IMRA America Prevails on Laser IP Summary Judgment

On March 14, Skadden secured a victory for IMRA America, Inc., maker of lasers for fiber-optic systems, on summary judgment motions in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The motions were brought by defendant IPG Photonics Corp., the world's largest fiber-laser maker. Among the winning decisions — the latest in the five-year case — the court denied IPG’s motion for a finding of no infringement and invalidity, finding the patent valid and that a material question of fact existed over IPG’s infringement. The court also denied IPG’s request that IMRA’s allegations of willful infringement be thrown out, ensuring that IMRA will be able to introduce evidence at trial.