Google Keeps Win Over $20 Million Patent Case as Justices Pass

The US Supreme Court tossed EcoFactor’s Inc.'s challenge to a Federal Circuit ruling that undid a $20 million patent-infringement verdict against Google LLC.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, sitting en banc, said key damages evidence presented by EcoFactor—specifically, prior licensing deals it struck with three other thermostat makers—was unreliable. EcoFactor argued in its cert petitionthat court’s application of the Federal Rules of Evidence diverged from the approach of the regional circuit courts on how much leeway district courts should be given to gatekeep trial evidence.

Google waived its right to file a responsive brief. ...