Panduit Corp. v. Stahlin Bros. Fibre Works, Inc.
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
575 F.2d 1152 (1978)
Relevant factsFree
After Panduit's patent was found valid and repeatedly infringed by Stahlin, including a contempt finding for continued imitation, Panduit failed to prove the specific lost-profits elements needed for that damages theory, and a special master instead set a 2.5% gross-sales royalty, an amount that would barely cover a fraction of Panduit's litigation costs.
IssueFree
Whether, in the absence of proof of lost profits, a patent holder is reasonably compensated for infringement by the same royalty rate that would be negotiated by a willing patent holder.