3D SYSTEMS FILES ACTIONS TO DEFENDLASER SINTERING PATENT RIGHTS.

3D Systems Corp. (Nasdaq:TDSC) has announced it filed court papers in two separate actions on April 16 and one on April 17 seeking injunctions defending its laser sintering (LS) patent rights.

The first action was filed in Federal District Court in Texas against Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Systems of Nevada, Iowa. 3D Systems asserts that AMES is infringing 3D Systems' patents by using LS powder materials supplied by Electro Optical Systems (EOS) GmbH of Planegg, Germany, and its North American subsidiary EOS of North America Inc. (EOS NA)

3D Systems' patents prohibit the use in the U.S. of EOS powder materials in SLS systems currently sold by 3D Systems or previously by DTM Corp., which it acquired last year.

"We believe we have overwhelming evidence to document our claims of patent infringement by AMES," said Brian K. Service, 3D Systems' president and CEO.

In the ongoing EOS v. DTM/3D Systems action in Federal District Court in California, 3D Systems filed a motion seeking a preliminary injunction to stop EOS' selling activities of LS powders in the U.S.

"After EOS learned it had not been selected by 3D Systems to receive a patent license to market LS technology in the U.S. under the DOJ consent decree, it recommenced its sales activities here," Service said. "We intend to vigorously defend our patent rights in the U.S. and abroad to prevent misuse of our intellectual property such as this.

"Contrary to public statements by EOS, 3D Systems remains fixed in its opinion that EOS does not have any rights to DTM patents and licensed rights, all of which were acquired by 3D Systems in the acquisition of DTM," Service said. "The fact remains that EOS does not have the right to sell laser sintering systems in the U.S."

Prior to the April 16 filing by 3D Systems, the Federal District Court in California has ruled to confirm 3D Systems' rights to develop and sell SLS systems pursuant to a 1997 licensing agreement between 3D Systems and EOS.

In the third action, on April 17, 3D Systems filed a patent infringement suit also seeking damages and an injunction against EOS NA for the sale of LS powders in the U.S.