Albany International Corp. v. Yamauchi Corp.

MEMORANDUM-DECISION and ORDER

DAVID N. HURD, District Judge.

1. INTRODUCTION

This action arises out of a dispute between Albany International Corporation (“Albany”) and Yamauchi Corporation (“Yamauchi”) over the validity of four U.S. patents that protect various design aspects of “shoe press belts,” which are used to remove excess water during the paper manufacturing process. Albany filed the instant action alleging that Yamauchi and its U.S. sales representative, AstenJohnson, Inc. (“AstenJohnson”), are manufacturing and selling products that infringe two of its patents (the “Albany Patents”).1…