LX Hausys won the second trial in a patent invalidation suit related to insulation materials. It means the original technology that first developed and mass-produced high-performance PF (phenolic foam) insulation in Korea has been legally recognized as legitimate.
On the 12th, according to LX Hausys, the Intellectual Property High Court recently ruled in the second trial to recognize the validity of LX Hausys' patent.
Earlier, in Mar. 2022, LX Hausys filed a patent infringement injunction lawsuit against latecomer Myungil Foam based on its phenolic foam insulation manufacturing technology that enhanced eco-friendliness while improving thermal insulation performance. In Jun. 2022, Myungil Foam filed for a trial to invalidate the patent registration.
The Intellectual Property High Court said LX Hausys' patent meets the written description requirements and presents new technical challenges and solutions compared with existing insulation technologies, judging that validity is recognized on the grounds that it simultaneously achieved improved thermal conductivity and enhanced eco-friendliness through the development of new polymerization technology and parameters. Accordingly, Myungil Foam's claim for patent invalidation was not accepted, and the technical merits and validity of LX Hausys' patent rights were recognized.
The patent whose validity was recognized this time is "phenolic foam, its manufacturing method, and insulation containing it." It is LX Hausys' core original technology that first mass-produced eco-friendly, high-thermal-insulation PF insulation in Korea. Its distinguishing feature is that it secures both thermal performance and eco-friendliness.
With this second-trial ruling, LX Hausys can protect the intellectual property related to high-performance PF insulation technology that it has accumulated by investing massive research and development (R&D) expense over a long period, first mass-producing PF insulation in Korea in 2013 and continuing efforts to improve its performance.
An LX Hausys official said, "As the Intellectual Property High Court ruling recognizes our technological advancement and legitimate patent rights, we will continue to focus on developing insulation products needed by the market and customers and actively protect the related intellectual property rights."