In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has awarded ₹217 crore in damages for lost profits to Communication Component Antenna Inc (CCAI) in a patent infringement suit against Mobi Antenna Technologies. The court’s decision is grounded in a precedent which holds that reasonable profit loss can serve as a basis for calculating damages.
Justice Jyoti Singh, presiding over the case, referenced the earlier Delhi High Court decision in Strix Ltd v. Maharaja Appliances Limited, which establishes that potential profits lost due to infringement are a valid measure of damages. The case in question centered on CCAI’s patented invention, “Asymmetrical Beams for Spectrum Efficiency” in bisector array antennas. This innovation purportedly enhances spectrum efficiency by altering beam patterns, thereby increasing the number of subscribers without compromising call quality.
Mobi Antenna Technologies was found to have infringed on this patent, as their products mirrored the beam patterns and critical coverage areas of CCAI’s antennas. Despite fully participating in the trial initially, Mobi withdrew after their challenge to the patent’s validity was dismissed.
The evidence presented led the court to conclude that:
- The beam patterns of both companies’ products were substantially similar.
- Mobi’s infringing products provided similar critical coverage areas as CCAI’s antennas.
- Mobi’s products were capable of replacing existing 65-degree antennas in various configurations.
The court determined that, had Mobi not been in the market, CCAI would have sold approximately 47,355 units at a profit of $550 each, totaling ₹2,17,47,78,375 (around ₹217 crores). Consequently, the court issued a permanent injunction against Mobi and ordered them to pay the damages amount with an additional 5% interest per annum from the date of the judgment, along with covering the entire cost of proceedings.
Legal representation for CCAI was provided by advocates Sidhant Goel, Mohit Goel, Deepankar Mishra, and Aditya Goel of Sim and San, led by advocate J Sai Deepak.
