DuPont won a civil lawsuit for $919.9 million against Kolon Industries yesterday, with the jury finding that Kolon stole trade secrets and confidential information regarding DuPont's Kevlar aramid fibre.

Kolon, a South Korea-based company, was found liable for misappropriation of trade secrets, and the jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond, Va., found that its actions were wilful and malicious. 

Best known for its military and law enforcement applications, Kevlar aramid fibre also is used for many commercial and industrial applications, ranging from tyres and fibre optic cables to sports equipment and spacesuits.

 "The jury decision is an enormous victory for global intellectual property protection and the millions of users of DuPont Kevlar technology and products," said Tom Sager, senior vice president and general counsel of DuPont.

"The size of this award is one of the largest in defence of business processes and technologies.  It also sends a message to potential thieves of intellectual property that DuPont will pursue all legal remedies to protect our significant investment in research and development and our proprietary information for the benefit of our shareholders and customers."

"Companies around the world are facing a significant challenge to protect trade secrets and intellectual property," said Tom Powell, president, DuPont Protection Technologies.

"DuPont, as a market-driven science company, has devoted more than 40 years and considerable investment to researching and refining Kevlar to make it the world's most trusted aramid fibre."

"We are very pleased the jury recognized and protected DuPont's investment in Kevlar," added Powell.  "Not only are the technologies and processes of Kevlar important to DuPont, but also to the thousands of soldiers, law enforcement officers and first responders globally whose lives depend on Kevlar protects."

Source: DuPont