Chemours claims AGC infringed R1234yf patents
USA: Refrigerant manufacturer Chemours has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in Japan against Japanese chemical manufacturer AGC over the HFO refrigerant R1234yf.
The lawsuit alleges infringement of Chemours’ patents covering HFO1234yf product compositions and usage in automotive air conditioning and stationary refrigeration applications in Japan.
Chemours and Honeywell hold most or all of the patents issued for HFO-1234yf, although some of these have been disputed and remain the subject of court actions. Honeywell has also taken a number of patent infringement actions in the past year in Europe relating to R1234yf.
In a statement, Chemours says the action reaffirms its commitment to “vigorously defend” its investment in its Opteon brand low GWP refrigerants “and builds on its on-going efforts to stop the unlicensed manufacture, marketing, and sales of Opteon HFO1234yf (R1234yf) refrigerant by all legal means wherever that activity occurs around the world”.
“Innovation and product development are at the core of who we are at Chemours,” said Diego Boeri, vice president of Chemours Fluorochemicals. “By protecting our innovation, we are also ensuring our customers have access to the safe and high-quality refrigerants that they have come to rely on from Chemours and the Opteon brand,” he added.
Based in Tokyo, AGC, formerly Asahi Glass Co, is a global glass manufacturing company with additional interests in electronics, chemicals, and ceramics.
When asked to comment, a spokesperson for AGC said: “As of November 21, 2019, we have not been in receipt of formal service of any complaint regarding the lawsuit, so we cannot make any specific comments.”
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