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U.K. Appeals Court Removes Asset Freezing Order Related to U.S. Case Against Hytera
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Of those damages, $418.8 million is punitive damages and $345.8 million is compensatory damages. $764.6 million was the maximum amount that Motorola Solutions had asked for in damages.
Following the verdict, the company is seeking a global injunction that would prevent Hytera from trade secret misappropriation and copyright infringement, a Motorola spokesperson said. “Today’s verdicts are a tremendous victory for Motorola Solutions and a clear repudiation of the illegal and anticompetitive tactics employed by Hytera over the last decade.”
The company is seeking an initial temporary injunction, as well as a long-term permanent injunction. A hearing to discuss injunctions is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 21.
“Hytera is disappointed by the jury verdict in this case," a Hytera spokesperson said. "Hytera respectfully disagrees with the jury and is currently considering pursuit of all appeal options.”
Motorola sued Hytera in the Illinois district court in 2017 for theft of trade secrets, alleging that several former Motorola employees had illegally downloaded proprietary Motorola documents and brought the documents with them when they went to work for Hytera, which then included Motorola trade secrets in its Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) products. Motorola also later added a claim of copyright infringement into the case.
The lawsuit win is the fourth legal win Motorola has scored against Hytera. In 2018, the U.S International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that Hytera had infringed several Motorola patents and issued an exclusion order preventing the importation, distribution or sale of Hytera products found infringing the Motorola patents.
Two German courts have also ruled that Hytera infringed Motorola patents and implemented injunctions against those infringing products.
“We presented clear facts and evidence of Hytera’s theft and infringement and are pleased the jury found in favor of our client, Motorola Solutions,” said Mike De Vries, partner at Kirkland & Ellis, which represented Motorola in the case. “This positive outcome, in combination with the findings of other courts in jurisdictions around the world, further validates Motorola Solutions’ global litigation against Hytera. Kirkland is committed to defending our clients’ valuable intellectual property.”
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