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China's Patent Re-Examination Board Again Rules in Favour of Neo Performance Materials in Invalidating Patent Claims for Vehicle Emissions Catalyst Products
China's Patent Re-Examination Board Again Rules in Favour of Neo Performance Materials in ...
About this update from Neo Performance Materials, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nChina's Patent Re-Examination Board Again Rules in Favour of Neo Performance Materials in Invalidating Patent Claims for Vehicle Emissions Catalyst Products\n\n/* Style Definitions */\nspan.prnews_span\n{\nfont-size:8pt;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\n}\na.prnews_a\n{\ncolor:blue;\n}\nli.prnews_li\n{\nfont-size:8pt;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\n}\np.prnews_p\n{\nfont-size:0.62em;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\nmargin:0in;\n}\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCanada NewsWire\nTORONTO, Oct. 10, 2018\n\n\n\nTORONTO, Oct. 10, 2018 /CNW/ - Neo Performance Materials Inc. and Zibo Jiahua Advanced Material Resources Co., Ltd (collectively \"Neo\", \"the Company\") (TSX:NEO), a global leader in the innovation and manufacturing of rare earth and rare metal-based functional materials, is pleased to report that the Patent Reexamination Board (\"PRB\") of the State Intellectual Property Office of China (\"SIPO\") has ruled for the second time this year in favour of Neo by invalidating all product claims associated with patent ZL 200710146613.6, held by Daiichi Kigenso Kagaku Kogyo Co. (\"DKKK\").  In light of the favourable ruling by the PRB, Neo intends to seek dismissal of a pending lawsuit by DKKK and Rhodia Operations S.A.S, an affiliate of Brussels-based Solvay (\"Rhodia\") alleging infringement of patent ZL 200710146613.6 before the Shandong Zibo Intermediate People's Court.\nThe invalidated patent relates to certain vehicle emissions catalyst products, which Neo produces to help vehicle manufacturers and consumers reduce emissions from vehicle exhaust systems.  Global demand for these catalysts is growing, particularly in China, and Neo supplies innovative and highly efficient rare earth-based materials to all three of the world's leading emissions catalyst manufacturers.\nThe patent invalidation by the PRB, which is subject to DKKK's right of appeal, is the second of two successful challenges this year filed by Neo before the PRB on automotive vehicle catalyst patents.  In April 2018, the PRB ruled in Neo's favour when it invalidated all product claims associated with patent ZL 03817110.4, held by Rhodia.  In addition to the successful challenge of ZL 03817110.4 at the PRB, Neo also succeeded in securing a dismissal of Rhodia's pending lawsuit alleging infringement of that patent before the Shandong...