Asetek Danmark A/S v. CMI USA Inc.

Asetek’s patents cover systems and methods for cooling the “central processing unit (CPU) or other processing unit of a computer system” using cooling liquid. According to the patents, liquid-cooling systems in prior art consisted of “many components,” which were “coupled together,” increasing “total installation time” and causing “leakage.” Asetek’s patents describe systems that combine multiple components—a “heat-exchanging interface,” a “reservoir,” and a “pump”—into a single “integrate element.” Asetek asserted infringement by products branded “Cooler Master.” Asetek obtained a judgment of infringement, and of no invalidity, plus a damages award against CMI of $404,941. The court entered an injunction covering the specific “Cooler Master” products found to infringe, running not only against CMI but also against Cooler Master—which was not then a party (though it later intervened and became one) and which was not adjudicated liable for infringement. The Federal Circuit affirmed with respect to infringement, invalidity, and damages, but remanded for development of the record as to part of the injunction that reaches conduct by Cooler Master and goes beyond abetting a new violation by CMI. The standards for reaching such conduct by persons not adjudicated liable for the underlying wrong, (Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(d)), are highly fact-specific. View "Asetek Danmark A/S v. CMI USA Inc." on Justia Law