BRUSSELS (May 17) — Flexsys America L.P. said restraint-of-trade allegations made against it recently by Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co. Ltd. concerning PPD-based antidegradants are baseless and without merit.
Korea Kumho's new lawsuit is a defense maneuver against the Flexsys intellectual property lawsuit against the South Korean company and others alleging infringement of its patents on 4-aminodiphenylamine (4-ADPA),and its PPD derivatives including 6PPD, Flexsys said.
In 2004, Flexsys opened a legal battle with other suppliers over a process used to make PPD-based antioxidants, alleging that KKPC and two Chinese companies had infringed Flexsys´ patents in this commercially sensitive area. In February 2006 a court ruling cleared KKPC of the charges, but found the two Chinese companies guilty of using Flexsys´ patented process.
Last month, KKPC filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Flexsys of restrictive trade practices.