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ZOLTEK CORP V. US
CAREY LEE MECHANICAL ENGINEERINGUC BERKELEY IEOR190G FALL 2008
PATENT INFRINGEMENT BY THE US GOVERNMENT – COMPOSITE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
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OUTLINE
Major Players
Composites
Dispute
Ruling
Impact
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THE MAJOR PLAYERS
Zoltek Corporation Manufactures Carbon
Composite Raw Material Panex – low cost Pyron – flame resistant
United States Lockheed Martin
Corporation Defense Contractor Aerospace Manufacturer
F22 Raptor http://www.aviationnews.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/f-22.jpg
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“COMPOSITES”
What are composites?1) two or more constituent materials2) significantly different physical or chemical properties
3) remain separate and distinct on a macroscopic level within the finished structure
carbon fiber plywood
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_material
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MAKING COMPOSITES
1) Heat polyacrylonitrile (PAN) until carbonized
2) Ply typeUniaxial Woven
3) ResinPre-preg
(sticker)Wet Layup
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MAKING A PART
4) Layers
0 °
90 °
45 °
Core
45 °
-45 °
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MAKING A PART
5) Debulk – Vacuum Bag- Removes excess resin
6) Oven - Cures resin- Cure cycles produce different properties
http://www.dcc-concept.com/images/fibres-cure-cyvle.jpg
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BENEFITS AND APPLICATIONS Lightweight Strong Configurable
Applications include: Airplanes Racing Cars Bikes
http://www.zoltek.com/products/panexuses.php
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PATENTS (1993)
Zoltek owns patents for “Controlled Surface Electrical Resistance Carbon Fiber Sheet Product”
Claim 1: A method of manufacturing a plurality of different value controlled resistivity
carbon fiber sheet products employing a carbonizable fiber starting material; said method comprising selectively partially carbonizing previously oxidized and stabilized fiber starting material for a predetermined time period in an oxygen free atmosphere within a furnace at selected temperature values…
Claim 2: …and thereafter processing the partially carbonized fibers into homogeneous
carbon fiber sheet products...
Basically: 1) Heat fiber until carbonized 2) Form fibers into sheets
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:Dr6N4kiSrP4J:www.fedcir.gov/opinions/04-5100.pdf+zoltek+v+us&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-aZ
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DISPUTE
US contracts Lockheed Martin to build the F22
Lockheed subcontracts to Japan1) Pre-preg silicon carbide sheets
Fibers are carbonized and made into sheets in Japan
Imported to US
2) Silicide fiber mat Fibers are carbonized made in Japan Processed into mats in US
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DISPUTE
1498(a)“…whenever an invention described in and covered by a patent of the United States is used. .. by or for the United States without license of the owner thereof or lawful right to use or manufacture the same, the owner’s remedy shall be by action against the United States in the United States Court of Federal Claims for the recovery of his reasonable and entire compensation for such use and manufacture.”
1498(c)“…does not apply to any claim arising in a foreign country.”
http://patentbaristas.com/archives/2007/04/22/zoltek-corp-v-us-protecting-patent-holders-from-government-infringement/
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DISPUTE (2006)
Zoltek brings suit against US under 1498(a)
Federal Circuit court bars Zoltek’s claim under 1498(c)
“We conclude that under § 1498, the United States is liable for the use of a method patent only when it practices every step of the claimed method in the United States.”
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RULING
Court directs Zoltek to pursue case as a taking in violation of the Fifth Amendment
Zoltek amends its complaint Federal Circuit denies claim based on
271(a)“a process cannot be used ‘within’ the United States as required by the [infringement statutes] unless each of the steps is performed within this country.”
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IMPACT
Since one of the claimed processes (fibers manufactured in Japan) occurred outside the US
NO INFRINGEMENT under 271(a) 1498(a) does not apply
US government and contractors have an easy way around patents outsource at least one step
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QUESTIONS?