Asylum Research Announces Appeal in European Opposition to Veeco Patent.SANTA BARBARA Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. , Calif. -- Asylum Research, a premier manufacturer of atomic force microscopes (AFMs), announced today that it will appeal a decision of the Opposition Division of the European Patent Office rejecting its opposition to a Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO VECO Vernier Engine Cut Off :NASDQ) European patent for tapping with phase imaging. Asylum Research filed its opposition in May 2004 on the grounds that the patent is invalid. The EPO EPO see erythropoietin. EPO Erythropoietin, see there does not consider infringement issues. "We are obviously disappointed with the decision, but it is one that was not unexpected since the three patent examiners (judges are not used) hearing this opposition included the examiner who originally granted the patent -- as is normal. We expect a more balanced treatment from the appeals board where a large percentage of opposed patents are overturned or significantly limited in scope," said Dick Clark, co-founder and CFO See Chief Financial Officer. of Asylum Research. Roger Proksch, co-founder and President of Asylum Research, commented, "In 2003, faced with numerous high profile sales lost to our MFP-3D[TM], Veeco had a choice to make - innovate or litigate. Unfortunately, they chose litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. . This choice forced us to engage in the European opposition and to counter sue Veeco in the US. We founded our company to provide the world's best, most innovative AFM (Atomic Force Microscope) A device used to image materials at the atomic level. AFMs are used to solve processing and materials problems in electronics, telecom, biology and other high-tech industries. instrumentation. The steadily increasing sales of the MFP-3D at prices comparable to Veeco's AFMs is a testimony to the success we have had in carrying out this mission. We couldn't do that if we copied Veeco's intellectual property." Asylum Research, a privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. , manufactures advanced scientific instrumentation, including AFMs/Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPMs), for nanoscale science and technology. (An AFM/SPM is one of the premier instruments used for measuring surfaces and surface properties at the nanometer level). For additional information, please contact Terry Mehr, Director of Marketing, Asylum Research, 6310 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara, CA 93117, 805-696-6466, www.AsylumResearch.com, terry@AsylumResearch.com. MFP-3D is a trademark of Asylum Research. |
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