DuPont gets US Federal Court to stop Kolon from manufacturing Heracron? aramid fiber for 20 years

The U.S. Federal Court in Richmond, Va. has ordered Kolon Industries to stop producing and selling their Heracron aramid fiber. The injunction came on the heels of DuPont’s $920 million damages award from last September which reaffirms that Kolon Industries willfully and maliciously misappropriated DuPont’s proprietary Kevlar technology, according to Thomas L. Sager, DuPont senior vice president and general counsel in a statement.  “The trial court ordered Kolon to not produce, market or sell any para-aramid fiber products, worldwide, for 20 years; it also permanently enjoined Kolon from using any of the trade secrets taken without necessary permission from DuPont. Additionally, Kolon is given Oct. 1 to remove and return DuPont’s trade secrets or face contempt proceedings.

Thomas G. Powell, president of DuPont Protection Technologies, added, "We are pleased that the judge has enforced the protection of our Kevlar? trade secrets. DuPont has devoted more than 40 years and considerable expense to research and refine Kevlar? to make it the world’s most trusted aramid fiber. It is important not only to us but also to our customers that we are able to continue to innovate and invest in our business, our brands and our latest technologies, including our new facility to make Kevlar near Charleston, S.C. The judge’s order sends a clear message to Kolon and others that they cannot benefit from the theft of our trade secrets."

DuPont has been engaged in litigation with Kolon for over three years. In January 2012, the trial judge in DuPont’s lawsuit against Kolon for theft of trade secrets denied Kolon’s motions for a new trial and for a reversal or reduction of the jury’s $920 million award.

In addition to the latest injunction ruling, DuPont expects to recover attorneys’ fees spent pursuing Kolon’s theft of the trade secrets DuPont spent decades developing. DuPont is pursuing proceedings to enforce and collect on the judgment.

Groundbreaking research by DuPont scientists in the field of liquid crystalline polymer solutions in 1965 formed the basis for the commercial preparation of Kevlar  aramid fiber, best known for its military and law enforcement applications. In addition, Kevlar? is used for many commercial and industrial applications, ranging from tires and fiber optic cables to sports equipment and spacesuits.