HIP, Inc. v. Hormel Foods Corporation, No. 22-1696 (Fed. Cir. May 2, 2023)

From the Opinion

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Hormel Foods Corporation (“Hormel”) appeals from a decision of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware holding that David Howard should be added as a joint inventor on its U.S. Patent 9,980,498 (the “’498 patent”) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 256. See HIP, Inc. v. Hor- mel Foods Corp., No. 21-cv-546 (D. Del. Apr. 4, 2022), Dkt. 53 (“Final Judgment”) at J.A. 1– 2, Dkt. 61 (“Trial Tr. III”) at J.A. 3 –13, 831 –1045, Dkt. 63 (“Trial Tr. V”) at J.A. 14–42, 1188–1294. For the reasons provided below, we re- verse.