Lufthansa Technik AG v Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems & Anor [2020] EWHC 1968 (Pat) (22 July 2020)

Lufthansa Technik AG v Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems & Anor [2020] EWHC 1968 (Pat) (22 July 2020)

Claim 1 of the patent requires full insertion of the plug such that the tips of the pins make contact with the plug detectors, and the supply device must be remote from the socket, meaning kept away and arranged so as not to pose a danger to the passenger. The claims are to be construed in light of the description and drawings, not merely by reference to cited prior art. The skilled person is an electrical engineer with experience in aircraft power supply systems. The patent is not anticipated by the cited prior art and is not obvious over it. The defendants' products infringe the patent as properly construed.

Citation
[2020] EWHC 1968 (Pat)
Parties
Claimant: Lufthansa Technik AG; Defendant: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems; Defendant: Safran Seats GB Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
22 July 2020
Procedural Posture
Patent Infringement and Validity Action / High Court Judgment After Trial
Outcome
Patent held valid and infringed
Legal Topics
Patent Infringement, Patent Validity, Claim Construction, Obviousness, Novelty
Intellectual Property Patents Patent Infringement Patent Validity Claim Construction Obviousness Novelty

Case Brief

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Parties

Lufthansa Technik AG

Claimant

Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems

Defendant

Safran Seats GB Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Patent Infringement and Validity Action / High Court Judgment After Trial

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the patent claims are valid (novelty and inventive step)
  2. 2 Whether the patent claims are infringed by the defendants' products
  3. 3 Proper construction of the patent claims, including the meaning of 'remotely' and 'inserted'

Ratio Decidendi

Claim 1 of the patent requires full insertion of the plug such that the tips of the pins make contact with the plug detectors, and the supply device must be remote from the socket, meaning kept away and arranged so as not to pose a danger to the passenger. The claims are to be construed in light of the description and drawings, not merely by reference to cited prior art. The skilled person is an electrical engineer with experience in aircraft power supply systems. The patent is not anticipated by the cited prior art and is not obvious over it. The defendants' products infringe the patent as properly construed.

Court Disposition

Patent held valid and infringed

Orders

  • Declaration of validity of the patent
  • Declaration of infringement by the defendants