AlliedSignal Settles Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Hoechst Celanese
27 January 1999
AlliedSignal Settles Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Hoechst Celanese
PETERSBURG, Va.--Jan. 26, 1999--AlliedSignal Inc. said today that it has settled the patent infringement lawsuit it brought against Hoechst Celanese in late 1997 in which it charged Hoechst Celanese with infringing upon the company's patents for improved DSP(R) polyester tire yarn and tire cord.
AlliedSignal declined to provide details of the settlement but indicated it had received substantial value.
"We believe the settlement is fair for both parties and should benefit both the industry and our customers. AlliedSignal has invested heavily in research and development and has developed an extensive global DSP polyester patent portfolio, and we have every intention of enforcing those patent rights," said Fred Festa, vice president of AlliedSignal's Performance Fibers business.
According to AlliedSignal, DSP tire yarn is the preferred yarn for use in carcass reinforcement for radial passenger car tires worldwide. AlliedSignal indicated that dimensionally stable polyester improves tire uniformity, appearance, and performance properties by improving resistance to stretching and length changes during tire curing.
The company said that it would be monitoring products produced by other DSP producers worldwide to make sure that no one was violating its patents. "If we find that our patents are being infringed, we will take appropriate action," Festa said.
AlliedSignal Performance Fibers was formed in January 1998 as a global business unit bringing together the company's broad portfolio of specialty fibers -- including nylon, polyester, Spectra(R) fibers and PEN fibers -- for consumer, industrial and military uses.
AlliedSignal Inc. is an advanced technology and manufacturing company serving customers worldwide with aerospace and automotive products, chemicals, fibers, plastics and advanced materials. It is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. The company employs 70,400 people in some 40 countries.
AlliedSignal was named the best diversified company by Forbes global magazine; the most admired global aerospace company by Fortune magazine; and one of the 100 best companies to work for by Fortune. Additional information on the company is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.alliedsignal.com.
DSP(R) polyester is a registered trademark of AlliedSignal Inc.