US Solutia may appeal ruling on its rubber chem patent suit

16 July 2010 21:39  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US specialty chemicals producer Solutia is considering appealing a ruling it lost in a patent-infringement lawsuit it filed against two Asian firms, the company said on Friday.

Earlier this month, a US federal judge has ruled against Solutia in its lawsuit against Jiangsu Sinorgchem and Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co (KKPC).

Solutia subsidiary Flexsys accused Singorgchem of infringing on its patents for making a rubber anti-degradant and its precursor 4-aminodiphenylamine (4-ADPA).

KKPC became entangled in the lawsuit because it bought 4-ADPA from Sinorgchem so it could produce its own anti-degradant for tyres.

On 6 July, Judge Sara Lioi ruled in favour of Sinorgchem, finding, among other things, that the Singorchem process used too much water to infringe on the Flexsys 4-ADPA patent.

Solutia's claims against KKPC were also dismissed since KKPC was buying 4-ADPA that did not infringe on the Flexsys patent.

“While the decision was not our desired outcome for this regional case, we were prepared for this ruling and it does not affect the validity of the patent,” according to a statement by Michael Donnelly, president and general manager of Solutia’s Technical Specialties division. The unit produces Santoflex, the company's rubber anti-degradant.

“We remain confident in our intellectual property rights," Donnelly said.

Flexsys sued the companies in 2005.

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By: Al Greenwood
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