This morning the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential opinion in a patent case and a nonprecedential order unsealing it. Here is the introduction to the opinion and text from the order.
Oyster Optics, LLC v. Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nonprecedential)
Oyster Optics, LLC (“Oyster”) is the owner of U.S. Patent No. 7,620,327 (“the ’327 patent”). The ’327 patent is directed to transceiver cards for sending and receiving data over a fiber optic network. In November of 2016, Oyster sued various fiber optic equipment manufacturers in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas for infringement of the ’327 patent. Among the defendants were Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (“ALU”) and Cisco Systems, Inc. (“Cisco”). On September 4, 2018, addressing the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment, the district court granted partial summary judgment in favor of ALU and Cisco. The court did so because it found that a settlement agreement between Oyster and Fujitsu Limited (“Fujitsu”) and Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. (“FNC”) (“the Oyster/Fujitsu Agreement” or “the Agreement”) had the effect of releasing ALU and Cisco from liability for infringement of the ’327 patent. See Order Granting Defs.’ Mot. for Partial Summ. J. Regarding Their Release Defense, Oyster Optics, LLC. v. Coriant (USA) Inc., No. 2:16-cv-01302 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 4, 2018), ECF No. 864 (redacted), J.A. 33–50 (“Summary Judgment Decision”). For the reasons stated below, we affirm.
Oyster Optics, LLC v. Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nonprecedential Order)
This court’s Order to Show Cause of May 8, 2020, stated that, in the absence of a response by May 22, 2020, the opinion that issued under seal that same day would be unsealed. This court has not received a response from the parties. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
The opinion issued under seal on May 8, 2020 is hereby unsealed.