PulPac, the home of the Dry Molded Fiber®, has validated the strength of its intellectual property in two recent patent cases, involving its originally filed method for Dry Molded Fiber. One case before the European Patent Office (EPO) and the other before the Swedish Patent Office (PRV). Both confirmed that the claimed inventions are novel and involve inventive step.
Marcus Palm, Deputy CEO of PulPac, stated, “We know that our patent portfolio is strong, and we have now demonstrated its value and resilience before the relevant patent authorities.”
As an R&D and licensing company, intellectual property is the foundation of PulPac’s business model. Today, the company holds a portfolio of 64 patent families and 380 granted patents in 58 countries. Additionally, approximately 40 applications are pending, and with an average filing rate of 1–2 patent applications per month, further filings are on the horizon.
The core claims of granted and pending early patents and applications generally cover:
- Cellulose fibers arranged (often using air as a carrying medium) in a blank or a sheet
- Pressing the blank or sheet with a pressure of at least 1 MPa (ranging from 1 to 100 MPa in some cases)
- Heating the blank before or during pressing to temperatures between 100–300°C (typically 100–200°C)
In the EPO case, PulPac defended the originally filed method claims corresponding to the above scope of protection. In the PRV case the aforementioned method claims - with additional features for sprinkling additives onto the fibers – were defended. This recent success is part of a consistent track record; over the years, several parties have challenged PulPac’s patents and applications, in various ways and yet the company continuously prevails in protecting its rights.
Emphasizing a balanced approach that both encourages industry collaboration and steadfastly safeguards intellectual property, Marcus Palm added, “Our purpose is always to be inclusive and to work together with licensees to drive the shift towards responsible fiber-based packaging. Our patent portfolio is a strategic approach to ensure that this transition is achieved in a viable way. We will always protect our, and our licensees’, right to use our technology, including taking preventive actions against any unlawful use of PulPac’s Intellectual Property Rights.”
He concluded, “PulPac licensees can operate within the field of Dry Molded Fiber with confidence, and for those looking to engage commercially in dry forming who have not yet secured a license, we welcome you to get in touch.”