FLUORINE Wins Final Victory in PVDF Patent Infringement Case!
[Beijing, November 14, 2024]
After a lengthy legal battle, Zhejiang Fluorine Chemical New Material Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Zhejiang FLUORINE”) and Dongguan Fluorine Chemical New Material Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Dongguan FLUORINE”) have won final support from the Supreme People's Court of the People’s Republic of China in a patent dispute case with Solvay Specialty Polymers Italy S.p.A. (hereinafter “Solvay”), confirming that their products do not infringe upon Solvay's patent rights.
The case originated in May 2020 when Solvay filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the two Fluorine companies, alleging that two FLUORINE companies had infringed on Solvay’s invention patent No. 200880019571.2, titled "Copolymer of Vinylidene Fluoride." Solvay requested that Zhejiang FLUORINE cease manufacturing, selling, and offering to sell the Zheflon® FL2100 polyvinylidene fluoride resin product and sought compensation for economic losses and reasonable expenses.
Following first and second trials, the Supreme People's Court ruled in the final appeal that the products and preparation methods of Zhejiang FLUORINE and Dongguan FLUORINE did not fall within the protection scope of Solvay’s patent rights, thus constituting no infringement. The final judgment annulled the initial ruling by the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court and dismissed all of Solvay's claims. This final decision is legally binding.
The legal counsel for Zhejiang FLUORINE stated that this ruling reflects the rigorous and fair stance of Chinese courts on intellectual property protection and underscores FLUORINE's commitment to respecting and safeguarding intellectual property while maintaining fair market competition. This victory provides a solid legal foundation for the company's future innovation and development.
