Federal Circuit Upholds $71M Christmas Tree Patent Verdict

By Editorial Team

The Federal Circuit recently upheld a $71.4 million judgment against Polygroup Ltd. for infringing on rival Willis Electric Co. Ltd.'s artificial prelit Christmas tree patent. The court rejected Polygroup's claims that the patent was invalid and that Willis' damages expert should have been excluded.

Willis Electric Co. Ltd. had accused Polygroup Ltd. of infringing on its patent for a modular lighted tree with trunk electrical connectors (Patent No. 8,454,186). The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota initially awarded Willis $71.4 million in damages, a decision that was challenged by Polygroup.

Polygroup argued that the patent was invalid due to lack of novelty and obviousness. The company also contested the admission of Willis' damages expert's testimony. However, the Federal Circuit rejected these arguments and affirmed the lower court's judgment.

Key law firms involved in the case include Finnegan, Leach & Walker, Merchant & Gould, and Robins Kaplan. Companies such as Georgia-Pacific LLC, Google LLC, Polygroup Inc., and Stout Risius Ross LLC were also part of the litigation.

The case was heard by Judge Joan N. Ericksen in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and Judge J. Paul Oetken in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

This decision by the Federal Circuit sets a significant precedent in patent law and highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the commercial and retail sectors.