MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Honeywell has announced that the Intellectual Property High Court of Japan has upheld Honeywell’s patent relating to R-410A refrigerant in Japan. The court reversed a decision by the Board of Appeal of the Japan Patent Office regarding patent JP 1877437 relating to the HFC refrigerant, which is widely used in stationary air conditioning.

“We are very pleased that the court upheld Honeywell’s patent, which protects Honeywell’s significant investment in developing this refrigerant,” said David Diggs, global business director for Honeywell Fluorine Products. “Honeywell, as always, intends to vigorously protect its patent rights against infringement.”

The Japanese patent is currently in force in Japan. Any importation, offer for sale, sale (including resale), or use in Japan of R-410A not acquired from a licensed source could give rise to liability for patent infringement.

Honeywell sells R-410A under the Genetron brand name. R-410A, a non-ozone depleting substance, was patented by Honeywell in 1994 in Japan as a replacement for R-22. Honeywell has licensed its intellectual property relating to R-410A refrigerant to other manufacturers.

For more information, visit www.honeywell.com.

Publication date:02/01/2010