Magistrate Judge Sherry R. Fallon recently recommended the dismissal of a pro se patent infringement complaint filed against the United States, various United States officials, and Kannalife Sciences, Inc. McDowell v. U.S., et al., C.A. No. 12-1302-SLR-SRF (D. Del. May 10, 2013). The pro se plaintiff was the inventor of U.S. Patent No. 7,597,910, “directed to compositions and methods for treating prostate disorders using a mixture of cannabis, shiitake mushrooms, and maitake mushrooms,” but had assigned the patent to SLGM Medical Research Institute. Id. at 1, 5. The inventor argued that he had standing to bring the complaint because he and SLGM Medical Research were “one and the same,” but Magistrate Judge Fallon rejected that argument, explaining that “only the owner of the patent has standing to sue.” Id. at 5. Magistrate Judge Fallon also recommended that the complaint against the United States and its officials be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction on the basis that 28 U.S.C. § 1498 requires that patent infringement actions against the United States be filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims. Id. at 6.
McDowell v. U.S., et al., C.A. No. 12-1302-SLR-SRF (D. Del. May 10, 2013).
Delaware IP Law Blog 