License
NdFeB patent | 1.Cross-License Agreement between Sumitomo and
¡¡ Magnequench
¡¡Sumitomo have entered into a Cross-License Agreement with Magnequench that covers their respective Nd-Fe-B magnet patents. Under this Cross-License Agreement, Sumitomo have a license under the Magnequench patents in the United States with respect to sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets. Most of Sumitomo's licensees(including BJMT) are also covered by this license with respect to Nd-Fe-B patents held by Magnequench. | 2.Expiration Dates of the Basic Patents held by Sumitomo and
¡¡Magnequench
¡¡Sumitomo holds many patents on Nd-Fe-B magnets and magnetic materials. Although some Sumitomo patents will begin to expire in 2003,other Sumitomo patents relating to Nd-Fe-B magnets will not expire until 2014.
¡¡The following table shows the expiration dates only for the major composition patents at present time: | Patentee | Patents | Japan | USA | Europe | Sumitomo | Basic RE-Fe-B Composition | 2003 | 2003* | 2003 | RE-Fe,Co-B Composition | 2008 | 2003* | 2007 | Nd,Dy-Fe,Co-B Composition | 2003 | 2010 | 2003 | RE-Fe-B Compound | 2003 | 2014** | N/A | RE-Fe,Co-B Compound | 2003 | 2014** | N/A | Magnequench | Basic RE-Fe-B Composition | 2003 | 2006 | 2004 | Including Co | 2004 | 2012 | N/A |
| *Covers Nd-Fe(,Co)-B anisotropic magnetic materials.
**USP 5,645,651 covers a compound having tetragonal crystal structure and is valid until July 8,2014. The validity and enforceability of this patent were verified in the US ITC proceeding where Sumitomo and Magnequench jointly won the exclusion order. This patent applies not only to Cocontaining compounds but also to compounds not including Co and/or compounds with additives such as Dy. |
| 3.Contact for futher information regarding Sumitomo's patents and patent licenses, please contact:(http://www.sumitomosma.com/)
Intellectual Property Department
Sumitomo Special Metals Co.,Ltd.
2-15-17 Egawa,Shimamoto-cho
Mishima-gun 618-0013 Osaka,Japan |
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