In
Guangdong Alison Hi-Tech Co. v. International Trade
Commission, No. 2018-2042 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 27, 2019), the
Federal Circuit affirmed the ITC's findings that the claims of
U.S. Patent No. 7,078,359 were not invalid under 35 U.S.C. §
112 and § 102.
The '359 patent is directed to an improvement in aerogel
composite products and includes a claim directed to, among other
things, "lofty . . . batting." Aspen Aerogels, Inc.,
filed an ITC complaint alleging that Alison imported aerogel
insulation materials that infringed the '359 patent. Despite
Alison's challenge that the term "lofty . . .
batting" was indefinite, the ITC found that the '359
patent was not invalid and entered an exclusion order barring
importation. Alison appealed.