The Federal Circuit has upheld a ruling requiring Ameranth Inc. to pay Domino’s Pizza $2.7 million in attorney fees resulting from an “exceptionally weak” patent suit over Domino’s menu. Further, the court affirmed the invalidation of additional claims in Ameranth’s patent, many of which were pitched against a host of other defendants.
This legal dispute dates back several years, with Ameranth, a tech firm specializing in hospitality industry software, having claimed that a number of companies had infringed on its menu patents. However, the court found Ameranth’s patent suit to be particularly weak, leading to significant attorney fees awarded to Domino’s.
Additionally, broader claims within Ameranth’s patent, asserted against a myriad of other defendants, were also invalidated by the court. The decision thus acts as a significant blow to Ameranth, not only regarding the Domino’s case, but also it’s wider patent enforcement efforts.
For further details on the Federal Circuit’s decision and its implications, feel free to read more about it on law360.com.