Datamize, LLC v. Plumtree Software, Inc.
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
417 F.3d 1342 (2005)
Facts
Datamize, LLC (“Datamize”) (plaintiff) held the ‘137 patent entitled “Electronic Kiosk Authoring System,” which disclosed a software program that allowed a person to author user interfaces for electronic kiosks and enabled a user interface for each kiosk to be customized quickly. The ‘137 patent’s only independent claim was that the interface screens be “aesthetically pleasing.” Datamize sued Plumtree Software, Inc. (“Plumtree”) (defendant) for infringement of its ‘137 patent in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Plumtree moved for summary judgment on the ground that the patent was invalid as indefinite under 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 2. The district court granted Plumtree’s motion, concluding that the patent’s “aesthetically pleasing” claim was subjective and indefinite. Datamize appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Prost, J.)
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