VALENCIA, Calif., Apr. 19, 2002 -
3D Systems Corp. (Nasdaq: TDSC) today announced it filed court papers in two separate actions on April 16 and one on April 17 seeking injunctions defending its laser sintering (LS) patent rights.
The first action was filed in Federal District Court in Texas against Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Systems of Nevada, Iowa. 3D Systems asserts that AMES is infringing 3D Systems’ patents by using LS powder materials supplied by Electro Optical Systems (EOS) GmbH of Planegg, Germany, and its North American subsidiary EOS of North America Inc. (EOS NA)
3D Systems’ patents prohibit the use in the U.S. of EOS powder materials in SLS® systems currently sold by 3D Systems or previously by DTM Corp., which it acquired last year.
“We believe we have overwhelming evidence to document our claims of patent infringement by AMES,” said Brian K. Service, 3D Systems’ president and CEO.
In the ongoing EOS v. DTM/3D Systems action in Federal District Court in California, 3D Systems filed a motion seeking a preliminary injunction to stop EOS’ selling activities of LS powders in the U.S.
“After EOS learned it had not been selected by 3D Systems to receive a patent license to market LS technology in the U.S. under the DOJ consent decree, it recommenced its sales activities here,” Service said. “We intend to vigorously defend our patent rights in the U.S. and abroad to prevent misuse of our intellectual property such as this.
“Contrary to public statements by EOS, 3D Systems remains fixed in its opinion that EOS does not have any rights to DTM patents and licensed rights, all of which were acquired by 3D Systems in the acquisition of DTM,” Service said. “The fact remains that EOS does not have the right to sell laser sintering systems in the U.S.”
Prior to the April 16 filing by 3D Systems, the Federal District Court in California has ruled to confirm 3D Systems’ rights to develop and sell SLS systems pursuant to a 1997 licensing agreement between 3D Systems and EOS.
In the third action, on April 17, 3D Systems filed a patent infringement suit also seeking damages and an injunction against EOS NA for the sale of LS powders in the U.S.
About 3D Systems
Founded in 1986, 3D Systems provides solid imaging products and solutions that help reduce the time and cost of designing products and facilitate direct and indirect manufacturing. Its systems utilize patented technologies that create physical objects from digital input.
3D Systems currently offers the ThermoJet® solid object printer, SLA® (stereolithography) systems and SLS® (selective laser sintering) systems, as well as related software and materials. Product pricing in the U.S. ranges from $49,995, for the ThermoJet printer, to $799,000 for the high-end SLA 7000 system. The company licenses the complementary 3D Keltool® process, a method for producing steel mold inserts, and currently is developing systems that use composite paste materials for direct manufacturing.
More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com, or by phoning 888/337-9786, extension 810, or 661/295-5600 internationally. An investor packet can be obtained by calling 800/757-1799.
Note to editors: ThermoJet, SLA, SLS, Keltool and the 3D logo are registered trademarks of 3D Systems Inc.
Certain statements in this news release may include forward-looking statements which express the expectation, prediction, belief or projection of 3D Systems. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance and achievement of 3D Systems to be materially and adversely different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements contained in this release and that may affect the company’s prospects in general include, but are not limited to: world economic conditions; the ability to timely and cost-effectively identify and obtain or independently develop resins adequate for use with 3D Systems’ products; the funding of amounts of capital adequate to provide for the working capital needs of the company; actions of competitors and customers; reliance on single or limited suppliers; and such other factors as are described in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2001, and 3D Systems’ current report on Form 8-K filed on March 21, 2002.
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