By Melodie Warner
3M Co. (MMM) said a court upheld the validity and enforceability
of its patents relating to retroreflective sheeting products and
also dismissed Avery Dennison Corp.'s (AVY) claims of patent
infringement and antitrust violations with prejudice.
Labels and tags maker Avery sued 3M in 2010, claiming 3M
unlawfully monopolized markets for a type of sheeting that makes
road signs more reflective at night, along with complaints of fraud
and false advertising. The suit was a response to 3M's patent
infringement suit against Avery Dennison.
Later that year, Avery said a U.S. judge rejected 3M's request
to stop Avery from selling its OmniCube product, saying Avery had
raised a substantial question of the 3M patent's validity.
The St. Paul, Minn., conglomerate 3M said late Thursday the
consent judgment concludes the patent infringement and related
lawsuits.
"We are pleased that the court has entered judgment upholding
the validity and enforceability of our patents related to [Diamond
Grade DG(3) Reflective Sheeting], and that all allegations against
3M were dismissed," said John Houle, vice president and general
manager of 3M's traffic safety and security division.
An Avery representative wasn't immediately available for
comment.
3M and Avery shares closed Thursday at $106.31 and $43.07,
respectively.
Write to Melodie Warner at melodie.warner@dowjones.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires