Opinion ID: 715851
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Laches and Estoppel

Text: 58 BTG also contends that laches bars Genentech's infringement counterclaim. BTG asserts that in 1985 and 1986, Genentech knew that BTG had developed an hGH product and imported it into the United States for use in clinical trials. BTG contends that Genentech should have brought suit against BTG soon after it learned of this information. We disagree. 59 Prior to 1988, when § 271(g) became effective, importation of a product made abroad by a process patented in the United States was not an act of infringement. Thus, Genentech had no infringement claim against BTG before 1988. With no legal right to enforce, it cannot be said that Genentech unreasonably delayed during that time period. 60 Furthermore, even after § 271(g) was enacted in 1988, BTG was only importing hGH into the United States for use in clinical trials in support of its application for FDA approval. The district court found that this was non-infringing activity, see 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(1) (1988), 10 and that Genentech did not know before 1993 that BTG had imported hGH into the United States for purposes outside the scope of § 271(e)(1). BTG has not demonstrated error in these findings. Thus, we conclude that the court did not err in rejecting BTG's laches defense. BTG also argues, in conclusory fashion, that 61 Genentech, through misleading conduct, led BTG to infer that Genentech did not intend to enforce the patents against it. BTG relied on such conduct, and will be severely harmed if Genentech now is permitted to enforce its patents. Thus, Genentech's infringement suit is barred under the doctrine of equitable estoppel. 62 We disagree. BTG cites no evidence to support its assertion; thus, on the present record, there is no factual basis for an estoppel defense. 63