Litex Files Suit Against Delphi Automotive Systems for Patent Infringement
SHERMAN OAKS, Calif.--June 6, 2001--Litex, Inc. announced that it filed a lawsuit for patent infringement against Delphi Automotive Systems for its activities involving non thermal plasma ("NTP") assisted catalysis.The lawsuit was filed on May 25, 2001, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Delphi's infringement has caused substantial adverse impact on Litex's efforts to license its technology to the automotive industry. Litex's lawsuit against Delphi includes allegations that Delphi infringes at least one of Litex's patents and prays that the Court render judgment preliminarily and permanently enjoining and restraining Delphi from further infringement, compensatory and treble damages, and the ordering of the destruction of all devices and prototypes which infringe. Litex has been in discussions with Delphi for several years regarding the Litex NTP assisted catalysis technology.
Litex is the holder of a broad patent portfolio comprised of seven U.S. patents which cover the treatment of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines including diesel and gasoline with NTP assisted catalysis. Three patents are assigned to the Lockheed Martin Corporation with exclusive, worldwide license, with right to sublicense held by Litex, Inc. The remaining four patents are assigned to Litex. Additional U.S. and foreign patents are pending and are expected to be added to the portfolio in the near-term. Lockheed Martin is not a party to this lawsuit.
Exhaust aftertreatment utilizing NTP assisted catalysis is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising new emissions control technologies. The claimed methods and devices in the Litex patent portfolio provide substantial reductions of tailpipe pollutants such as unburned hydrocarbons, particulates, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, as well as enhanced catalytic converter immunity to poisoning from sulfur and other contaminants. These benefits are expected to assist the automobile industry in cost-effectively meeting the increasingly stringent emission standards such as Tier 2, LEV II and EURO IV. In addition, the Litex technology is expected to be enabling technology for the introduction of advance lean burn gasoline and diesel engines.
Litex is engaged in discussions and negotiations for licensing its NTP catalysis technology and intellectual property to global automotive suppliers and automobile manufacturers. To protect its significant investment in R&D and its licensing program, Litex is committed to enforce its intellectual property rights in all applications, including lean burn gasoline, stoichiometric gasoline, stationary power generation, VOC abatement and fuel-cells. Litex has supplemented its reserves by acquiring a $5 million patent enforcement insurance policy from various syndicates of Lloyd's of London. The leading New York law firm of Pennie & Edmonds LLP is responsible for handling all Litex patent related matters.
Litex, with an executive office in Sherman Oaks, Calif., was established in August 1996 to commercialize innovative technologies that demonstrate strong market potential and offer cost-effective solutions to complex industrial and consumer needs. Litex's technology activities are based at its offices in Cambridge, Mass. More information about Litex and NTP assisted catalysis technology is available at the company's Web site at www.litexcorp.com, or by phoning the company at 818/817-7600.