Gas-to-liquids specialist Velocys has settled an intellectual property infringement case with use UK chemicals multinational Johnson Matthey.
Velocys filed the lawsuit against Catacel, a supplier of catalysts to Compact GTL Limited’s gas-to-liquids demonstration unit at Petrobras’ facility in Aracaju, Brazil, claiming infringement of several of the company’s US patents. Catacel was acquired by Johnston Matthey in September 2014.
Under the terms of the settlement, Johnson Matthey will pay Velocys an undisclosed amount in recognition of its intellectual property, while acknowledging the validity of Velocys’ patent rights and committing to respecting them.
Velocys had already undertaken successful litigation against Compact GTL in the UK after Compact infringed Velocys’s patent claims relating to Compact GTL’s UK pilot plant activities.
A company spokesperson said: “The company also holds a significant inventory of trade-secrets which it has gained through years of development and practice. Moreover, Velocys actively ensures it maintains strict freedom to operate for its own business.”
Velocys has a substantial patent portfolio comprising more than 800 patents, covering a broad range of countries, which protects key inventions relevant to smaller scale gas-to-liquids processing.
It employs more than 100 people at its commercial centre in Houston and technical facilities near Oxford, UK and Columbus, Ohio.
Its first commercial plant is expected to be completed next year.