DTM(TM) Corporation Says EOS Patent Infringement Suit Without Merit DTM LOGO DTM logo. (PR NewsFoto)[AS] AUSTIN, TX USA 08/05/1998
18 December 2000
DTM(TM) Corporation Says EOS Patent Infringement Suit Without Merit DTM LOGO DTM logo. (PR NewsFoto)[AS] AUSTIN, TX USA 08/05/1998
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 18 DTM Corporation
announced today it had learned that EOS GmbH of Planegg, Germany filed suit on
December 15, 2000 against DTM in the United States District Court for the
Central District of California, alleging infringement of three United States
patents. DTM believes this latest legal maneuver by EOS is without merit.
John S. Murchison, III, President and CEO of DTM, said "In 1997, EOS
informed DTM that they had obtained the right to enforce certain U.S. patents
and in early 1998 notified us that they may bring patent infringement
litigation against DTM. The patents are owned by 3D Systems Corporation of
Valencia, California and are reputedly licensed to EOS. In early 2000, we
received a letter from EOS threatening imminent patent infringement litigation
against DTM. In light of that letter, in January 2000 we filed a complaint
for declaratory judgment that DTM does not infringe on any valid claim of U.S.
patents then asserted by EOS. DTM dismissed that declaratory judgment suit,
without prejudice, in mid-November because the threats by EOS had ceased."
"When we filed suit in January of this year we stated that the patents
cited by EOS cover a process for converting liquid resins into solid objects.
We also said that we are very familiar with the patents and are hard pressed
to understand how EOS believes they can be applied to our selective laser
sintering process that uses powders to manufacture solid objects. We continue
to stand by these statements and expect to prevail should this new round of
litigation between the two parties go forward."
About DTM Corporation
Manufacturers and service bureaus around the world use DTM's
Sinterstation(R) systems to rapidly create three-dimensional prototypes,
parts, molds, tooling, and casting patterns directly from 3-D CAD files. The
Sinterstation uses a process called SLS(R) selective laser sintering. Here, a
CO2 laser fuses plastic, metal and ceramic powders to rapidly produce parts in
an additive, layer-by-layer process. (http://www.dtm-corp.com)
For more information
Contact DTM Corporation, 1611 Headway Circle, Building 2, Austin, TX, USA
78754; phone +1-512-339-2922; fax +1-512-832-6753; web site:
http://www.dtm-corp.com; email connerc@dtm-corp.com.
Forward Looking Statement and Safe Harbor Disclaimer:
*Certain of the statements are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
and adversely from those set forth in the forward-looking statements,
including, without limitation: the Company's intellectual property and
proprietary rights may not be valid or infringe the rights of others; DTM has
significant international operations with the inherent exposures and the
Company's stock price could be volatile, regardless of DTM's financial
performance. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important
factors is not exclusive. The Company does not undertake to update any
written or oral forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time
by or on behalf of the Company.
SLS(R) and Sinterstation(R) are registered trademarks and DTM is a
trademark of DTM Corporation.
Contact:
Charles Conner +1-512-339-2922
connerc@dtm-corp.com