A jury found that Abbott willfully infringed Innogenetic's patent on a method of genotyping the hepatitis C virus and Abbot has been ordered to pay $7 million in damages. However, the sum could be increased by up to three times at the judge's discretion.
Innogenetics said that it will seek an injunction against Abbott diagnostic products that infringe its patent and pursue other available remedies. “This is a landmark victory for Innogenetics, and possibly for other innovators like us out there,” said Frank Morich, CEO of Innogenetics.
“This win protects an important patent for us, and provides compensation for this major infringement – but perhaps just as importantly it says that being a large, global company does not entitle you to willfully disregard intellectual property laws without consequence.”