DuPont Fluoroproducts Reaches Settlement Over Refrigerant Patent Infringement
DuPont Fluoroproducts has reached an out-of-court settlement with a major European fluorochemicals manufacturer over infringement of DuPont patents for certain hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blend refrigerants. Terms were not disclosed.
According to DuPont, the European manufacturer was engaged in inappropriate export of high-value HFC blend refrigerants into the Asia-Pacific market. The infringement allegation by DuPont was primarily focused on the manufacturer exceeding the scope of its authorization to market and sell DuPont™ Suva® HFC 404a.
"DuPont is committed to protecting its global patent estate for Suva® 404a and other high-value HFC blends, and will continue to investigate and take necessary actions to that end," said Mark Baunchalk, global business manager – refrigerants, for DuPont Fluoroproducts.
In 2001, DuPont announced it had initiated a patent stewardship program within its distribution network in the United States, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, and notified the network of possible unauthorized importation, marketing, and sales distribution of refrigerant blends R401a, R401b, R402a, R402b, R404a, R407c, R408a, R409a and R410a.
"The patent infringement activity in the Asia-Pacific market was discovered as part of that stewardship program, and is the first of several investigations planned to address infringement activities by various parties," Mark said.
Building equity in DuPont brands and products is part of the company's knowledge intensity strategy for achieving sustainable growth.
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