Flexsys drops South Korean patent infringement lawsuit against Kumho

ERJ staff report (TB)

Seoul, Korea -- Flexsys Americas LP has dropped an appeal of a patent infringement lawsuit before the Supreme Court of South Korea.

The lawsuit, which was first filed in April 2004, accused Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co. Ltd. of violating Flexsys' patents by making the antidegradant 6PPD and its feedstock 4-ADPA using Flexsys' methods without permission.

Lower courts ruled against Flexsys in trials held in 2004 and 2005, according to South Korean news reports. Flexsys' withdrawal of the suit came about a month after the US International Trade Commission let stand an administrative law judge's rejection of a Flexsys patent infringement case against Korea Kumho and other companies.

Officials of Flexsys and Kumho Tire USA Inc., Korea Kumho's U.S. subsidiary, could not be reached for comment.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)