Delhi High Court Dismisses Philips’ 21-Year Patent Infringement Suit Over Video CD Technology

The Delhi High Court dismissed a 21-year-old patent infringement suit instituted by Koninklijke Philips NV concerning Video CD technology, holding that the company had failed to establish the validity of its patent or prove infringement.

Justice Mini Pushkarna, by judgment dated October 13, held that Philips’ patent in “Digital Transmission System” comprised a transmitter, receiver, and transmission medium; however, these elements were absent in the defendants’ products.

The Court determined that the defendants merely duplicated Video CDs from Master CDs, which did not constitute infringement.

Philips had instituted the proceedings in 2004 against Delhi-based BCI Optical Disc Ltd.

[Koninklijke Philips NV v M Bathla & Anr.]