BASF steps up its measures against patent infringements in the photoinitiator business
- BASF has contacted distributors offering counterfeit Irgacure® 819 products for sale
Ludwigshafen, Germany – April 15, 2013 – BASF is taking firm steps to stop the distribution of counterfeit versions of its Irgacure® 819 photoinitiator product. After repeatedly issuing notifications, BASF has contacted distributors identified as offering counterfeit Irgacure 819 products for sale and legally insisted that they cease marketing and selling these products. One distributor has already committed to withdrawing this product from the market with immediate effect.
Irgacure 819 is a well-known and widely-used photoinitiator that triggers chemical reactions when exposed to UV light which help speed up the drying process for coatings and adhesives. It is currently protected by several patents covering the synthesis process. These are meant to prevent other companies from using this process to produce Irgacure 819 and certain product formulations including aqueous suspensions and mixtures that contain other photoinitiators.
Following an intensive chemical analysis of the counterfeit products, BASF can prove that they were manufactured using BASF's patented synthesis process. According to BASF, these counterfeit versions are all produced in China and sold globally via distributors.
"We expect that all distributors will respect our patent rights and that no court rulings will be necessary," said Ralf Spettmann, head of BASF's Pigments and Resins business in Europe. "The observance of patent rights is extremely important for us to protect our intellectual property and to foster innovation in research and development.”
BASF is one of the world's most innovative companies. In 2012, BASF invested €1.75 billion in R&D projects and filed around 1,070 patents worldwide. In order to ensure that its customers continue to benefit from this innovation, BASF is committed to fighting all cases of patent infringement.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of €72.1 billion in 2012 and more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.P-13-236