3M and sia Abrasives Industries have settled patent disputes

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It’s news from yesteryear, but still worth mentioning. By accident, I came across 3M’s press release of 11 November 2019, indicating that 3M and sia Abrasives Industries have settled various patent disputes, i.e. infringement lawsuits brought by 3M in Mannheim (Germany) and at the FPC in Switzerland (Case no. O2018_012), as well as a related opposition by Bosch, owner of sia Abrasives Industries since 2008.

According to the press release,

[t]he lawsuits concerned 3M’s patented technology relating to precision shaped abrasive grain. Terms of the settlement are confidential.

Logo sia

3M’s technology is referred to as Cubitron™ II in the press release.

The related opposition proceedings apparently concerned EP 2 373 755 B1; see the European Patent Register and Swissreg. The FPC had requested with letter of 9 November 2018 that the EPO’s opposition proceedings be expedited. The parties to the proceedings at the FPC were represented by Dr. Michael RITSCHER (MLL) and Dr. Christian HILTI (Rentsch), respectively.

Bosch has withdrawn the opposition on 29 October 2019, and the opposition proceedings have been discontinued with decision of 5 February 2020.

Reported by Martin WILMING

PATENT IN SUIT

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