CAFC Affirms Invalidity Finding of Ricoh's Patents
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Defends Pitney Bowes Postage Meter Technology
Sep 2008
Minneapolis (September 2008) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey's finding that five Ricoh patents are invalid. The Sept. 8 judgment came less than a week after the appeals argument. The case is Ricoh Corporation and Ricoh Co. Ltd. v. Pitney Bowes, Inc.
"This was a long road to victory. We are glad that the Federal Circuit found anticipation as it has been our view from the start that the five asserted patents were invalid," said Jan Conlin, who argued the appeal for Pitney Bowes and is a partner of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Counsel also included partners Michael Ciresi, Munir Meghjee and Stacie Oberts.
"We are very happy the courts have continued to agree with us. Pitney Bowes has invested heavily to develop and deploy its own technology. After nearly six years, we can put this case behind us," said Angelo N. Chaclas, Deputy General Counsel, Intellectual Property & Technology Law, for Pitney Bowes.
In November 2006, a federal jury found Ricoh's patents invalid for anticipation, following a five-week trial that centered on Ricoh's allegations that Pitney Bowes infringed certain patents for technology embedded in its digital mailing solutions. Ricoh was seeking significant royalties and penalties from Pitney Bowes. Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. was counsel for Pitney Bowes at that trial as well.
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