Today, the CAFC offered an opinion on Finjan v. Blue Coat Systems. In August 2015, a jury determined that Blue Coat owed approximately $39.5 million for its infringement of several of Finjan’s patents. For one patent, the CAFC found that Finjan’s expert failed to apportion, and failed to demonstrate the technological and economic comparability of the license on which she relied.
Regarding the failure to apportion, the CAFC cites to VirnetX and Ericsson stating,
Regarding the failure to establish comparability, the CAFC states:
The CAFC explains that her quantification was supported by: 1) a document which suggested that there were 24 functions of the accused product, and 2) conversations with experts and witnesses who told her that the 24 functions were of equal value. Despite evidence that Blue Coat provided contradicting this equal division by 24, the CAFC concludes that the jury heard conflicting testimony and was entitled to make up its own mind.
For damages experts, however, it remains unclear precisely where the evidentiary threshold supporting “function analysis” lies; and thus, when one might pursue equal-apportionment to derive a royalty base.
We note that Finjan and Blue Coat are currently back in court. Attached is Judge Freeman’s most recent order on motions in limine.