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(Reuters) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in favor of medical devices maker Medtronic Inc. in its dispute with privately owned Mirowski Family Ventures L.L.C. over whether the larger company infringed on Mirowski's patents in making certain pacemakers.
The case stems from Medtronic's decision to ask a judge to rule that some of its pacemakers do not infringe on technology patented by Mirowski and licensed to Boston Scientific as well as Guidant Corp., part of Boston Scientific and Abbott Laboratories.
A court in Delaware ruled for Medtronic, saying that even though Medtronic requested the ruling, or declaratory judgment, it was up to Mirowski to prove infringement. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit disagreed, saying it was up to Medtronic to prove its case.
The Supreme Court reversed that decision, arguing that the patent holder, in this case Mirowski, ordinarily must prove infringement and that this case was no different.
"We hold that, when a licensee seeks a declaratory judgment against a patentee (patent holder) to establish that there is no infringement, the burden of proving infringement remains with the patentee," the Supreme Court said in a decision written by Justice Stephen Breyer.
Two patents are behind the case. Both have to do with cardiac resynchronization therapy, a pacemaker that detects when the heart beats out of sync and then emits tiny shocks of electricity to correct its rhythm. It is used to treat congestive heart failure.
Medtronic licensed the patents in question, but in 2007, Mirowski Family Ventures claimed Medtronic was developing new products that would also justify royalty payments. Medtronic filed suit, seeking a ruling that it did not need to pay.
The case is Medtronic v. Boston Scientific Corp., Guidant Corp. and Mirowski Family Ventures, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 12-1128