Sunearth, Inc. v. Sun Earth Solar Power Co.
Opinion
Opinion
We voted to rehear this case en banc to reconsider our jurisprudence concerning fee awards in cases filed pursuant to the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051 et seq.
Section 35(a) of the Lanham Act provides that “[t]he court in exceptional cases may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party.” 15 U.S.C. § 1117 (a). Historically, we have reviewed de novo a district court’s finding as to whether a defendant’s infringement was “exceptional” within the meaning of the Lanham Act’s fee-shifting provision. See, e.g., Secalt S.A. v. Wuxi Shenxi Constr. Mach. Co., 668 F.3d 677, 687 (9th Cir. 2012). We have required that a plaintiff show that a defendant engaged in “malicious, fraudulent, deliberate or willful” infringement. See, e.g., Lindy Pen Co. v. Bic Pen Corp., 982 F.2d 1400, 1409 (9th Cir. 1993), superseded by statute on other grounds, Trademark Amendments Act of 1999, Pub. L. No. 106-43, 113 Stat. 218.
We interpret the fee-shifting provisions in the Patent Act, 35 U.S.C. § 285 , and the Lanham Act in tandem. See Int’l Olympic Comm. v. S.F. Arts & Athletics, 781 F.2d 733 , 738-39 (9th Cir.), as amended, 789 F.2d 1319 (9th Cir. 1986), aff'd, 483 U.S. 522 , 107 S.Ct.…