| ASIA-PACIFIC REPORT |
|
ITC Rules in Favor of Hangzhou Sanhe
|
| THE US INTERNATIONAL Trade Commission (ITC) has ruled in favor of Hangzhou Sanhe Food Co. Ltd. and Hangzhou Sanhe Food Additives Factory in a patent infringement suit filed against the companies by Nutrinova, a subsidiary of Hoechst AG. After a two-week try, Sanhe and its legal team led by Gary Hnath of the US firm Venable Attorneys at Law, convinced judge Harris of the ITC that there was no infringement Of the disputed process or product patents and that Nutrinova¡¯s product patent is invalid. Venable Attorneys believe the case is the first time that government authorities in China have permitted an inspection of a manufacturing plant in connection whit patent litigation in the US. The decision is pending review by the ITC. Nutrinova Nutrition specialties and Food GmbH and Nutrinova Inc. filed suit against Sanhe for patent infringement in October 1997.Nutrinova alleged an infringement of two patents covering a process for making acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) and products consisting of blends of Ace-K and other specified sweeteners. The recent ruling will make Sanhe a competitive player in the multibillion-dollar artificial sweetener market in the US. :¡° We are pleased with the favorable ruling and believe that this will give American companies and consumers an excellent option for acesulfame potassium¡± says Duanhou Zong, Sanhe¡¯s chairman. Ace-K, an artificial sweetener, has Food and Drag Administration approval for use in diet beverages (CMR 7/6/98,Pg-5). Hangzhou Sanhe Food Additives Factory are Located in Hangzhou, Zhejing province, where they manufacture, sell and export food additives, including acesulfatme proteins. Sanhe¡¯s products are distributed in the US by Dingsheng Inc. and HRS international Inc. |
