DWS asserts patent infringement against, and seeks damages from, Formlabs with reference to the FORM 2 3D printing machine

THIENE, Italy and ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Italian producer of stereolithography 3D printing machines, DWS S.r.l., recently filed a counterclaim alleging infringement of its U.S. patent and damages in a lawsuit started by Formlabs Inc. before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division. In its complaint, Formlabs sought a declaratory judgement of non-infringement of the DWS US patent No. 8,945,456 by its FORM 2 3D printing machine. The patent relates to the heating system in the 3D stereolithographic printers. On Nov. 13, 2018, DWS filed a counterclaim for infringement and damages referring to the manufacture, use, and sale by Formlabs of the FORM 2 printer, which appears to be the most successful product of the U.S. company based in Somerville, Mass.

This action and the recent DWS infringement and damages counterclaim brings the litigation with Formlabs Inc. to a next level. In fact, several patent infringement litigations are already pending between DWS and Formlabs in Italy, Germany and Turkey since 2017. With reference to the heating system for the 3D stereolithographic printers patented by DWS, the German Court of Mannheim issued a judgment on Aug. 3, 2018 declaring that FORM 2 infringes the German portion of the DWS European patent No. EP 2 461 963. 

In its counterclaim, DWS also asserts that Formlabs's infringement is, and has been, willful.  DWS seeks damages and an injunction as remedies for the infringement by the FORM 2 printer launched by Formlabs Inc. in September 2015. DWS has always invested considerable efforts in research and protection of its technical solutions in the 3D printing industry and intends to vigorously react against the potential infringements of its patents. 

DWS is at the forefront of additive manufacturing technology. A respected stereolithography pioneer and leader, DWS is making additive manufacturing 4.0 a reality by delivering the most advanced photopolymer additive manufacturing systems, materials and digital tools available. For years, it has been enabling engineers to optimize their designs, and companies to bring better products to market. For more information, please visit www.dwssystems.com.

SOURCE DWS