Markforged must pay 17 million to Continuous Composites for patent infringement

A federal court in Delaware has found Markforged guilty of patent infringement and awarded Continuous Composites over 17 million dollars in damages. The twelve-member jury found that Markforged had infringed Continuous Composites’ patent 11,173,660 by selling certain 3D printers.

The legal dispute revolves around a technology for 3D printing continuous fiber composites. This enables the production of extremely strong and lightweight components for various industries such as aerospace, automotive and consumer goods.

The jury assessed the evidence presented as showing that Continuous Composites had already made the invention in 2012 and patented it in 2021. Markforged later copied the technology and used it in its 3D printers without obtaining a license for it.

The judgment covers Markforged product sales from November 2021 to the end of 2023. In a next step, the court will have to decide on ongoing license fees from 2024 to 2033.