In a startling turn, the jury not only cleared Maxwell of infringement but also declared the asserted claims of CAP-XX’s patents invalid. The claims were dismantled on various grounds, including indefiniteness, incorrect inventorship, obviousness, and failure to enable skilled usage.
Background and Legal Maneuvers
CAP-XX filed the lawsuit in September 2019, alleging infringement even after notifying Maxwell of the purported violations two years prior, before Tesla’s acquisition of the company. Maxwell’s defense included the argument that CAP-XX’s failure to identify a co-inventor during patent application rendered the claims unenforceable due to inequitable conduct.
Despite several attempts by Maxwell to secure a pre-trial win, Judge Colm Connolly rejected all motions for summary judgment. The trial was eventually overseen by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Hall, following the parties’ consent in November.
Tesla’s Involvement and Retaliation
In an intriguing twist, Tesla, which acquired Maxwell in 2019, had previously sued CAP-XX in July, alleging infringement of supercapacitor patents acquired from Maxwell. This legal clash emerged despite Elon Musk’s public commitment not to sue those using Tesla’s patents in good faith.
