DuPont defends refrigerant patents

20 June 2007 17:18  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS news)--DuPont has taken legal action in China, India, Malaysia and Spain to defend patents for two of its hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) non-ozone-depleting refrigerants, the US chemicals major said on Wednesday.

 

The refrigerants - Suva(R) 407C and Suva(R) 410A – were leading HFCs for air conditioning and heat pump applications, for which DuPont has patents in various countries, it said.

 

Cases in China involved the export of equipment containing DuPont-patented refrigerants to EU countries, the company said. In one case, DuPont already reached a settlement with a large Chinese equipment maker, it said.

 

It also filed legal action in Chinese courts for patent infringement against two local fluorochemical producers, it said, but did not identify the companies.

 

In addition, DuPont took legal action against refrigerant resellers in India and Malaysia, it said.

 

The global fluorochemicals market for refrigerants was worth over $2bn, with refrigerants for air conditioning and heat pump applications accounting for a 20-30% share, DuPont said.

 

($1 = €0.74)

By: Stefan Baumgarten
+1 713 525 2653

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