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Environmental Designs, Ltd. v. Union Oil Co. of California

713 F.2d 693, 218 U.S.P.Q. 865 (1983)

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Environmental Designs, Ltd. v. Union Oil Co. of California

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
713 F.2d 693, 218 U.S.P.Q. 865 (1983)

Facts

A patent held by Ralph M. Parsons Co. (defendant) and licensed through the Union Oil Company of California (defendant) claimed a process for treating effluent gas. Trentham Corporation (plaintiff) and Environmental Designs, Ltd. (plaintiff) sought a declaratory injunction that the patent was invalid on the ground of obviousness. At trial, various factors determining the applicable level of ordinary skill in the art were discussed, and it was agreed that both sides’ expert witnesses were people of ordinary skill in the art. The federal district court found that the patent was valid and infringed by Environmental Designs and Trentham. Environmental Designs and Trentham appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Markey, C.J.)

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