Cambrios Attempt to Invalidate C3Nano’s NanoGlue™ Patent Fails Before U.S. Patent Trials and Appeals Board
HAYWARD, CA – August 15, 2019 – C3Nano Inc., the world’s performance leader in silver nanowire-based transparent conductive inks and films used in flexible displays, touchscreens and other products, today announced that it has defeated an attempt by Cambrios Advanced Materials (CAM) to invalidate US Patent No. 9,183,968, one of several key patents in C3Nano’s extensive international intellectual property (IP) portfolio related to its proprietary NanoGlue™ fusing technology, which is required to achieve optimal performance for nanoscale metallic transparent conductors. C3Nano thus maintains the world’s most important IP portfolio related to silver nanowire-based transparent conductive inks and films, and once again demonstrates its unique advantages and industry leadership.
On August 9, 2019, the U.S. Patent Trials and Appeals Board rejected institution of inter partes review (IPR) requested in a Petition filed by CAM on February 1, 2019. The denial of institution issued by the Board brings an end to the proceeding filed by CAM. The Board ruled that the arguments presented by CAM failed to meet the standard of a reasonable likelihood that the Petitioner (CAM) would prevail to establish invalidity of commercially significant claims and intellectual property.
NanoGlue technology is the key differentiator enabling the use of silver nanowire-based conductive films and inks for advanced commercial applications such as ultra-high resolution flexible screens, curved screens, wearables, and other next-generation display products.
In early 2019, CAM also withdrew two invalidation proceedings filed in China attempting to invalidate two of C3Nano’s Chinese patents (‘555 and ‘557) after having difficulty presenting its case to the Chinese patent review authorities. CAM’s inability to maintain and support the withdrawn or rejected challenges to C3Nano’s patents demonstrates the superiority of C3Nano’s NanoGlue technology, and CAM’s repeated attempts to challenge C3Nano patents demonstrates the commercial viability of C3Nano technology over CAM.
“C3Nano is the only AgNW-based ink or film that is in mass production in flexible displays and phones. Cambrios has resorted to misguided and wasteful efforts, such as trying and failing to invalidate our IP in both the USA and China in an attempt to confuse and threaten our customers,” said Cliff Morris, CEO of C3Nano. “Our transformative advances in technology and patent protection ensure our continuing market leadership.”
Through customer wins and partnerships—such as the recent news that Hitachi Chemical Company qualified C3Nano’s ActiveGrid™ ink for mass production and is integrated in several flexible display devices in 2019—C3Nano is extending its lead for the commercialization of silver nanowire-based inks and films. C3Nano will continue to vigorously defend its valuable global intellectual property rights, and the company is committed to providing the highest performing materials for new generations of display products through its production facilities in Hayward, Calif., and Changzhou, China.