A jury verdict that Daktronics Inc. infringed a patent covering a winch for moving theater scenery and lighting was reversed by the Federal Circuit on Thursday.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that Daktronics’ winch didn’t meet the necessary elements of the patent and or infringe by using equivalent elements.
Olaf Soot Design LLC’s U.S. Patent No. 6,520,485 covers a theater winch that moves set elements by winding cables attached to them around a drum. A jury ruled that Daktronics’ Vortek product infringed, finding it met four elements of the patent under the doctrine of equivalents ...