Court Reopens $20 million Patent Action Against Kumho Tire

Flexsys America L.P. has announced that the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has ordered that its patent infringement action against Sinorgchem Co., Shandong (Sinorgchem), Kumho Tire USA, Inc., Kumho Tire Company, Inc. (Korea), Korea Kumho Petrochemical Company, Ltd. (“KKPC”), and Sovereign Chemical Company be reopened.

The case alleges that Kumho tyre companies are guilty of importing products into the US that contain Flexsys-patented chemicals 4 aminodiphenylamine and its PPD derivatives. Flexsys is therefore seeking damages in the amount of $20 million and other relief. The case had been stayed while a companion case was pending before the US International Trade Commission (ITC).

“We had an excellent result before the ITC and we expect excellent results before the US District Court proving patent infringement and collecting damages against the chemical manufacturers, as well as the importers of tyres made with Sinorgchem’s 4-ADPA or PPD products,” said Donald Fields, Worldwide Antidegradants Technology Manager.

“We did not bring this lawsuit casually. This technology is of strategic importance to Flexsys,” said Tim Wessel, Vice President, Antidegradants. “Flexsys has discovered, developed and commercialised this award winning and patented process and this has involved significant investments.”