{"id":10759,"date":"2022-03-16T06:42:11","date_gmt":"2022-03-16T06:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/?p=10759"},"modified":"2022-03-16T06:43:47","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T06:43:47","slug":"what-are-the-groundless-threats-for-patent-infringement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/what-are-the-groundless-threats-for-patent-infringement\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the Groundless Threats for Patent Infringement?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">A\ngroundless threat is when a party threatens another party with lawful\nproceedings without having a base for the threats. The threat could be produced\nor caused in the form of either oral or written communication. Development,\nresearch, and innovation are the primary characteristics of developing nations.\nIndia is one of them and is the primary hub of development, research, and\ninnovation in the area of growth of IP Law. There are rights that are\nguaranteed and a law to safeguard the IP Rights of an individual when\ninfringed. But, there occur cases where there exists a groundless threat of\ninfringement. Such groundless threats are disheartened by law since it brings\nshame &amp; damage to the aggrieved. In this blog, we emphasise groundless\nthreats for Patent Infringement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3a43436fb82\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3a43436fb82\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/what-are-the-groundless-threats-for-patent-infringement\/#Groundless_Threats_of_Patent_Infringement\" title=\"Groundless\nThreats of Patent Infringement\">Groundless\nThreats of Patent Infringement<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/what-are-the-groundless-threats-for-patent-infringement\/#Protection_against_Groundless_Threats\" title=\"Protection\nagainst Groundless Threats\">Protection\nagainst Groundless Threats<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/what-are-the-groundless-threats-for-patent-infringement\/#Examples_of_Groundless_Threats_for_Patent_Infringement\" title=\"Examples of\nGroundless Threats for Patent Infringement\">Examples of\nGroundless Threats for Patent Infringement<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/what-are-the-groundless-threats-for-patent-infringement\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Groundless_Threats_of_Patent_Infringement\"><\/span>Groundless\nThreats of Patent Infringement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Groundless\nthreats also indicate that a wrongful threat is a threat whereby any individual\nor the owner (depending on the statute) threatens another with legal proceedings\nwithout basing the threat on any reasonable basis. Intellectual Property Laws\ngive protection to the victims of unjustified threats by preventing the\nindividuals making the threats from doing the same. Example of such provisions in\n<strong><em>Section\n106 of the Indian Patents Act, 1970<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protection_against_Groundless_Threats\"><\/span>Protection\nagainst Groundless Threats<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To\ncontrol the problem of groundless threats, the IP has incorporated regulations\nthat prohibit the IP owners from making such directionless threats against\nbusinesses and individuals\/persons. Section 106 of the Patents Act provides for\na mechanism to safeguard the interests of companies &amp; individuals against\nsuch baseless threats. Any aggrieved individual who is being threatened can\nbring a claim for seeking relief against such a threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\naggrieved individual or person of such a threat may bring forward action in the\nform of a lawsuit in the court against the acts as being indefensible &amp;\nbaseless. The court, after hearing the contention made by Plaintiff on the\ngroundless threats, may rule the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>A permanent or interim\ninjunction against the continuance of any groundless threats;<\/li><li>Any damages in lieu of\nfinancial losses incurred or reputation being damaged or harmed by such\ngroundless threats can be claimed in the Law Court to be rewarded;<\/li><li>A declaration in the court\njudgement that the threats are groundless to be faced by the aggrieved.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The\ncourt may grant all or anyone of the reliefs as it may consider fit. In such a\nlawsuit, originally, the burden of proof lies on the Plaintiff to set up that\nthe defendant&#8217;s IP Rights are invalid. If the aggrieved party fails to set up\nthe Patent invalidity, then the burden of proof shifts on the defendant. The\ndefendant has the responsibility to prove that the alleged infringer intruded\nupon the Intellectual Property Rights and committed Patent Infringement\nthereof. If the defendant fails or didn&#8217;t prove any act of infringement on the\npart of Plaintiff, then Plaintiff is entitled to the remedies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Examples_of_Groundless_Threats_for_Patent_Infringement\"><\/span>Examples of\nGroundless Threats for Patent Infringement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Following\nare some examples of groundless threats for Patent Infringement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><em>VITA FLEX MAUCH GMBH vs BATA\nINDIA LIMITED:<\/em><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Background\nof facts:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VITA\nFLEX is a distributor of shoes under the brand &#8220;Nach Dr. Mauch&#8221;. The\nshow was manufactured for 5 point pressure of foot &amp; the Patent application\nwas also awaiting for this product. On the other side, BATA was producing shoes\nthat had 6 pressure point information. A notice was issued by VITA FLEX to BATA\ncompeting that there was an infringement of VITAFLEX&#8217;s IP Rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the case of groundless threats of VITA FLEX against BATA, and the petitioner brought into the notice of Delhi HC that the threats were unjustified and no <a href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/types-of-intellectual-property-rights\/\" class=\"text-primary\"><strong>Intellectual Property Rights<\/strong><\/a> of the defendant were being violated. Further, BATA claimed damages for such threats made by VITA FLEX. BATA argued that the Patent filed by VITA FLEX is still pending and is not yet registered to be violated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Judgement:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Delhi High Court<\/strong><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/delhihighcourt.nic.in\/\" class=\"text-primary\"><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/sup> ruled that the threats made by VITA FLEX in the form of legal notices were wrong and BATA was eligible to seek an injunction against any such threats under <strong><em>Section 106 of the Patents Act<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><em>BAJAJ Auto Limited vs TVS Motor\nCompany Limited:<\/em><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Background of Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>TVS\nMotor introduced its TVS Flame 125 CC Bike, which scoured the excitement\ncreated by Plaintiff&#8217;s product BAJAJ XCD 125 CC planned to launch in 2007,\ni.e., 10 days after the unveiling of TS Flame. Bajaj Auto Limited filed a suit\nunder Section 108 of Patents Act, 1970, alleging that TVS Motor was violating\ntheir patented technology by using the technology in manufacturing TVS Flame\nBike. In this case, Bajaj demanded an injunction restraining TVS from violating\ntheir Patent in any way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In\nresponse to this case, TVS filed another lawsuit under Section 106 of the Act,\nstating that Bajaj is making groundless threats against them. They asked for a\npermanent injunction forbidding the defendant from continuing the issuance of\nany such threats &amp; demanded that the defendant shouldn&#8217;t interfere with the\nmarketing, manufacturing, sale, and launch of their new product TVS Flame.\nFurther, they directed the defendant to compensate them by way of damages in\nlieu of their losses due to such threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Judgement <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While\nexpressing the judgement, the factors considered by the Supreme Court \u2013 whether\nYVS violated patented technology of Bajaj and whether Bajaj made threats for\ngetting monopoly over the automobile market. The court held that if the precise\ntechnological combination as patented was copied by TVS, then it would have\nadded up to infringement, but since there were considerable improvements made,\nit was not to be considered as an infringement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further,\nthe court rules that even if a small variation or modification is made in the\ntechnology used, then it cannot amount to infringement and ruled in favour of\nTVS motor holding the threats made by Bajaj Auto as groundless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Groundless threats in Intellectual Property Rights can hinder the R&amp;D process, and hence to safeguard businesses &amp; individuals from such abuse, this provision of the Patents Act exists. It safeguards the legal rights of the aggrieved parties &amp; encourages inventions among them without any scope of reluctance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our Article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/patent-licensing-dispute-between-apple-5g-and-ericsson\/\">Patent Licensing Dispute Between Apple 5G and Ericsson<\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A groundless threat is when a party threatens another party with lawful proceedings without having a base for the threats. The threat could be produced or caused in the form of either oral or written communication. Development, research, and innovation are the primary characteristics of developing nations. India is one of them and is the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":10761,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[55],"tags":[1000],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10759"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10759"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10775,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10759\/revisions\/10775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}