United States Patent & Trademark Office Questions Validity of CMI Patent.
May 2007 Cartersville, GA
At the request of Northstar Vinyl Products, LLC the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has ordered reexamination of all claims of one of Crane Materials International's (CMI) United States patents – U.S. Patent No. 6,575,667 (the '667 patent).
The USPTO agreed with Northstar and concluded that there exist several substantial new questions of patentability with respect to the ‘667 patent. The USPTO decision was based on new prior art not previously considered by the USPTO during initial examination of the ‘667 patent, and was also based on prior art already considered by the USPTO.
CMI and its '667 patent appeared to gain considerable notoriety when CMI flooded the sheet pile industry with a form letter from its attorneys threatening litigation against companies purchasing sheet piling from Northstar, or manufacturing or purchasing sheet piling, that they contended infringe the ‘667 patent.
"We are confident that the information presented to the USPTO will result in a favorable resolution for Northstar and its customers", said Jeff Moreau, Northstar's President.
A copy of the Order Granting the Ex Parte Rexamination can be reviewed below.
Download the official USPTO document. Or, click inside the box below and scroll to view it now.
