Hitachi Metals Achieves Complete Victory in Recent Decision of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Download the PDF to see the original document from Hitachi Metal.

Original Declaration as below from Hitachi Webstie: 

Tokyo, Japan, January 15, 2019–Hitachi Metals, Ltd. (TOKYO : 5486)(ISIN : JP3786200000) achieved, with respect to sintered NdFeB magnet patents, a complete victory in a recent decision of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (the “Board”) ofthe U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The Board’s recent Final Written Decision in an inter partes review proceeding concluded that petitioners, Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Innuovo Magnetics Co.,Ltd., and Zhejiang Dongyang East Magnetic Rare Earth Co., Ltd., failed to establish unpatentability of any challenged claim of U.S. Patent No. 6,461,565 (the “’565 patent”). This follows the Board’s earlier denial of institution of an inter partes review proceeding requested bythe same petitioners against U.S. Patent No. 6,527,874 and marks complete victory for Hitachi Metals at the Board with respect to challenges by these petitioners. 

Hitachi Metals notes that, with the victory in the challenge to the ’565 patent, all four of thepatents asserted by Hitachi Metals in United States International Trade CommissionInvestigation No. 337-TA-855 remain in force, notwithstanding false assertions to the contrarymade by certain unlicensed manufacturers. Hitachi Metals is aware of public assertions thatincorrectly characterize the Hitachi Metals sintered NdFeB magnet patent portfolio, and ongoin gmedia campaigns by unlicensed and unauthorized sintered NdFeB magnet manufacturers alleging that their manufacture of sintered NdFeB magnets does not implicate Hitachi Metals’patents. Hitachi Metals rejects these assertions and conclusions and will pursue appropriate remedies to prevent infringement of its patents. 

Hitachi Metals owns more than 600 patents worldwide, including over 100 in the United Statesalone, that are important for the safe, efficient, commercial manufacture of sintered NdFeBmagnets. Hitachi Metals’ extensive patent portfolio, the result of substantial capital investment and research and development efforts devoted by Hitachi Metals, comprise both component and process patents spanning the entire manufacturing process for Hitachi Metals’ magnet productsand represent the core of Hitachi Metals’ competitiveness in the sintered NdFeB magnet industry. Hitachi Metals intends to continue to vigorously defend and protect its sintered NdFeBmagnet patent portfolio, and advance its views and positions on behalf of itself and its licensees and customers. 

For inquiries from the press:Corporate Communications Office, Hitachi Metals, Ltd.hmcc.sa@hitachi-metals.com