Case Summary
**Case Summary: WesternGeco L.L.C. v. ION Geophysical Corp. (Docket No. 8200492)**
**Court:** United States Supreme Court
**Argued:** November 3, 2017
**Decided:** June 22, 2018
**Overview:**
WesternGeco L.L.C. v. ION Geophysical Corp. centers on intellectual property rights and the extent of damages in patent infringement cases, particularly concerning the application of the patent statute in relation to foreign activities.
**Legal Background:**
WesternGeco owns patents related to technologies used in the survey of underwater resources, primarily in the oil and gas industry. The patents cover specific systems and methods for conducting marine surveys. WesternGeco alleged that ION Geophysical Corp. infringed upon these patents by providing services and products that violated their patent rights.
**Key Issues:**
1. Whether WesternGeco could recover lost profits for sales made outside of the United States as a result of ION’s infringement.
2. The interpretation of the patent rights under U.S. law, specifically whether the statutory framework allows for damages to extend to foreign markets when domestic patent rights are violated.
**Court's Decision:**
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of WesternGeco, allowing the company to recover lost profits for the sales it otherwise would have made in foreign markets. The Court concluded that while U.S. patent law does not extend to foreign territories, the lost profits resulting from domestic infringement could include profits lost from sales that would have occurred outside of the United States. The ruling emphasized that the infringement directly impacted WesternGeco’s ability to compete internationally.
**Significance:**
This case is pivotal in clarifying the scope of damages related to patent infringement, particularly in a global context. It establishes that U.S. patent holders could seek to recover damages for lost profits even when the infringement's effect extends beyond U.S. borders, thereby reinforcing the protective measures for intellectual property in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
**Conclusion:**
WesternGeco L.L.C. v. ION Geophysical Corp. is a significant case reinforcing the idea that patent rights can have international implications and that domestic patent infringements can lead to recoverable damages for lost international sales, shaping the future of patent law and enforcement strategies.