Opinion ID: 331255
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Validity of the Johnson Patent

Text: 58 By pre-trial order the District Court warned that 'the validity of (the Johnson) patent on (the) modified form of weatherstripping may be placed in issue and adjudicated if that should be necessary to a full and proper decision in this case, and parties are hereby instructed to plan for the trial accordingly.' 369 F.Supp. at 652. At trial USM asserted the Johnson patent as a defense to contempt. It was, therefore, in issue and the District Court was required to inquire fully into the relationship of the Johnson patent to the Horton patent. From this examination it became clear that Johnson was obvious and anticipated by the Horton patent. The Johnson patent was also held unenforceable and invalid because of misconduct before the Patent Office. 381 F.Supp. at 653. 59 We agree that the Johnson patent was in issue, that the court could reach the issue of validity, and that the court's conclusion as to validity under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103 is correct. 60 We do not agree, however, with the holding of the District Court that the Johnson patent was unenforceable and invalid because of misconduct in the Patent Office. This holding was based on the Johnson patent's description of the Horton patent in the specification, where it is stated that in Horton 'the barrier strip . . . (is) secured to the base . . ..' The Johnson disclosure does not inform the Patent Office that in the text of the Horton patent specification it is expressly stated that the barrier strip may be pressed into contact with the pile fibers 'to cause more or less adherence of the fibers thereto . . ..' Although misrepresentation or an omission in proceedings before the Patent Office may constitute misconduct, see Charles Pfizer & Co. v. F.T.C., 401 F.2d 574, 579 (6th Cir. 1968), the facts in the present case do not rise to that level. A full disclosure was made as to the prior art, i.e., the Horton patent. No prior art was hidden. The Horton patent was not suppressed by USM nor was the citation to it casual. The Horton patent was discussed extensively as the most relevant art in this area of technology and was noted by the Patent Office as the first patent of record. 61 The judgment of the District Court is affirmed and the cause is remanded for an accounting and other relief to which the plaintiff may be entitled. Costs on this appeal are taxed against USM Corporation. 62