3M announced today that 3M Innovative Properties Co. and 3M Korea, both wholly owned subsidiaries, have filed a patent infringement suit in Korean Seoul District Court seeking a preliminary injunction against Shinwa Opla. The suit alleges that Shinwa's activities in Korea relating to distribution of an optical film produced by Taiwan-based E-Fun, and intended for use in liquid crystal displays, constitutes infringement of 3M's patent.

This suit is consistent with 3M's corporate intellectual property policy to protect its substantial investment in research and development by obtaining, maintaining and enforcing intellectual property rights in inventions resulting from the research and development.

3M's expertise in display technology is reflected in its line of Vikuiti light management products that include proprietary microreplicated and multilayer display enhancement films for applications in electronic displays, such as LCD televisions, mobile phones, desktop monitors and notebook computers. 3M also supplies touch screens and systems, high-performance projection screens, and precision optical components for a wide range of display applications.

About 3M

3M is a $16 billion diversified technology company with leading positions in consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; health care; industrial; safety, security and protection services; transportation and other businesses. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, the company has operations in more than 60 countries and serves customers in nearly 200 countries. 3M is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and also is a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

3M and Vikuiti are trademarks of 3M.