Overview
(July 20, 2023) – Steptoe obtained a major victory for client, American Axle & Manufacturing, winning summary judgment of no invalidity for lack of patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101 against American Axle's competitor, Neapco, and defeating Neapco's motion for summary judgment of non-infringement. The ruling comes after a years-long battle over patent-eligibility before the Federal Circuit and Supreme Court, and ensures that American Axle's claims that Neapco infringed its patents relating to propshaft noise and vibration technology will finally proceed to trial.
American Axle is a leading global Tier 1 automotive supplier that designs, engineers, and manufactures cutting-edge driveline technologies for automobiles, including its patented propshaft noise and vibration technology. In July 2020, Steptoe secured a partial victory for American Axle in a patent infringement case against its competitor Neapco, convincing the Federal Circuit to partially vacate the district court's judgment of invalidity under Section 101 for lack of patent-eligible subject matter. Now on remand, the district court agreed with American Axle that the remaining claims are not invalid and granted American Axle's motion for summary judgment of no invalidity under Section 101. The district court also denied Neapco’s motion for summary judgment of non-infringement. The case will now proceed to trial, something long awaited by American Axle.
The Steptoe team representing American Axle on remand is led by Jay Nuttall and includes partners John Abramic and Katherine Tellez, and associate Robert Kappers.
About Steptoe
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
