Opinion ID: 334540
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the acts of infringement

Text: 7 Approximately one year after starting business, Saf-Gard, the corporation owning the Avrea patent, began negotiations with representatives of Service Parts who sought a license to manufacture and sell the patented device. 7 During negotiations, representatives of Saf-Gard disclosed critical items of information, including the source of the special radiator caps, results of experimentation and research, and detailed technical data regarding operation of the patented device. Fifty-five days after meeting with Saf-Gard, Service Parts, without performing any research, development or experimentation, began selling a device that was substantially identical in structure and function to the patented product. In the ensuing period until trial in 1973, Service Parts sold approximately one quarter million such devices. These findings of fact are not clearly erroneous, Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a), and support the finding of an infringement if the patent is valid.