Arizona Judge Upholds $18.4 Million Verdict in Hoodie Blanket Design Patent Dispute

An Arizona federal judge has ruled that the $18.4 million verdict in a dispute between rival makers of wearable hoodie blankets will stand, despite the Federal Circuit’s newly revised test for proving a design patent invalid due to obviousness. This judgment dismisses any need for a new trial following the revision. The decision underscores the rigidity of the current legal standards in design patent disputes, reaffirming the previous verdict that favored one of the competing makers in a high-stakes industry. For more details on this ruling, please refer to Law360’s coverage.