Provisur Technologies Inc., Wins Patent Infringement Case Against Weber Inc.

Provisur Technologies Inc., Wins Patent Infringement Case Against Weber Inc.

Provisur Technologies, Inc., a leading global provider of high-performance food processing equipment, won a major patent infringement case against Weber, Inc. for willfully infringing multiple food slicer patents.

In February, 2019 Provisur had filed its patent infringement suit stating that Weber infringed several food processing patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from November 2001 to December 2012. The complaint stated Weber willfully infringed the patents by incorporating the technology into their meat and cheese slicers and the Weber SmartLoader.

The evidence presented at the trial supported findings that:

1. Weber intentionally developed products with Provisur's technology.

2. Weber did not undertake a good faith effort to determine if the patents were invalid.

These two key factors, in addition to the length of Weber's infringement, its failure to take remedial action, and their motivation to harm a competitor supported enhanced damages.

The jury found that Weber willfully infringed multiple food slicing patents held by Provisur and awarded the company $10.5 million in damages. Missouri U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough doubled the damages to $21 million noting that Weber's "systemic misconduct transcended that of a garden-variety infringer."

To support the enhanced damages, Judge Bough also said Weber "intentionally copied the plaintiff's patented ideas" and "this case did not involve close issues on validity, infringement or damages."

Provisur Technologies, Inc. is a leading global provider of precision engineered industrial food processing equipment and offers a broad range of equipment and integrated full-line solutions for processing beef, poultry, pork, fish, and other food products.