April 2010-Saint-Gobain Sekurit obtains $24.2 million in windshield patent infringement case

Saint-Gobain Sekurit obtains $24.2 million in windshield patent infringement case - Court doubles damages verdict and awards attorney fees

A U.S. court recently doubled the damages to be paid to Saint-Gobain Sekurit by windshield maker Xinyi Automobile Glass Co. Ltd for windshield patent infringement. The increased damages, in addition to almost $2 million in attorney fees plus costs, bring the total award obtained by Saint-Gobain to $24.2 million dollars. In the original judgment, on November 10 last year, a federal jury in the Northern District Court of Ohio returned a verdict against Xinyi Glass for willfully infringing two Saint-Gobain Sekurit patents. These patents, covering the windshield design and installation, concern 14 models of automobiles, mostly those of Volvo, Audi and Volkswagen. The original damages award was $10.9 million.

The jury found that Xinyi, by importing automotive windshields and selling them to windshield repair companies, infringed Saint-Gobain’s U.S. patents, granted in October 2001 and March 1992.

In 2009, Saint-Gobain’s Flat Glass business filed more than 140 patent applications worldwide as part of its dynamic innovation strategy. This case emphasizes Saint-Gobain’s determination to protect its intellectual property rights in all parts of the world.