Rogers Family Co. Wins Patent Lawsuit Against Keurig

The Rogers Family Co. announced recently that it has won a patent lawsuit filed by Keurig last year over the Rogers’ single-serve coffee product OneCup.

“I am pleased to announce that the U.S. District Court in Boston ruled that the Rogers Family Co.’s OneCup products do not infringe any of the Keurig patents,” said Jon B. Rogers, president. “This is a great victory for the Rogers family and our customers. There is no longer any doubt about our ability to sell our OneCup products for use in Keurig brewers.”

The case involved three Keurig patents, U.S. patent D 502,362 (“362”); U.S. patent 7,165,488, (“488”) and U.S. patent 7,347,138 (“138”).

For the design patent 362, the court compared the Rogers design to the Keurig design. It first addressed whether certain features of the cartridge were functional or ornamental, finding that the circular lid of both designs was ornamental, as was the depending skirt or ring to which the filter is attached. The “general tapered shape” of the filter affects the quality of the beverage cartridge, so it is a functional feature. The specific type of tapered filter shape was ornamental. The court then found that the overall appearance of the Rogers cartridge was plainly dissimilar to the Keurig design. 

For the utility patents 488 and 138, the court first addressed the 138 patent’s apparatus claim, finding that Keurig’s rights under the asserted claim were exhausted once it sells the brewer, because it indisputably sells, or licenses others to sell, both the brewer and the filter cartridge. 

The court then addressed the 488 patent’s method claim. The court found that the Keurig brewers were sold as completed products and that the “substantial embodiment” test did not apply. The court also found that because Keurig’s rights in the brewers were exhausted once they were sold, customers have the right to purchase replacement cartridges from whatever source they choose.

The Rogers Family Co. argued that its OneCup product is unique, breakthrough technology produced after years of research and study. The company launched the OneCup line – under its San Francisco Bay brand – in fall 2011.

Founded in 1979, the Lincoln, Calif.-based Rogers Family Co. supplies its gourmet coffee and tea to customers worldwide. The company’s brands and divisions include San Francisco Bay and The Organic Coffee Co.