News
Finnegan Client LG Electronics Obtains Award of Priority in Interference Proceeding Involving Refrigerator Dispensers
January 26, 2012
Related Professionals:
Sonu, Andrew Chanho,
McCurdy, Barbara Clarke
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2012
Contact: Andrew Chanho Sonu, 571.203.2765
Partner
Finnegan Client LG Electronics Obtains Award of Priority in Interference Proceeding Involving Refrigerator Dispensers
WASHINGTON, DC - On January 19, 2012, the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a ruling that Whirlpool Corp. had not proven that it invented the concept of a refrigerator dispenser with an extendable tray and water spigot before Finnegan client LG Electronics Inc. Whirlpool sought the Board’s ruling as part of its effort in various forums to invalidate LG’s patents directed to refrigerator dispensers. The Board agreed with LG that Whirlpool failed to prove that its prototype refrigerator worked for its intended purpose, and therefore was not a valid reduction to practice before LG’s earliest application was filed. Thus, LG’s involved patents remain valid, and the PTO Board entered judgment that Whirlpool’s pending claims are “finally refused.”
About Finnegan
With more than 375 intellectual property lawyers, Finnegan is one of the largest IP law firms in the world. From offices in Washington, DC; Atlanta, Georgia; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Palo Alto, California; Reston, Virginia; Brussels, Belgium; Shanghai, China; Taipei, Taiwan; and Tokyo, Japan, the firm practices all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law, including counseling, prosecution, licensing, and litigation. Finnegan also represents clients on IP issues related to international trade, portfolio management, the Internet, e-commerce, government contracts, antitrust, and unfair competition. For additional information on the firm, please visit www.finnegan.com.
###