The Judiciarys Law Journal

The Judiciarys Law Journal

A Legal Analysis of the Doctrine of Inequitable Conduct: in Patent Infringement Cases in the United States and Its Status in Iranian Law

Document Type : Research/Original/Regular Article

Author
PhD graduate from the Department of Private Law, Law and Political Science Faculty, University of KHarazmi,, Tehran
10.22106/jlj.2025.2055407.6242
Abstract
Undoubtedly, the doctrine of inequitable conduct is one of the key concepts in patent infringement case law in the United States, playing a significant role in judicial decision-making. This doctrine grants courts the authority to render an entire patent unenforceable if it is proven that the patentee deliberately withheld or misrepresented material information before the Patent Office. However, such a legal mechanism does not explicitly exist in Iranian law. Given the doctrine’s crucial role in balancing the rights of Patent Holders and economic actors while fostering a fair legal environment, this article aims to provide a legal analysis of this doctrine within U.S. case law and explore its potential application for developing Iran’s legal framework in the field of patents. The main research question is: How does the U.S. legal system apply the doctrine of inequitable conduct in patent infringement case law, and how can it be utilized to enhance judicial decisions in Iran? Based on the findings of this study, which adopts a descriptive and analytical approach, U.S. judicial practice in applying this doctrine has been inconsistent, oscillating between excessive strictness and a more flexible approach, leading to divergences among courts. In the Iranian legal system, courts lack an independent mechanism similar to the doctrine of inequitable conduct to assess the bad faith of patentees. Therefore, the Iranian legislature can enhance the accuracy and fairness of judicial decisions in patent litigation by formulating clear and compatible legal provisions tailored to the country’s legal framework.
Keywords
Subjects

الف. فارسی
مقالات
*عبادی بشیر، مقصود (1404 » تعهد به صداقت و  وفاداری کارگر در برابر کارفرما «، مجله حقوقی دادگستری، دوره 89، شماره 130.صص 393-365.
*کلیشادی نجف‌آبادی، امین؛ شیرانی، مسعود؛ و سلطانی، رضا. (۱۴۰۴).» بررسی مقایسه‌ای استانداردهای رفتار منصفانه و عادلانه و حمایت و امنیت کامل در حقوق سرمایه‌گذاری خارجی«، مجله حقوقی دادگستری، دوره ۸۹ُ شماره ۱۲۹ُ ُ صص ۲۰۳-۱۷۳.
قانون
* قانون حمایت از مالکیت صنعتی. (1403). مجلس شورای اسلامی. روزنامه رسمی جمهوری اسلامی ایران، شماره 18174/182.
ب. انگلیسی
* Aptix Corp. v. Quickturn Design Systems, Inc. 269 F.3d 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2001).
* Chiang, T. J. (2013). The Upside-“Down Inequitable Conduct Defense.” Northwestern University law Review. 107 (3), 1243-1306. https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/nulr/vol107/iss3/4/.
* Corona Cord Tire Co. v. Donovan Chemical Corp. 276 U.S. 358 (1928).
* Dolak, L. A. (2013). “Litigating Inequitable Conduct after Therasense, Exerge, and the AIA: Lessons for Litigants, Option for Owners”. Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property, 13 (1), 50-90. https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/ckjip/vol13/iss1/3/.
* Executive Regulation of the Patent Law, 1386, Islamic Republic of Iran. (In Persian)
* Garreth, W. & Crudden, Mc. (2023). “Drugs, Deception, and Disclosure.” Berkeley Technology Law Journal. 38 (1131), 1132-1168. http://doi.org/10.15779/Z38N87314D
* Gvozdik, A. (2019). “The Federal Circuit's Standard for Inequitable Conduct: Out of Step with Supreme Court Precedent”, Duquesne Law Review, 57 (2), 451-475. https://dsc.duq.edu/dlr/vol57/iss2/10/.
* Karshtedt, D. Janis, D. & Sichelman, M. (2021). "Defenses to Infringement. Patent Law. An Open-Source Casebook. Edited by Dmitry, K. GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works. 1-103.
* Kasper, A. (2016). “Managing Inequitable Conduct by Legislation and/or Regulation”. Akron Intellectual Property Journal. https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1046&context=akronintellectualproperty.
* Keystone Driller Co. v. General Excavator Co. 290 U.S. 240 (1933).
* Kingsland v. Dorsey, 338 U.S. 318 (1949).
*. Kroll, K. (2018). “Prosecuting Inequitable Conduct.” Minnesota Law Review. 5 (2), 94-110. https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1060&context=headnotes
* Laser, C. J. (2020). “Equitable Defense in Patent Law”. University of Miami Law Review. 75 (1), 1-75. https://repository.law.miami.edu/umlr/vol75/iss1/3/.
* Mathew, A. & et al. (2018). “The Return of the Plague: Inequitable Conduct after Regeneron v. Merus”, Santa Clara High Technology Law Journal, 34 (4), 327-361. https://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/chtlj/vol34/iss4/1/
*. Parrish, D. (2013).” Supplemental Examination and Inequitable Conduct: Protection and Pitfalls”. An Intellectual Property Law Review, 4 (1), 156-190. https://open.mitchellhamline.edu/cybaris/vol4/iss1/4/.
* Patent Act of 1836, 5 Stat. 117 (1836)
* Patent Act of 1952, 35 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq. (1952).
* Patent Act of 1970, 35 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq. (1970).
* Patent Law, (1386), Islamic Republic of Iran. (In Persian)
* Precision Instrument Manufacturing Co. v. Automotive Maintenance Machinery Co. 324 U.S. 806 (1945).
* Regeneron Pharmaceuticals v. Merus N.V. No. 16-1346 (Fed. Cir. 2017).
* Soltesz, J. A. (2013). “Inequitable Conduct as a Defense to Patent Infringement: What Will the Effect of the Federal Circuit’s Decision in Therasense, Inc. Have?”. Seton Hall University Law. https://scholarship.shu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1307&context=student_scholarship
* Noonan, K. E. et al. (2019). In the Supreme Court of the United States (No. 17-1616). Motion for leave to file and brief of seven Chicago patent lawyers as amici curiae in support of petitioner. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Merus B.V., available at: <https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/17-1616.html>(last visited on 1/8/2025)
* Therasense, Inc. v. Becton, Dickinson & Co. 649 F.3d 1276 (Fed. Cir. 2011).
* Thurlow, P. G.et al. (2019). Brief of amicus curiae New York Intellectual Property Law Association in support of neither party. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Merus N.V. No. 17-1616. Supreme Court of the United States.available at: < https://www.nyipla.org/images/nyipla/Amicus/Regeneronv.MerusNYIPLACertStageAmicusBrief.pdf>, (last visited on 1/8/2025)
*. United States Patent and Trademark Office. (2018). All Claims [R-08.2017] 2016 Fraud, Inequitable Conduct, or Violation of Duty of Disclosure Affects. https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s2016.html
*. Vidal, K. K. (2022). “Duties of disclosure and reasonable inquiry during examination, reexamination, and reissue, and for proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board”: The Daily Journal of the United States. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/07/29/2022-16299/duties-of-disclosure-and-reasonable-inquiry-during-examination-reexamination-and-reissue-and-for
* U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (n.d). 37 C.F.R. § 1.56 - Duty to disclose information material to patentability. Visited on 2025. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/37/1.56
Volume 89, Issue 131
Autumn 2025
Pages 151-176

  • Receive Date 08 March 2025
  • Revise Date 07 June 2025
  • Accept Date 09 June 2025
  • First Publish Date 23 September 2025
  • Publish Date 23 September 2025