Company copies lamp design without permission: Patent infringement: Lost royalties: Postverdict settlement

Law Reporter, May 2002

Company copies lamp design without permission: Patent infringement: Lost royalties: Postverdict settlement.

Control Alt Designn Ltd. v. Tensor CmP., U.S. Dist. Ct., N.D. Ill., No. 01 2362, Dec. 13,2001.

Raczynski, the owner of Control Alt Design Limited, obtained a patent for a computer lamp that attaches to a monitor and swivels. He built a prototype and brought it to a trade show, where he showed it to the chief executive of Tensor Corporation, a lighting company. Tensor Corporation allegedly gave the design to its supplier and had it copied.

Tensor subsequently marketed and sold the lamp under its own name. As a result, Raczynski's company allegedly suffered lost royalties estimated between $1.3 million and $1.8 million.

Control Alt Design Limited sued Tensor, alleging patent infringement.

A jury awarded plaintiff $2.1 million. After the trial, the parties reached a confidential settlement.

Plaintiffs accounting expert was Joseph Gemini, Chicago, Ill.

Defendant's product design expert was David Frisch, Venice, Cal.

Plaintiffs Counsel

Raymond P. Niro Jr., Chicago, Ill.