Synopsys wins $30 million jury verdict and obtains permanent injunction in software IP action

Client(s) Synopsys, Inc.

After a two-week trial, Jones Day obtained a $30.4 million jury verdict on behalf of Synopsys, Inc. on its copyright infringement claim against ATopTech, Inc. Synopsys is a leader in electronic design automation (EDA) software. Jones Day has represented Synopsys in its lawsuit alleging copyright and patent infringement since 2013 when Synopsys discovered that ATopTech had copied its proprietary command set into ATopTech's competing EDA software. On March 10, 2016, a Northern District of California jury entered a unanimous verdict in Synopsys' favor in a bifurcated copyright phase of the trial, rejecting ATopTech's fair use defense and awarding Synopsys $22 million in lost profits and $8.4 million in infringer's profits. In addition, the court ruled that the asserted command set elements were protected by copyright, which had been disputed by ATopTech. In October 2016, the Court rejected ATopTech's equitable estoppel defense after a one week bench trial in July 2016. In December 2016, the Court issued a permanent injunction against ATopTech and in January 2017, ATopTech filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, identifying Synopsys as the largest creditor, and staying further proceedings in the district court. Jones Day is also representing Synopsys in ATopTech’s bankruptcy proceeding.

Synopsys, Inc. v. ATopTech, Inc., No. 3:13-cv-02965 (N.D. Cal.)