Germany's Supreme Court Rules in Solvay's Favor on Patent Case With Neo
14.4.2021 10:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
On April 6, 2021, Germany's Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) ruled in Solvay's favor on a patent invalidation case filed by Neo Chemicals & Oxides (Europe) Ltd. against a patent pertaining to ceric oxide products comprising catalysts for minimizing emissions of the latest generation automotive engines, and catalysts comprising such ceric oxide products.
The appeal case at the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) reverses an invalidation decision by the Federal Patent Court (Bundespatentgericht) in January 2019 related to the German designation of the patent EP 1 435 338 B1 . This appeal decision is final and conclusive (docket number X ZR 54/19 – BGH).
The Regional Court of Mannheim (Landgericht Mannheim) had already ruled in December 2017 that Neo Chemicals & Oxides (Europe) Ltd. (“Neo”) was infringing Solvay's patent by supplying certain cerium oxide materials in Germany. In its judgment, the Mannheim court prohibited Neo and two of its directors from offering, putting on the market, using, or importing (or possessing for such reasons) the infringing products in Germany. The court had further declared that Neo was liable for damages in respect of their past sales of such infringing ceric oxide products and needed to provide an accounting of their infringing activities. Neo appealed the decision to the Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht) in Karlsruhe in January 2018. The infringement appeal had been stayed by the Karlsruhe Court pending the decision of the Federal Court of Justice. As validity has now been finally and conclusively established, the German infringement appeal proceedings will be resumed. Moreover, Solvay will seek damages for the infringement of the patent in the German courts.
As previously announced, UK courts in two instances also found the patent to be valid and infringed by Neo. Another UK court case is underway to determine the amount of damages that Neo owes Solvay on the basis of this infringement.
Neo is part of the Chemicals and Oxides Segment of the Neo Performance Materials Inc. group. The production facilities of the Chemicals and Oxides Segment are in Zibo, China, and Sillamäe, Estonia.
Respect of intellectual property rights is essential for free and healthy competition. Solvay will continue to take action to enforce its rights against infringers. Solvay will help its customers to cope with any difficulties due to exposure to corresponding compliance risks by Neo.
About Solvay
Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. With more than 23,000 employees in 64 countries, Solvay bonds people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress. The Group seeks to create sustainable shared value for all, notably through its Solvay One Planet plan crafted around three pillars: protecting the climate, preserving resources and fostering better life. The Group’s innovative solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, health care applications, water and air purification systems. Founded in 1863, Solvay today ranks among the world’s top three companies for the vast majority of its activities and delivered net sales of €9 billion in 2020. Solvay is listed on Euronext Brussels (SOLB) and Paris and in the United States, where its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a Level I ADR program. Learn more at www.solvay.com.
Follow us on Twitter @SolvayGroup
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005292/en/
Contact information
Media relations
Peter Boelaert
+32 479 309 159
peter.boelaert@solvay.com
Jeanette Stellbrink
+49 T+49 511 857 2446
jeanette.stellbrink@solvay.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
MidOcean Concludes 2026 Equity Raise, Securing More Than $4 Billion of Equity Commitments to Accelerate Global LNG Growth Strategy1.10.2026 14:00:00 EEST | Press release
MidOcean Energy ("MidOcean" or the "Company"), a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company formed and managed by EIG, today announced the conclusion of its 2026 equity capital raise, securing more than $4 billion of closed and pending commitments over the last 12 months from new strategic and institutional investors, as well as significant re-ups from existing investors. The capital committed significantly exceeded the Company's original target of $2 billion, reflecting continued confidence in MidOcean's strategy, portfolio, team and long-term growth outlook. The raise includes commitments from strategic investors, sovereign-linked institutions and financial investors. Among the new investors are the Private Department of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Idemitsu Kosan, NYK Line (through Diamond Gas MidOcean), The Arab Energy Fund, Shizuoka Gas and certain Korean institutional investors. The proceeds are expected to enhance MidOcean's balance sheet flexibility and position the Company t
LISTERINE ® Launches Oral Care Counts This World Smile Day as Oral Disease Cases Rise to 3.73 Billion1.10.2026 13:45:00 EEST | Press release
Nearly half the world’s population is affected by oral disease – and the number of cases is rising. This World Smile Day, LISTERINE® is launching Oral Care Counts – a multiyear education and advocacy initiative showing why oral health is an essential part of overall health and how practical daily habits, including a three-step oral care routine of brushing, flossing and rinsing, can support better oral health.The multiyear education and advocacy campaign is designed to help more people understand the essential role oral health plays in overall health and wellbeing, and how realistic daily habits can make prevention more achievable. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261001163338/en/ Oral Care Counts aims to bring together healthcare professionals, advocates, policymakers, community organizations, and consumers to raise understanding of oral health as an essential part of overall health and wellbeing. The initiati
Samsung Bioepis and Teva Expand Strategic Partnership to Advance Up to Six Potential Biosimilar Candidates1.10.2026 11:30:00 EEST | Press release
Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) today announced that the companies have entered into a global license, development, and commercialization agreement for up to six potential biosimilar candidates, with two confirmed investigational biosimilar candidates, SB41, a biosimilar candidate referencing Fasenra®1 (benralizumab), and SB44, a biosimilar candidate referencing Ilaris®2 (canakinumab). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261001835078/en/ Under the terms of the agreement, Samsung Bioepis will be responsible for the development, regulatory registration, and manufacture of the biosimilars, while Teva will be responsible for commercialization in global markets, including the United States (U.S.), Europe, and Canada. The companies have agreed to an option for expanding the partnership to other territories. This agreement reinforces the long-standing and successful
FPT and ZEBOX Partner to Advance AI and Sustainable Innovation in Logistics1.10.2026 11:00:00 EEST | Press release
FPT, a global technology and IT services provider, and ZEBOX, the international innovation accelerator initiated by the CMA CGM Group, have entered into a three-year strategic partnership to develop and deploy AI-powered solutions for the transport and logistics industry. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261001622214/en/ The partnership was formalized during the Vietnam - France Leaders Forum, held as part of Vietnam’s General Secretary and State President’s official visit to France. The partnership will combine FPT’s expertise in artificial intelligence, automation and large-scale digital transformation with ZEBOX’s innovation network and its close connection to the CMA CGM Group’s global transport and logistics ecosystem. The partners will focus on shipping, port operations, logistics, supply chain management and clean energy. A first joint initiative in Vietnam As a first step, FPT, ZEBOX and CMA CGM Vietnam
Telekom Srbija (Group) Is Building City-Scale Digital Infrastructure for EXPO 20271.10.2026 11:00:00 EEST | Press release
Telekom Srbija Group is building telecommunications infrastructure at the EXPO 2027 Belgrade site whose mobile segment is comparable in scale to that of an entire urban district. On a site that previously had no telecommunications infrastructure, more than 14 kilometres of telecommunications ducting and over 46 kilometres of high-capacity fibre-optic network have been delivered so far, together with 35 advanced radio access network sites. The digital ecosystem, based on 5G Standalone and Wi-Fi 7 technologies, is designed to provide reliable, secure and high-speed connectivity for more than 135 participating countries, the media, exhibitors and the four million visitors expected over the 93 days of EXPO 2027. For Telekom Srbija Group, however, this project is more than an infrastructure undertaking. As a strategic partner of EXPO 2027, the company intends to use one of the largest international events ever held in Serbia as a platform for presenting its technological capabilities and bu
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom