Inequitable Conduct in Patent Infringement Cases
Can inequitable conduct be a valid defense argument in a patent infringement case in Russia?
Patent infringement litigation and invalidation proceedings in Russia are totally bifurcated and therefore, if an infringement action is initiated, invalidity arguments are not considered in the proceedings and cannot be asserted as a defense in patent infringement cases.
Moreover, currently the courts do not normally suspend infringement litigation if an invalidation action is filed with the RUPTO after the infringement suit has been brought.
As to invalidation proceedings, there is no such grounds for invalidity as inequitable conduct. The applicant does not face any repercussions in terms of patent validity for not disclosing any information known to them that would contradict patentability of the invention.
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