[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]A good intersection of patents and trade secrets was found in Life Spine v. Aegis Spine. Many people view patents and trade secrets as mutually exclusive, but reality is much less clear.
Life Spineは脊椎インプラント装置を製造しており、エージスはその販売代理店になることに同意しました。 エージスはまた、インプラントの詳細を秘密にし、製品のリバースエンジニアリングを行わないことに同意しましたが、その代わりに親会社と情報を共有し、競合する装置の開発を支援しました。
Life Spine sued Aegis for trade secret misappropriation and breach of the distribution agreement, and was granted a preliminary injunction against Aegis. On appeal, Aegis argued that Life Spine publicly disclosed the implant through its patent application, and by displaying and selling the implant.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][us_image image=”338″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]The district court found that patents and trade secrets can co-exist. Life Spine’s patent did not disclose the final commercial dimensions of their product, and that Life Spine kept tight control over their device during and after sale. The distributors were even required to be present during the surgery. Life Spine took many measures to protect the precise dimensions of their product.
さらに、Life Spineが製品開発に3年を費やしたのに対し、競合他社はFDA承認申請にわずか3カ月しかかからなかった。
ソース
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca7/21-1649/21-1649-2021-08-09.html[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
