Guest Post by François deVilliers, Chief IP Counsel, Plantronics, Inc.



35 U.S.C. 287(a) provides that constructive notice of a patent may be given by marking the patented article with the patent number, and that “In the event of failure so to mark, no damages shall be recovered by the patentee in any action for infringement, except on proof that the infringer was notified of the infringement and continued to infringe thereafter, in which event damages may be recovered only for infringement occurring after such notice.”

This section is badly structured – instead of affirmatively specifying the requirements for infringement damages to accrue, the drafters addressed this issue in the negative sense only after specifying first that an article may be marked. This of course begs the question, what if there is no article to mark?

There is no duty to mark or to give notice in lieu thereof “if there is no product to mark,” as held by the Supreme Court in Wine Railway Appliance Co. v. Enterprise Railway. Equipment Co. (1936)(interpreting the predecessor statute) and by the Federal Circuit in Texas Digital Systems., Inc. v. Telegenix, Inc. Damages accrue from the moment infringement of the issued patent commences, with a six year “statute of limitations” provided in 35 U.S.C. 286.

The logic is supposedly that “[t]wo kinds of notice are specified–one to the public by a visible mark, another by actual advice to the infringer. The second becomes necessary only when the first has not been given; and the first can only be given in connection with some fabricated article. Penalty for failure implies opportunity to perform.” (Wine Railway.)

This has led to the odd situation in which a company that is vigorously engaged in the rough and tumble of commerce with its patented product, benefiting consumers, creating jobs and increasing GDP, is in a less favorable position than an entity that does nothing. What was intended to be beneficial (notice is deemed to be given by marking) has advanced the interests of the patent troll over those of the operating company.

Trolls exploit this odd situation by waiting for industries or standards to become established, or for sales to accrue, before presenting their now-inflated licensing demands. Finding a previously ignored or forgotten asset, the clichéd “Rembrandt in the attic,” is similarly rewarded. “The patent might be expiring, but we’ve got ya going back six years, buddy!”

By the time this delayed claim is presented, the alleged infringer or standards-setting body has had no opportunity to mitigate the effect of the claim by adopting different technology or taking other steps. They’re stuck with the cost and disruption of trying to resolve a claim that might not have existed, or might have existed on a much smaller scale, had they received timely notification of the patent. Dubious claims are also more intimidating, merely because of the amount at issue. The alleged infringer is penalized by the delay, while the idle or covert or brand-new patent owner benefits.

Such exploitation also contravenes a fundamental goal of the marking statue, which is to protect against innocent infringement. Nike, Inc. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Fed Cir 1998).

But, you may say, what of the inventor in the garage, who doesn’t have the needed capital or expertise to commercialize their patent? What if a company is exploiting the patented technology in a faraway city? Shouldn’t this inventor be entitled to fair compensation? Of course. But that is what the internet and its search engines are for. Times have changed – if someone is making money off a patented product, a patentee will be able to find it and send a notice letter. At a minimum, even if the patent is not directed to a findable product, it is easy enough to identify likely infringers or companies that might be interested in licensing the patent.

The onus should be on the patent owner to assert their rights – use it or lose it. A simple patent reform could affirmatively specify that damages only accrue after actual or constructive notice, and that constructive notice can be given by marking. If it is not possible to mark, then actual notice should be required. Patent numbers for method patents can be included on products produced by the method, on devices that practice the method, in documentation accompanying software that practices the method, or on websites or in apps that practice the method. If it is really impossible to avail yourself of the benefit of constructive notice by marking, then the onus is on you to police your rights.

It is amazing that nobody has addressed this issue in current patent reform efforts directed to curbing the patent troll problem. The marking statute should protect innocent infringers and it doesn’t. Marking should benefit those who practice the patent, but the current state of the law benefits those who don’t.