Disney Gets Big Win in Complex Patent Dispute Over “Genie”—but the Case is Not Over Yet

As reported by Florida Politics, Disney has prevailed in a complicated patent infringement case focused on “Genie.” The multi-national company scored a “big victory”—but the patent dispute is not over yet. The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) ruled in favor of Disney on the majority of its claims. However, the plaintiff (Agile Journeys) retains the right to appeal. Within this article, our Florida patent litigation attorney discusses the complex case in more detail.

Background: Disney Locked in Patent Conflict Over Genie Software 

Disney was sued for patent infringement over its Genie trip-planning software. Two former employees of the company (Michael Eaton and William Redmann) claim that the company improperly used their patent-protected technology without authorization. The federal patent infringement lawsuit was filed by Agile Journeys. Disney consistently denied any wrongdoing.

PTAB Rules in Favor of Disney on Most Claims 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) largely ruled in favor of Disney. Notably, the PTAB concluded that Disney successfully demonstrated that the majority of the claims in Agile Journeys’ 983 Patent were unpatentable. The argument raised by Disney was largely focused on the following arguments:

• There was prior art that prevented a patent;
• The obviousness of the technology involved; and
• There was insufficient novelty when compared to existing technology.

Note: Three patent infringement claims raised by Agile Journeys remain unresolved.

The Case is Not Over Yet—The Decision Can Still Be Appealed

While the ruling marks a substantial victory for Disney, the legal dispute is not yet concluded. Agile Journeys retains the option to appeal the PTAB’s decision. Further, the federal patent infringement lawsuit filed in 2022 has been paused pending the outcome of the PTAB proceedings and has not been resolved.

 Why it Matters: PTAB Decisions Carry Substantial Legal Weight 

The reason the PTAB ruling is a big victory for Disney is that decisions made by the PTAB carry significant legal weight. PTAB decisions are binding—unless overturned on appeal. If the non-prevailing party is dissatisfied, they can appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. With that being said, the Federal Circuit affirms PTAB decisions in the majority of cases. In the Disney case, PTAB invalidated most of Agile Journeys’ patent claims, finding them either obvious or not novel. While a few claims remain unaddressed or intact, this partial invalidation substantially weakens Agile’s position.

 We Handle Patent Litigation in South Florida

At Perkins Law — Brand Protection, our Florida patent litigation attorney is committed to providing solutions-focused advocacy. If you are locked in a legal dispute over a patent, we are here to help. Contact us today for a completely confidential consultation. With an office in Boca Raton, we handle patent law matters throughout the region in South Florida, including in Boca Raton, Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Coral Gables, and Jupiter.

Source:

floridapolitics.com/archives/733283-disney-wins-big-victory-in-genie-dispute-in-a-complicated-legal-fight/