Fujitsu Ltd. v. Tellabs, Inc., No. 09 C 4530, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Dec. 21, 2012) (Holderman, C.J.).

Judge Holderman granted defendants (collectively “Tellabs”) summary judgment that plaintiff Fujitsu Limited was not able to seek lost profits in this patent litigation.  Fujitsu, the patent holder, did not sell a covered product in the United States (a requirement for lost profits), but its subsidiary Fujitsu Network Communications (“FNC”) did.  Fujitsu Limited argued that the profits of FNC inexorably flowed to Fujitsu Limited warranting lost profits. Fujitsu Limited argued that various payments from FNC to Fujitsu Ltd. represented profits from sales of patented goods.  The Court, however, held that the payments were for use of trademarks, employees working for FNC and part of a corporate tax planning.  Because the payments did not represent the profits from patented goods, Fujitsu Ltd. could not seek lost profits.