Cisco, Arista, Tangle in Court Over Computer Commands Copyright

Cisco Systems Inc. struggled to explain to an appeals court exactly what is protected by copyright while arguing that a competitor is liable for copying its computer user interface.

The arguments unfolded as the networking equipment giant squared off against competitor Arista Networks Inc. at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit June 6.

A California jury found that Arista infringed Cisco’s copyrights covering the command line interface in its products. But the jury excused Arista from liability under the “scènes à faire” defense, finding the interface elements were so common that they were practically mandatory.

The decision ...