Butamax(tm) Advanced Biofuels LLC v. Gevo, Inc.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Butamax(tm) Advanced Biofuels LLC v. Gevo, Inc., 486 F. App'x 883 (Fed. Cir. 2012)

Butamax(tm) Advanced Biofuels LLC v. Gevo, Inc.

Opinion

RADER, Chief Judge.

This appeal comes before the court following the denial of a preliminary injunction in a patent infringement case. This court reviews such decisions for abuse of discretion. See Abbott Labs., Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc., 566 F.3d 1282, 1298-99 (Fed.Cir. 2009). Based on the record and this standard of review, this court affirms the denial of the preliminary injunction. Gevo, Inc. raised a substantial question of validity concerning the asserted patent, a question which Butamax has failed to show “lacks substantial merit.” See Amazon.com, Inc. v. Barnesandnoble.com, Inc., 239 F.3d 1343, 1350-51 (Fed.Cir. 2001).

However, this court’s affirmance should not be read to endorse the trial court’s very questionable construction of the claim term “acetohydroxy acid isomeroreduc-tase” — that is “as an enzyme that is solely NADPH dependent.” The trial court should reconsider its construction when it holds a Markman hearing. Costs of this appeal shall be borne by the respective parties.

AFFIRMED AND REMANDED.

Reference

Full Case Name
BUTAMAX(TM) ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC, Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant-Appellant, and E.I. Dupont De Nemours and Co., Counterclaim Defendant, v. GEVO, INC., Defendant/Counterclaimant-Appellee
Cited By
2 cases
Status
Unpublished