Severstal North America Successful on Two Patent Cases
08/30/2011 - The jury award won by Severstal North America in its defense of ArcelorMittal’s patent infringement assertions has been upheld by the trial judge. Severstal says it also continues to achieve favorable decisions in a patent reexamination proceeding regarding a patent owned by ArcelorMittal regarding the production of aluminum-coated, boron-bearing carbon steel.
Severstal North America announced today that the jury award it had won in its defense of ArcelorMittal’s patent infringement assertions has been upheld by the trial judge.
The trial judge ruled that the jury had sufficient facts to find ArcelorMittal’s patent (United States Patent 6,296,805) invalid and not infringed by Severstal’s commercial activity. This patent relates to hot rolled aluminum-coated, boron-bearing carbon steel of specified chemistries and having very specific mechanical properties.
The trial judge also ruled that there was no reason for a new trial as there was no error in the trial proceedings.
In a separate matter, Severstal reports that it continues to achieve favorable decisions in a patent reexamination proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) brought by Severstal regarding United States Patent 6564,604, owned by ArcelorMittal. The patent concerns some of the technology used in the production of aluminum-coated, boron-bearing carbon steel, which is predominantly used in high-strength automotive applications. While Severstal does not believe it infringes any of the claims, the company initiated the patent reexamination to put to rest concerns that have been voiced by some of its customers.
Earlier in the year, the USPTO affirmed its previous ruling and has now held that all of the claims of the ArcelorMittal patent are unpatentable for multiple reasons. Although ArcelorMittal has amended these claims and added new ones, Severstal is confident the claims will fall, as the others have. In anticipation of this decision, Severstal indicated that it has already developed the necessary expertise to provide the aluminum coated boron-bearing carbon steel per the automotive manufacturers’ requirements.
“While ArcelorMittal has amended its claims in light of this latest ruling, we are confident and pleased with the decision made by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in this matter,” said Sergei Kuznetsov, Chief Executive Officer of Severstal North America. “We have complete confidence in our ability to invalidate this patent once and for all, and sell these products. We are looking forward to better meeting the needs of our automotive customers as a result of this decision,” added Kuznetsov.
Severstal North America, a major U.S. steelmaker, specializes in the full range of high quality, light, flat-rolled products. Fully integrated operations and corporate headquarters are located in Dearborn, Mich., and a new state-of-the-art electric arc furnace operation in Columbus, Miss., serves the growing demand for steel in the southeastern United States. Severstal North America also has several joint ventures for the high quality, value-added, coated products, as well as Mountain State Carbon, a jointly owned coke-making facility. Severstal North America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OAO Severstal, one of the world’s largest vertically integrated steel and mining companies.
