Stratasys
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Stratasys Inc, the North American-based subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd has announced it has brought suit for patent infringement against Afinia, a division of Microboards Technology LLC, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
Stratasys is seeking injunctive relief and damages for infringement of four of its 3D printing patents.
The complaint alleges that Afinia's sale, promotion and use of its Series H printer infringes patents directed to part porosity, liquefier structure, temperature control and tool paths for constructing part perimeters. The most recent Stratasys patent that Afinia is alleged to infringe was issued in January 2013.
"IP infringement discourages companies from investing in innovation,” said David Reis, Stratasys Ltd CEO. “Stratasys pioneered 3D printing and invests millions of dollars each year to develop our technologies. In 2012 alone, Stratasys Ltd invested $33.3 million (£20.3 million) or 9.3 percent of its revenues in R&D. We intend to protect that investment."
Stratasys' co-founder, chairman and CIO Scott Crump invented Fused Deposition Modeling, a technology that prints three dimensional objects from computer models by building them up in layers. This is the first time that Stratasys has commenced an action for infringement of its patents.
