Auto. Body Parts Ass'n v. Ford Global Techs., LLC

• Decision Date: 11 July 2019
• Docket Number: 2018-1613
• Citation: 930 F.3d 1314
• Parties: AUTOMOTIVE BODY PARTS ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff-Appellant v. FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Defendant-Appellee
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Federal Circuit

930 F.3d 1314

AUTOMOTIVE BODY PARTS ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff-Appellant

v.FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Defendant-Appellee

2018-1613

United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit.

Sealed Opinion Issued: July 11, 2019

Public Opinion Issued: July 23, 2019^*

Robert Glenn Oake, Jr., Oake Law Office, Allen, TX, argued for plaintiff-appellant. Also represented by Paul Kittinger, Cardelli Lanfear PC, Royal Oak, MI.

Jessica Lynn Ellsworth, Hogan Lovells US LLP, Washington, DC, argued for defendant-appellee. Also represented by Katherine Booth Wellington; Frank A. Angileri, Marc Lorelli, Brooks Kushman PC, Southfield, MI.

Before Hughes, Schall, and Stoll, Circuit Judges.

Stoll, Circuit Judge.

This case involves both differences and similarities between design patents and utility patents. A design patent protects a "new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture." 35 U.S.C. § 171(a). While established law bars design patents on primarily functional designs for lack of ornamentality, utility patents must be functional to be patentable. In many other ways though, design and utility patents are similar. Section 171(b) of Title 35 demands as much, directing that the requirements that apply to "patents for inventions shall apply to patents for designs" unless otherwise provided.

Here, we decide what types of functionality invalidate a design patent and determine whether long-standing rules of patent exhaustion and repair rights applicable to utility patents also apply to design patents. Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) asks us to hold that the aesthetic appeal—rather than any mechanical or utilitarian aspect—of a patented design may render it functional. And it asks us to expand the doctrines of exhaustion and repair to recognize the "unique nature" of design patents. Both theories invite us to rewrite established law to permit ABPA to evade Ford Global Technologies, LLC’s patent rights. We decline ABPA’s invitation and affirm the district court’s summary judgment.

BACKGROUND

I

Ford’s U.S. Patent No. D489,299 and U.S. Patent No. D501,685 protect designs used in certain models of Ford’s F-150 trucks. The D ’299 patent, titled "Exterior of Vehicle Hood," claims "[t]he ornamental design for exterior of vehicle hood." Figure 1, below, illustrates the hood.

The D ’685 patent, titled "Vehicle Head Lamp," claims "[t]he ornamental design for a vehicle head lamp," as shown in Figures 1 and 2, reproduced below.

The inventors of these designs are artists holding Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees from the College for Creative Studies. In a declaration, one inventor explained that the inventors had "full control and responsibility for the exterior appearance of the ... Ford F-150 truck," that "the design team created and selected part designs based on aesthetic appearance," and that although engineers reviewed the final designs, "[t]here were no changes to the aesthetic designs of the[ ] parts based on engineering or functional requirements." J.A. 2538–39.

II

ABPA, an association of companies that distribute automotive body parts, clashed with Ford at the International Trade Commission when Ford accused a number of ABPA members of infringing the D ’299 and D ’685 patents, among others. The ITC actions eventually settled, but only after the administrative law judge ruled that "respondents’ [invalidity] defense that the asserted patents do not comply with the ornamentality requirement of 35 U.S.C. § 171 has no basis in the law," J.A. 256, and that "there is no legal basis for respondents’ assertion of [unenforceability based on] either the patent exhaustion or permissible repair doctrines," J.A. 242.

Undeterred, ABPA sued Ford in district court, seeking a declaratory judgment of invalidity or unenforceability of the D ’299 and D ’685 patents. ABPA eventually moved for summary judgment. The district court considered ABPA’s arguments and denied the motion, noting that ABPA "effectively ask[ed] this Court to eliminate design patents on auto-body parts." Auto. Body Parts Ass’n v. Ford Glob. Techs., LLC , 293 F. Supp. 3d 690, 694 (E.D. Mich. 2018). Though Ford had not moved for summary judgment, the district court announced its intention to enter judgment in favor of Ford sua sponte pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(f)(1). Id. at 707. ABPA responded, agreeing that it had not "include[d] any additional argument, authorities, or evidence beyond that which has already been considered by this Court," and stating that it "d[id] not object to the prompt entry of final judgment so that [it could] file a notice of appeal." J.A. 2149. The district court entered summary judgment, and ABPA appeals.

DISCUSSION

We review the district court’s sua sponte grant of summary judgment under the law of the regional circuit. See Charles Mach. Works, Inc. v. Vermeer Mfg. Co. , 723 F.3d 1376, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2013). In the Sixth Circuit, "[t]he substance of the district court’s decision is reviewed de novo under the normal standards for summary judgment." Leffman v. Sprint Corp. , 481 F.3d 428, 430 (6th Cir. 2007) ("The district court’s procedural decision to enter summary judgment sua sponte, however, is reviewed for abuse of discretion." (quoting Shelby Cty. Health Care Corp. v. S. Council of Indus. Workers Health & Welfare Trust Fund , 203 F.3d 926, 931 (6th Cir. 2000) )). Accordingly, we determine whether, after weighing all inferences in favor of ABPA, Ford is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.¹ See Leary v. Daeschner , 349 F.3d 888, 897 (6th Cir. 2003).

I

We first address ABPA’s invalidity arguments. Section 171 of Title 35 authorizes patents claiming "new, original and ornamental design[s] for an article of manufacture." 35 U.S.C. § 171(a) (emphasis added). Our precedent gives weight to this language, holding that a design patent must claim an "ornamental" design, not one "dictated by function." See, e.g. , High Point Design LLC v. Buyers Direct, Inc. , 730 F.3d 1301, 1315 (Fed. Cir. 2013). We have recognized, however, that a valid design may contain some functional elements. After all, "a design patent’s claim protects an article of manufacture, which ‘necessarily serves a utilitarian purpose.’ " See Sport Dimension, Inc. v. Coleman Co. , 820 F.3d 1316, 1320 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (quoting L.A. Gear, Inc. v. Thom McAn Shoe Co. , 988 F.2d 1117, 1123 (Fed. Cir. 1993) ). But a design patent may not claim a "primarily functional" design. Id. "If [a] particular design is essential to the use of the article, it can not be the subject of a design patent." L.A. Gear , 988 F.2d at 1123.

While "[w]e have not mandated applying any particular test," certain considerations assist courts in assessing whether a design is dictated by function. Ethicon , 796 F.3d at 1329. These include:

[W]hether the protected design represents the best design; whether alternative designs would adversely affect the utility of the specified article; whether there are any concomitant utility patents; whether the advertising touts particular features of the design as having specific utility; and whether there are any elements in the design or an overall appearance clearly not dictated by function.

Berry Sterling Corp. v. Pescor Plastics, Inc. , 122 F.3d 1452, 1456 (Fed. Cir. 1997). We have often emphasized the presence or absence of alternative designs, noting that the existence of "several ways to achieve the function of an article of manufacture," though not dispositive, increases the likelihood that a design serves a primarily ornamental purpose. Id. (quoting L.A. Gear , 988 F.2d at 1123 ); see also Nordock, Inc. v. Sys. Inc. , 803 F.3d 1344, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (affirming ornamentality where record showed "alternate designs available achieve the same utilitarian purpose"), vacated on other grounds , ––– U.S. ––––, 137 S. Ct. 589, 196 L.Ed.2d 471 (2016) ; Rosco, Inc. v. Mirror Lite Co. , 304 F.3d 1373, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2002) ("[I]f other designs could produce the same or similar functional capabilities, the design of the article in question is likely ornamental, not functional.").

A

ABPA posits (without record support) that consumers seeking replacement parts prefer hoods and headlamps that restore the original appearance of their vehicles. It concludes that there is a functional benefit to designs that are aesthetically compatible with those vehicles. See, e.g. , Appellant’s Br. 8–9 ("The function of the claimed designs includes their appearance ...."). From there, rather than arguing that Ford’s designs are functional because they achieve some mechanical or utilitarian goal, ABPA argues that Ford’s hood and headlamp designs are functional because they aesthetically match the F-150 truck. But ABPA does not identify, nor can we find, any design patent case ruling aesthetic appeal of this type functional.

We hold that, even in this context of a consumer preference for a particular design to match other parts of a whole, the aesthetic appeal of a design to consumers is inadequate to render that design functional. As the Supreme Court acknowledged almost 150 years ago, "giving certain new and original appearances to a manufactured article may enhance its salable value, [and] may enlarge the demand for it." Gorham Mfg. Co. v. White , 81 U.S. (14 Wall.) 511, 525, 20 L.Ed. 731 (1871). But regardless of the market advantage conferred by a patented appearance, competitors may not utilize a protected design during the patent’s life. See id. ; see also 35 U.S.C. § 289. To hold that designs that derive commercial value from their aesthetic appeal are functional and ineligible for protection, as ABPA asks, would gut these principles. The very "thing ... for which [the] patent is given, is that which gives a peculiar or distinctive appearance," its aesthetic. Gorham , 81 U.S. at 525. If customers prefer the "peculiar or distinctive appearance" of Ford’s designs over that of other designs that perform the same mechanical or utilitarian functions, that is exactly the type of...