Ottah v. Fiat Chrysler

Ottah’s Patent, entitled “Book Holder,” describes “a removable book holder assembly for use by a person in a protective or mobile structure such as a car seat, wheelchair, walker, or stroller” “having an adjustable, releasable clipping means and a support arm configured for . . . adjustment of the book supporting surface of the book holder to hold a book in a readable position in front of the user.” The patent recites that it may also be used to support such items as audio/video equipment, PDAs, or mobile phones, cameras, computers, musical instruments, toys, puzzles and games and cites disadvantages associated with prior art book holders, relating to “the ease of application” without tools. The patent refers to a writing board and a removable attachment. The district court rejected, on summary judgment, Ottah’s infringement suit against automobile companies relating to camera holders. The Federal Circuit affirmed. No reasonable fact-finder could find that the accused cameras meet the “removably attached” limitation of claim The district court correctly found that the “book holder” cannot plausibly be construed to include or be the equivalent of a camera holder, in view of the specification and the prosecution history. View "Ottah v. Fiat Chrysler" on Justia Law