Agilent Settles Key Intellectual Property Case in China
July 31 2019 - 9:00PM
Business Wire
EChrom and Pannatek Admit to using Agilent
Technology Without Permission, Agree to Pay Damages and Cease Using
Agilent Technology
Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that the
company has reached agreement with China-based companies EChrom and
Pannatek, as well as certain former Agilent employees, regarding an
intellectual property dispute related to Agilent gas chromatography
technology.
“This is an extremely positive outcome for Agilent,” said
Konstantina Katcheves, Agilent vice president of intellectual
property and deputy general counsel. “IP is the lifeblood of our
industry, and Agilent is committed to doing all it can to protect
and defend its trade secrets and proprietary technologies. This
fundamental value allowed us to pursue this case over the course of
several years and overcome many obstacles in order to achieve
today’s positive result.”
As part of the settlement agreement, EChrom and Pannatek admit
that – without Agilent’s permission – they obtained from certain
former Agilent employees, technical drawings and/or technical
documents carrying Agilent trade secrets by violating the company’s
confidentiality requirements. The two companies then used
technologies that were identical to, or substantially similar to,
Agilent’s technical drawings and technical documents in the
development and manufacture of their gas chromatograph
products.
The settlement also requires the payment of damages to Agilent,
destruction of all technical drawings and technical documents
carrying any Agilent trade secrets, and for the companies to
immediately cease the production and sale of products using any
Agilent trade secrets. Specific financial terms of the settlement
were not disclosed.
“While IP protection in China still remains a concern for
foreign companies, we see the current government making significant
efforts toward improving IP enforcement,” said Katcheves. “Agilent
is obviously not only pleased with the outcome in this case, but
also with the improved environment for IP protection in China.”
The intellectual property involved in the case relates to
Agilent’s model 6890 Gas Chromatographs (GC). Agilent claimed that
former employees named in the lawsuit used intellectual property
based on 6890 GC technology to make and sell gas chromatographs for
EChrom.
“We’re very pleased with the resolution of this matter,” said
Shanya Kane, vice president and general manager, Agilent Gas Phase
Separations Division. “Our success as an industry leader depends on
heavily investing to create products incorporating advanced,
cutting-edge technology so that we can better serve our customers.
We cannot and will not allow others to inappropriately use Agilent
technology our teams have spent years developing and that provide
our products with a significant competitive advantage.”
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in life
sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. With more than
50 years of insight and innovation, Agilent instruments, software,
services, solutions, and people provide trusted answers to its
customers' most challenging questions. The company generated
revenues of $4.91 billion in fiscal 2018 and employs 15,500 people
worldwide. Information about Agilent is available at
www.agilent.com. Follow Agilent on LinkedIn, Twitter, and
Facebook.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190731006115/en/
MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Beermann +1 408 553 2914
tom.beermann@agilent.com
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