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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
The Federal Circuit vacated an $11.5 million lump-sum infringement award involving ecobee smart thermostats and wireless building-automation patents.
Case record
The jury returned one infringement answer covering four patents without identifying which patent or patents were infringed. The appellate court concluded that the combined verdict could not support the judgment after one patent was found invalid, while preserving several patent-eligibility and infringement rulings and remanding another eligibility issue.
Controls manufacturers and technology partners should map product features to patent families before launch, preserve design and testing evidence, and demand verdict and damages structures that separate patents, products, time periods, and theories. A single aggregated finding can destabilize an otherwise expensive trial result.
No final infringement or damages judgment remains. The district court must conduct further proceedings, including a new trial on infringement and damages, and additional analysis of one patent under the Supreme Court’s Alice framework.
Primary record
This update identifies the court, posture, holding, and unresolved questions. The linked opinion remains the controlling source.
Shop On Fire is not a law firm. This publication provides general business education and commentary, not legal advice or representation. Consult qualified counsel about a specific matter.