Dist. Ct. did not err in finding in favor of defendant in plaintiff’s action alleging that defendant breached nondisclosure agreement when defendant filed patent application that concerned use of G-Polymer in connection with development of new 3D printing process that plaintiff claimed defendant had learned through discussions with plaintiff. Agreement contained clause banning defendant from filing any patent that used any piece of confidential information without prior written consent from plaintiff. However, agreement also had another clause that allowed defendant to “patent and protect any new application using G-Polymer” in specified 3D printing process at issue in defendant’s patent application. As such, Dist. Ct. could properly find no breach of agreement, where agreement contained exception to general nondisclosure that covered relevant 3D printing process.
Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Contracts