Federal Circuit Tackles Scope of Patent Prosecution Bars in Deutsche Bank Case
From Court House News Services:
The Federal Circuit has clarified the circumstances under which courts may block attorneys from prosecuting certain patents to keep them from inadvertently disclosing confidential information gleaned in another case.
The ruling marks the first time the Washington, D.C.-based court has outlined the standards and scope of patent prosecution bars, which prohibit attorneys from using confidential material exchanged during litigation for any other purpose.
The decision stems from Deutsch Bank’s efforts to block attorneys for Island Intellectual Property from prosecuting any patents related to financial “deposit sweep services.”
Island had sued the bank for patent infringement, and Deutsch was concerned that if Island’s lawyers gained access to its confidential documents, they might disclose that sensitive information while prosecuting Island’s patents in other cases…
See complete order here: In Re Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas