Eric Raciti on Managing Suppliers and Contract Manufacturers: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc. v. Sunbeam Prods., Inc.

Hamilton Beach Brands sued Sunbeam Products for infringement of a patent on the company’s slow cooker appliance. The Federal Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, affirmed the invalidation of Hamilton Beach’s portable slow cooker under the on-sale, or in-public-use, bar. Finnegan partner Eric Raciti discusses the lessons in this case for companies using original equipment manufacturer (OEM) suppliers under the old U.S. patent laws, and also a potential wrinkle in the future under the new America Invents Act.