Accused admits to infringing INVISTA’s PTA Technology in China

18-Jul-14

INVISTA has resolved a lawsuit against a Chinese engineer for misappropriation and infringement of trade secrets relating to a portion of INVISTA’s purified terephthalic acid (PTA) technology. The intellectual property lawsuit initiated in Beijing Intermediate People’s Court has been resolved. INVISTA licenses its proprietary PTA technology to Chinese and other companies, who use it to produce polyester-related products. During one of INVISTA’s technology projects for a Chinese licensee, an employee of a Chinese engineering design company misappropriated some of INVISTA’s proprietary information. INVISTA took swift action to rectify the issue, filing a lawsuit through the Beijing Intermediate People’s Court against the engineering design company’s now-former employee. The engineering design company cooperated with INVISTA in the case. INVISTA obtained a successful resolution shortly after filing the lawsuit, with the defendant agreeing to a number of requirements, including: Expressly acknowledging infringement of INVISTA’s trade secrets Agreeing not to work in any job or activity in which he could use or disclose his knowledge of INVISTA’s PTA technology Immediately and permanently ceasing any use or disclosure of INVISTA’s PTA technology Returning INVISTA’s trade secret materials and disclosing all sources for the materials Identifying any individual or entity to whom he disclosed INVISTA’s trade secrets and any individual or entity who he authorized to use or distribute INVISTA's trade secrets Notifying all parties that had access to INVISTA's trade secret materials that the materials contain INVISTA’s confidential and proprietary information, and instructing them to cease the use, disclosure or dissemination of the materials