The US Supreme Court has vacated a Federal Circuit decision and ruled that laches cannot be invoked as a defense against a claim for patent damages when the case was brought within the six-year limitation period of 35 U.S.C. 286.

The case of SCA Hygiene Prods. Aktiebolag v. First Quality Baby Prods. involved rival sellers of adult incontinence products.

In 2013, SCA sent a letter to First Quality alleging that it was making and selling products that infringed SCA’s patent rights.

First Quality responded that one of its own patents antedated the SCA patent at issue and thus that the SCA patent was invalid.

SCA seemingly dropped the subject and First Quality proceeded to further develop and market its adult diaper products.

In 2004, SCA asked the Patent and Trademark Office to initiate a reexamination of the SCA patent in light of the First Quality patent. Three years later, in 2007, the Patent Office issued a certificate confirming the validity of the SCA patent.

In 2010, SCA filed a patent infringement lawsuit against First Quality.

First Quality moved for summary judgement based on laches and equitable estoppel. The district court granted that motion and the Federal Circuit affirmed.

Laches, as defined by the Supreme Court, is “a defense developed by courts of equity” to protect defendants against “unreasonable, prejudicial delay in commencing suit.”

The Court noted that “Laches is a gap-filling doctrine, and where there is a statute of limitations, there is no gap to fill.”

The Court noted:

Section 286 of the Patent Act provides: “Except as otherwise provided by law, no recovery shall be had for any infringement com- mitted more than six years prior to the filing of the complaint or counterclaim for infringement in the action.” By the logic of [the Court’s previous decision in] Petrella, we infer that this provision represents a judgment by Congress that a patentee may recover damages for any infringement committed within six years of the filing of the claim.

Takeaway

The decision is good news for patent owners, as it makes clear that patent damages are available for up to a six-year period. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to wait around to bring a claim for patent infringement.