Monday, May 12, 2008

Jury Validates Key Mannatech Technology Patents Involving Its Ambrotose (R) Glyconutrients Products

Glycoproducts International Inc., found to have committed patent and trademark infringement

A federal court jury in the Northern District of Texas found that Glycoproducts International Inc. had committed infringement of Mannatech's patent and trademark relating to Ambrotose(R).

The jury found Glycoproducts International Inc. had committed patent infringement on Mannatech's U.S. Patent No. 7,157,431. The jury found that this infringement was willful, and also ruled in favor of Mannatech on all patent validity issues presented to the jury. In addition, the jury ruled in favor of Mannatech relative to trademark infringement claims made in the case. Based on these rulings, Mannatech will also be pursuing an immediate injunction prohibiting Glycoproducts International Inc. from further engaging in the production, distribution and sale of its Glycomannan product, as well as the reimbursement of Mannatech's legal fees on this matter.

"We are extremely pleased by these outcomes and will continue to vigorously defend our technology and cutting-edge research and development in the groundbreaking field of glyconutrients," said Terry Persinger, president and CEO of Mannatech. "With 45 registered patents, five in the U.S. and 40 more internationally, and an additional 85 patents pending worldwide, we believe these favorable rulings reinforce our leadership position as a developer and provider of high-quality nutritional supplements."

The case stems from a suit filed by Mannatech in March 2006 against Glycoproducts International, formerly Glycobiotics International Inc., asserting that the company infringed on certain Mannatech Ambrotose patents originally issued in 2005 and 2007.

"A company's ability to stop patent infringement requires not only the issuance of a patent, but also a favorable court interpretation of the patent and a defense of its validity," said Keith Clark, general counsel at Mannatech. "This decision, coupled with the company's successful outcomes in the Markman hearing rulings last year, paves the way for protecting these critical Mannatech technology patents moving forward."

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This is of course yet another lie manufactured by Mannatech's Spin Mill, the judge has not made a final ruling in this case and The jury found NO infringement of the Mannatech's Original Patent which will allow Glycobiotics/Glycoproducts International to go on making Glyconutrients for years to come. The judge will have the last say as this is a civil case but my money is on the little guy.