The European Patent Office confirms the validity of Arkema's Patent for the manufacture of Difluoromethane
The European Patent Office (EPO) Opposition Division has confirmed the validity of Arkema's Patent EP 751107, thereby protecting the Company's process for manufacturing difluoromethane, an industrial refrigerant marketed under the tradename Forane®.
The EPO decision maintains Arkema's European patent as initially granted, rejecting the action brought in Europe to challenge its validity. This Arkema European patent is the counterpart of American patent US 5900514, currently under litigation in the United States against the company Great Lakes.
By confirming Arkema as the rightful owner of this difluoromethane manufacturing process, the EPO decision reinforces the value of Arkema's patent portfolio in this field. Recently, the EPO Board of Appeal had already ruled in favour of Arkema in respect of another European Patent (EP 751108) also for the manufacture of difluoromethane.
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