The Delhi High Court recently awarded ₹217 crore in damages for lost profits to Communication Component Antenna Inc (CCAI) in a patent infringement suit against Mobi Antenna Technologies [Communication Component Antenna Inc v. Mobi Antenna Technologies].
Justice Jyoti Singh referenced the Delhi High Court’s decision in Strix Ltd v. Maharaja Appliances Limited, which held that damages can be reasonably computed based on the potential profits the patentee would have earned if the infringing product had been sold by them.
The case involved a patent infringement claim by CCAI against Mobi for infringing on a patent for ‘Asymmetrical Beams for Spectrum Efficiency’ in bisector array antennas. The novelty of this patent lies in its ability to enhance spectrum efficiency by altering the beam pattern, allowing more subscribers to connect without compromising call quality.
The plaintiffs argued that their bisector array antennas could be replaced by those of Mobi. Mobi participated in the trial but abandoned the proceedings after the court dismissed its challenge to the validity of CCAI’s patent.
The Court found the following based on the evidence presented:
The beam patterns of both products were similar.
Mobi’s infringing products had a beam shape providing “substantial equivalence” in critical coverage area compared to the earlier antennas.
Mobi’s products could replace or were capable of replacing three existing 65-degree antennas in a 3-sector configuration, as well as in greenfield cellular networks where three 65-degree antennas in a 3-sector configuration could have been used.
The defense witnesses were cross-examined by a team from Sim & San.
The Court calculated the damages based on lost profits, estimating that without Mobi’s presence in the market, CCAI would have sold about 47,355 units at a profit of $550 per unit, amounting to ₹2,17,47,78,375 (approximately ₹217 crore).
Consequently, the Court granted CCAI a decree of permanent injunction and directed Mobi to pay ₹2,17,47,78,375 with 5% interest per year from the date of the judgment, along with the entire cost of the proceedings.
Advocates Sidhant Goel, Mohit Goel, Deepankar Mishra, and Aditya Goel of Sim and San, led by advocate J Sai Deepak, represented CCAI.
