After the Department of Appeal at the Japan Patent Office ruled in February that the Honeywell International patent for refrigerant 410A was invalid, Ineos Chemicals has entered the market and begun to market the refrigerant in Japan.
Refrigerant 410A is a room air conditioning cooling catalyst for which Honeywell has patents globally. However, in August 2006 Ineos Chemicals filed a request for a trial for patent invalidation and as a result, it was later ruled in February this year that the Honeywell patent was invalid.
Honeywell has further appealed the decision, though the Gas Review reports that in the meantime Ineos Chemicals has embarked on its marketing of the product and aims to market around 1,000 tonnes annually.
Refrigerant 410A is a gas substitute for HCFC22 scheduled for abolishment as a global warming substance, with the gas in question a 50/50 mixture of HFC125 and HFC32. Honeywell is the actual developer of 410A, with sales in Japan limited to just three companies until present, and the company remains resolute in its grounds for appeal.
... to continue reading you must be subscribed
