經過三個星期激烈的法庭攻防之後,雙方律師收工,現在就看陪審團的了。陪審團的作決定時,法官給的Jury Instructions是非常重要的文件。這個案子的Jury Instructions在雙方一陣攻防之後,最終版本終於在美國時間8月21日出來了。
強烈建議大家有空去看一下這份長達109頁的Jury Instructions (連Verdict Form都有22頁...我的天啊,陪審團好可憐)。由於這個案件雙方爭點很多,所以這份Jury Instruction內容很完整,一般專利訴訟會碰到的攻防點,這裡面幾乎都有了。此外,基於陪審團都是一般民眾,不見得懂專利,寫太多又恐怕陪審團看不懂或來不及看,所以法官用很精簡扼要的白話文,一步一步教陪審團許多基本概念,以作為陪審團判斷的依據。
所以這份Jury Instructions是完整又易讀,大家絕對都看的懂的,而且重點是它就是陪審團作決定的依據。對學打美國專利訴訟的人而言,幾乎是必讀啊。
在這109頁的文件中,謹針對之前提過的 "抄 (Copy)" 這點,摘錄部份內容給大家參考。
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之前我曾經對Apple強調Samsung是"抄" 的覺得奇怪,因為要證明侵權,除非要證明 "惡意" ,否則只需要證明客觀上兩者相同就好了。
隨著訴訟的進展,大家應該也看的出來,Apple好像真的卯起來想證明Samsung是抄的。Samsung也卯起來澄清它沒有抄。不過這真的跟willfulness才有關,跟infringement沒有關係。法官大概是為了怕陪審團搞混,在Jury Instruction No. 24,關於 "UTILITY PATENTS—DIRECT INFRINGEMENT" 裡加上這一段澄清這個觀念:
Whether or not Samsung or Apple knew its products or methods infringed or even knew of the other side’s patents does not matter in determining direct infringement.
關於Willfulness,法官在Jury Instruction No. 59的指示,是除了有侵權之外,當事人還必須說服陪審團另一方是 "acted with reckless disregard":
In addition, to prove willful infringement, the patent holder must persuade you by clear and convincing evidence that the other side acted with reckless disregard of the patent it infringed.
至於 "reckless disregard",Jury Instruction No. 59裡要求陪審團判斷的,剛好就是之前CAFC在Bard Peripheral v. W.L.Gore (Fed. Cir. 2012) 這個案子裡,提到的由陪審團判斷的事實部份的問題喔:
To demonstrate such “reckless disregard,” the patent holder must persuade you that the other side actually knew, or it was so obvious that the other side should have known, that its actions constituted infringement of a valid and enforceable patent.
最後,關於Willfulness,法官說陪審團可以考量兩個因素,這兩個大家仔細看看,剛好第一個是Samsung的主張,第二個是Apple的主張喔 !
A factor that may be considered as evidence that Samsung or Apple was not willful is whether it acted in a manner consistent with the standards of commerce for its industry.
A factor that may be considered as evidence that Samsung or Apple was willful is whether it intentionally copied a product of the other side that is covered by a patent.
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其它內容大家請自行看原文吧! 真期待陪審團早日作出決定。不管誰贏,另一方想必都會上訴吧我想。看來和解是遙遙無期,這官司真的有的打了。
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