Source: https://www.essentialpatentblog.com/2016/06/supreme-court-review-liability-%C2%A7-271f1-exporting-component-patented-invention-life-tech-v-promega/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 07:00:08+00:00

Document:
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to review the Federal Circuit’s ruling of infringement under 35 U.S § 271(f)(1) based on supplying from the United States a component of a patented invention. This case may provide the Supreme Court’s view of whether and to what extent a single component may be “a substantial portion of the components of a patented invention” under § 271(f)(1).
In this case, the Tautz patent claims a DNA processing kit that includes: (1) a mixture of primers; (2) a polymerizing enzyme (such as Taq polymerase; (3) nucleotides for forming replicated stand of DNA; (4) a buffer solution and (5) control DNA. The accused infringer LifeTech sells genetic testing kits that include a primer mix, a PCR reaction mix, a buffer solution, control DNA, and a polymerase (Taq), which is necessary for PCR amplification. LifeTech makes the Taq polymerase in the U.S., which it then ships to LifeTech’s U.K. facilities abroad to be included in genetic testing kits assembled abroad and sold throughout the world. A jury found that LifeTech infringed the Tautz patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271f)(1). The district court set aside that portion of the jury verdict, ruling that § 271(f)(1) liability requires providing more than one component.
2. Whether the Federal Circuit erred in holding that supplying a single, commodity component of a multi-component invention from the United States is an infringing act under 35 U.S.C. § 271(f)(1), exposing the manufacturer to liability for all worldwide sales.
The Supreme Court did not grant certiorari on the first question presented in the petition, which concerned whether LifeTech’s supplying a component made in the U.S. to LifeTech’s facilities abroad could constitute active inducement under § 271(1)(f)–i.e., whether a single entity can actively induce itself.

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