringer “did not assert a privilege and ‘offered up' the opinions of counsel as a defense.” Therefore, the competence of these opinions is deemed relevant and as having been properly considered.
Insights
Client Alert | 11 min read | 12.15.25
New York LLC Transparency Act: Key Requirements and Deadlines
On January 1, 2026 (“Effective Date”), the New York LLC Transparency Act ("New York Act”) is scheduled to take effect, introducing new disclosure requirements for limited liability companies (“LLCs”) formed or registered to do business in New York State. The New York Act is expected to impose the type of broad beneficial ownership requirements the federal CTA and rules implementing it was designed to require, before the federal government’s decision to limit the scope of the CTA’s beneficial ownership reporting requirements to foreign companies and foreign beneficial owners.
Client Alert | 7 min read | 12.15.25
The New EU “Pharma Package:” EU Reaches Landmark Deal on Pharma Package
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Eleventh Circuit Hears Argument on False Claims Act Qui Tam Constitutionality
Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.11.25
Director Squires Revamps the Workings of the U.S. Patent Office
