Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP - IP Litigation, Hewlett-Packard Company v. Mustek Systems, Inc.

Hewlett-Packard Company v. Mustek Systems, Inc., 99 CV 0351 (S.D. Cal.)

The firm successfully represented Mustek Systems, Inc. in defending against a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Hewlett Packard Company by obtaining a complete defense victory after jury trial and appeal. The patents at issue related to document scanners. Mustek was the world's leading seller of scanners. HP alleged that Mustek's sales infringed five HP patents. Before trial, three of HP's asserted patents were dismissed. During trial, the firm presented evidence to the jury that the two remaining patents were invalid or not infringed. The jury found one patent invalid and the other patent valid and infringed. On appeal, the firm argued in favor of the jury's invalidity finding and against the jury's infringement finding. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in favor of Mustek on all issues, upholding the jury's invalidity finding and overturning the jury's infringement finding. Thus, all five of HP's patents were dismissed, held to be invalid or not infringed by Mustek. Published decision at 340 F.3d 1314 (Fed. Cir. 2003).