View source for Bonito Boats v. Thunder Craft (1989)

'''Background:'''

Bonito Boats designed and manufactured a fiberglass boat hull, the Bonito Boat Model 5VBR, but did not issue a patent for the boat or its manufacturing process. After the hull had been on the market for 6 years, the Florida Legislature passed a law prohibiting the use of direct molding to duplicate and knowingly sell unpatented boat hulls. Bonito Boats then sued Thunder Craft in a Florida Circuit Court under the charge that they violated the FL law by selling Bonito 5VBR direct molding duplicates.  

     
'''Court Ruling:'''

The Florida Circuit Court ruled that the complaint be dismissed on the grounds that the Florida statute conflicted with Federal patent law, and was therefore unconstitutional under the [[Supremacy Clause]]. The Florida Court of Appeals and the Florida Supreme Court affirmed this ruling.


'''Argument:'''