Hope Chemicals ordered to cease sales of infringing Acesulfame K sweetener

08-19-2002: 16.08.2002 - In April 2001, Nutrinova commenced a legal action against Zhangjiagang Hope Chemicals Co. Ltd. (Hope) and Arnold Suhr Netherlands BV in the High Court in London for infringement of its European patent for the manufacture of the high intensity sweetener Acesulfame K (AcK).

The judgement against Hope was given on July 18th 2002. With immediate effect Hope is prevented from selling or offering for sale in the UK any infringing AcK and the Judge gave Hope 14 days to deliver any such infringing material. Hope was also ordered to pay damages to Nutrinova and the related costs of the action. Mr. Justice Jacob stated: "The evidence [...] points to infringement and nothing else".

This was a further successful step for Nutrinova against sales of infringing AcK. "Nutrinova will continue to aggressively defend its Intellectual Property Rights", commented Mr. Stefan Reintgen, Head of Marketing & Sales of Nutrinova.