United States Federal Circuit

Even if a function is inherent in the unitary structure, if neither the patent specification nor the claim construction make the inherent function a key objective of the invention, a jury could properly find infringement under the doctrine of equivalents.

Appellate Information

• Decided 09/24/2001
• Published 09/25/2001

Judges

• RADER, Circuit Judge., Before NEWMAN, RADER, and LINN, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Federal Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Earl D. Reiland,Merchant & Gould P.C., of Minneapolis, MN, argued for plaintiff-appellant.   With him on the brief were David K. Tellekson, and Timothy A. Lindquist.


• For Appellees:
  
• William McGuiness, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, of New York, NY, argued for defendants-appellees.   With him on the brief were Pauline L. Wen and Rita M. Odin.