WASHINGTON (July 31) — A Chinese chemical manufacturer and its importer infringed on Flexsys America L.P.´s patent rights, the International Trade Commission has ruled.
According to the ITC ruling, Sinorgchem Co. made the rubber antidegradant 6PPD and its feedstock 4-ADPA using Flexsys´ patented manufacturing techniques without permission, and Sovereign Chemical Co. imported the Sinorgchem chemicals, both violating Section 337 of the Tariff Act.
Flexsys had also charged that Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co. Ltd. violated Section 337 by using the Sinorgchem-Sovereign chemicals; the ITC exonerated Kumho, but Flexsys said it would include Kumho Tire Co. Inc. and Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. in the patent infringement suit it has filed against Sinorgchem and Sovereign in Cleveland federal district court.
Sovereign officials could not immediately be reached for comment, and a Kumho spokesman said his company never comments on pending litigation.