Honeywell International Inc. v. United States

107 Fed. Cl. 659, 2012 U.S. Claims LEXIS 1539, 2012 WL 6115817
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedDecember 5, 2012
DocketNo. 02-1909
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 107 Fed. Cl. 659 (Honeywell International Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Honeywell International Inc. v. United States, 107 Fed. Cl. 659, 2012 U.S. Claims LEXIS 1539, 2012 WL 6115817 (uscfc 2012).

Opinion

[661]*661MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER ON REMAND REGARDING THE INVENTION SECRECY ACT AND PATENT INFRINGEMENT DAMAGES

Susan G. Braden, Judge

This Memorandum Opinion first addresses the issues to be adjudicated on remand under the Invention Secrecy Act, 35 U.S.C. §§ 181-88 (“the Invention Secrecy Act”), and then turns to patent infringement damages to which Honeywell is entitled under 28 U.S.C. § 1498(a).

To facilitate a review of this Memorandum Opinion and Order, the court has provided the following outline:

I. RELEVANT PROCEDURAL HISTORY AND SCOPE OF THE REMAND.

II. DISCUSSION.

A. Issues To Be Adjudicated On Remand Under The Invention Secrecy Act.

1. “Whether [The Invention Secrecy Act] Requires That Government Use Must Result From The Disclosure” Of A Patent Application Subject To An Invention Secrecy Act Order.

2. Whether The Government’s Use Of The ’914 Patent In This Case Resulted From A Disclosure Of The ’269 Application.

a.Relevant Facts.

i.Navy Air Defense Center Activities Regarding Night Vision Compatibility From 1974 To October 10, 1985.

ii.On October 10, 1985, The ’269 Patent Application Was Filed With The United

States Patent And Trademark Office.

iii.On January 24, 1986, MIL-L-85762 Issued.

iv.In Early 1986, A Panel On Aircraft Lighting Was Established To Amend MIL-L-85762.

v.On March 6, 1986, The Navy Reviewed The ’269 Patent Application To Determine Whether An Invention Secrecy Order Should Issue.

vi.On April 2, 1986, An Invention Secrecy Act Order Issued On The ’269 Patent Application.

vii.On August 26, 1988, MILL-85762 A Issued.

viii.On September 7, 2000, The Invention Secrecy Act Order Regarding The ’269 Application Was Rescinded And, On October 22, 2002, “Matured” Into The ’914 Patent.

b. The Parties’ Arguments.

c. The Court’s Resolution.

B. Patent Infringement Damages That Honeywell Has Established Under 28 U.S.C. § 1498.

1. The Relevant Statutes And Governing Precedent.
2. The Expert Opinions Regarding Damages.

a. The Plaintiffs’ Expert Opinions.

i. The Direct Testimony of Ms. Julie L. Davis.

ii. The Direct Testimony Of Colonel William S. Lawrence.

b. The Government’s Expert Opinions.

i. The Direct Testimony Of Mr. Phillip Green.

ii. The Direct Testimony of Dr. Harry Lee Task.

3. Determination Of “Reasonable And Entire Compensation.”

a. The Date Of The Hypothetical Negotiation.

b. The Parties To The Hypothetical Negotiation.

[662]*662c. The “Reasonable” Royalty Rate.

d. Consideration Of The Relevant Georgia-Pacific Factors.

e.The Relevant Product Base.

i. Military Aircraft Displays Sold As A Component Of A Domestic Military Aircraft.

ii. Displays Sold As A Component Of Military Aircraft Sold Under The Foreign Military Sales Act.

iii.CMFD Display Generators.

iv.Night Vision Goggles.

v.Summary Of The Relevant Product Base In This Case.

4. Determination Of Delay Compensation.

a. The Date Of Accrual.

b. The Rate Of Accrual.

III. CONCLUSION.

On December 18, 2002, Honeywell International Inc. and Honeywell Intellectual Properties Inc. (collectively hereafter “Honeywell”), filed a Complaint in the United States Court of Federal Claims alleging that the United States (“the Government”) violated 28 U.S.C. § 1498(a) by infringing: U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 6,786,268 (the “’268 application”);1 U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 6,786,269 (the “ ’269 application”); and U.S. Patent No. 6,467,914 (the “’914 patent”). Compl. ¶¶ 1, 53-75. On September 17, 2003, the court granted Lockheed Martin Corp.’s (“Lockheed Martin”) September 3, 2003 Unopposed Motion To Intervene.

On May 31, 2005, Honeywell filed an Amended Complaint (“Am.Compl.”) adding a new Count I, that the Government also violated the Invention Secrecy Act, 35 U.S.C. §§ 181-88 (“the Invention Secrecy Act”). Am. Compl. ¶¶ 18-23.2

On July 5, 2006, the court issued an order reflecting the parties’ agreement that only the designated display systems used in the F-16 Air Force Fighter Jet (“F-16”), the C-130H Aircraft (“C-130H”), and the C-130J Aircraft (“C-130J”) would be subject to initial liability proceedings in this case. See Dkt. 206.

To date, the court has issued six memorandum opinions and orders in this case.

On June 14, 2005, the court issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order ascertaining jurisdiction. See Honeywell Int’l Inc. v. United States, 65 Fed.Cl. 809 (2005) (“Honeywell I”). In addition, on June 14, 2005, the court issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order construing claims of the ’914 patent requested by the parties. See Honeywell Int’l, Inc. v. United States, 66 Fed.Cl. 400, 428-87 (2005) (“Honeywell II”). Thereafter, no party requested reconsideration nor appealed the court’s claim constructions.

On April 28, 2006, the court issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order discussing the relevant technology at issue and determining that Honeywell established, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the contested limitations of a “plurality of filters at the local color display” and “substantially block” in claim 2 of the ’914 patent were present in the military aircraft cockpit displays of: the F-16; the C-130J; and the C-130H. See Honeywell Int’l, Inc. v. United States, 70 Fed.Cl. 424, 437-46 (2006) (“Honeywell III”) (discussing the relevant technology); see also id. at 465-68 (determining literal infringement); see also id. at 469-79 (determining infringement under the doctrine of equivalents, but only as to “plurality of filters at the local color display”).

[663]*663On April 14, 2008, the court granted Defendant-Intervenor L-3 Communications Corporation’s (“L-3 Corp.”) Motion To Intervene. See Honeywell Int’l Inc. v. United States, 81 Fed.Cl. 224 (2008) (“Honeywell IV”). On that date, the court also issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order determining that claim 2 of the ’914 patent was invalid as obvious, under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a). See Honeywell Int’l, Inc. v. United States, 81 Fed.Cl. 514, 538-66 (2008) (“Honeywell V’).

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