The long-standing dispute between two companies at the centre of gas-assisted injection moulding moved a step further towards settlement with Gibraltar-based Melea stating, through its lawyers, that it would no longer threaten patent infringement actions against UK processors using the technology of Cinpres Gas Injection (CGI, GB-Cheshire; www.cinpres.com). The undertaking has been given to CGI following a threat against one of its customers that alleged patent infringement without there being any detailed explanation or justification of Melea´s complaint.

Similar unjustified threats against CGI and its customers have been made previously by Melea, which is the registered assignee of patents also marketed by Gain Technologies, without specific reference to patents or claims within the patents. According to CGI chairman Terry Pearson, “This is a significant climb-down by Melea, and hopefully they will cease making any more outlandish and unfounded accusations.”

Despite this statement of intent, there is uneasy peace between the two companies. Cinpres Gas Injection says it will continue with its application for a declaration of non-infringement of Melea´s European patent EP 0 424 435 covering overflow moulding by its plastic expulsion process. Melea has filed its infringement claim in the European patent court in Dusseldorf; CGI plans to file its submission to the UK patent court in London.