Federal Circuit Upholds Case Dismissal Against Finnegan Client SK Innovation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a North Carolina district court ruling in favor of Finnegan client SK Innovation Co. Ltd. (SKI), dismissing for lack of personal jurisdiction a patent infringement case brought by Celgard, LLC. Finnegan represented SKI in both the district court case and the appeal.

Celgard—a battery manufacturer located in North Carolina—alleged that Korea-based SKI infringed its patent covering battery membranes used to separate chemical cell components in lithium-ion batteries in cars and electronic devices. After extensive jurisdictional discovery, the court granted SKI’s renewed motion to dismiss, rejecting each of the jurisdictional theories Celgard presented throughout the case. Additionally, the court denied as moot Celgard’s last minute motion for preliminary injunction.

Finnegan further assisted SKI in obtaining relief from the court after Celgard transmitted SKI confidential information to Celgard’s Korean counsel in unrelated proceedings between Celgard and SKI in Korea. The court not only prohibited further transmission of SKI confidential information to Celgard’s Korean counsel, it also barred each of Celgard’s Korean counsel who viewed SKI confidential information from further work on the Korean proceedings.  

This case is Celgard, LLC v. SK Innovation Co., Ltd., 14-1807, CAFC

Contacts
Charles H. Suh, Partner
charles.suh@finnegan.com

About Finnegan

Finnegan is one of the largest IP law firms in the world. From offices in Atlanta, Boston, London, Palo Alto, Reston, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, and Washington, DC, 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 European patent oppositions, 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. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.