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Topic: Invalid vs. unenforceable (Read 8236 times) |
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Peter123
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Posts: 6
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Invalid vs. unenforceable
« on: Oct 2nd, 2007, 1:37pm » |
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Can a patent be found unenforceable but not invalid?
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Isaac
Senior Member
Posts: 3472
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Re: Invalid vs. unenforceable
« Reply #1 on: Oct 2nd, 2007, 2:31pm » |
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on Oct 2nd, 2007, 1:37pm, Peter123 wrote:| Can a patent be found unenforceable but not invalid? |
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Yes.
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Isaac
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Peter123
Newbie
Posts: 6
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Re: Invalid vs. unenforceable
« Reply #2 on: Oct 3rd, 2007, 10:41am » |
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Thanks. Does this mean that the difference between an invalid patent and a non-enforceable patent is that the former cannot be enforced against anybody whereas the latter cannot be enforced against the other party in a law suit? 
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patent_type
Junior Member
Posts: 81
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Re: Invalid vs. unenforceable
« Reply #3 on: Oct 3rd, 2007, 12:42pm » |
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Not entirely. What it means is that there are different legal standards for whether a patent is a valid patent and whether a patent is enforceable. An opponent may be able to prove its case against one set of standards but not another.
While an invalid patent is not enforceable, an unenforceable patent may still be valid. If it is unenforceable, I believe it is unenforceable against the world. This can have implications such as if there were a terminal disclaimer filed relating to the patent, licensing issues ("so long as the patent is not declared invalid"), and other various issues for which the distinction is material.
Also, certain claims may be declarared invalid while others remain valid (and thus enforceable), but I believe if a patent is unenforceable, that goes to all of the claims of the patent.
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Isaac
Senior Member
Posts: 3472
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Re: Invalid vs. unenforceable
« Reply #4 on: Oct 3rd, 2007, 5:15pm » |
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on Oct 3rd, 2007, 10:41am, Peter123 wrote:| Thanks. Does this mean that the difference between an invalid patent and a non-enforceable patent is that the former cannot be enforced against anybody whereas the latter cannot be enforced against the other party in a law suit? |
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A patent is but unenforceable when the court finds it inequitable under the circumstances to find the infringer liable despite the fact that the patent may be both valid and infringed. Generally the reasons have to do with conduct of the patentee, and in the typical case that conduct results in the patent being unenforceable against anyone.
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Isaac
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