3M Unitek and Rocky Mountain Orthodontics Settle Patent Infringement Litigation

3M Unitek announced today it has successfully resolved U.S. and French patent lawsuits related to sales by RMO, Inc. (doing business as Rocky Mountain Orthodontics) of customized lingual orthodontic brackets and appliances manufactured by Lingualjet Orthodontics. The patent litigation was settled in favor of 3M with a U.S. consent judgment and a judicially recognized settlement in France, each acknowledging the validity of the patents-in-suit for 3M Unitek Incognito Lingual Braces and infringement thereof by the Lingualjet product.

For the life of the 3M patents, RMO will cease and permanently refrain from making (or having made), using, importing, offering for sale or selling anywhere the Lingualjet product and any other products or systems that would infringe any of the patents-in-suit.

"We are pleased the U.S. court entered judgment finding our patent rights on lingual braces to be valid, enforceable and infringed, and that with the judgment, RMO has acknowledged our patent rights, and has agreed to cease any further infringement for the life of the patents. We look forward to continuing to bring innovation in orthodontics to our customers," said Mary Jo Abler, President, 3M Unitek.

Incognito lingual braces address the demand for effective and invisible orthodontic solutions. Placed on the backside of teeth, the Incognito™ Appliance System has been adopted to date by thousands of certified doctors across 75 countries, due to its ability to deliver fully customized treatment and a more precise finish than is delivered by traditional lingual systems. At the same time, patients typically cite improved self-confidence relatively early in treatment. More than 100,000 patients have benefited from Incognito appliance system treatment.

About 3M Health Care

3M Health Care offers solutions in the medical, oral care, drug delivery, food safety and health information markets. We have an unparalleled ability to connect people, insights, science and technology to think beyond today, solve problems, and make better health possible. Our culture of collaboration empowers us to discover and deliver practical, proven solutions that enable our customers to protect and improve the health of people around the world. Learn more at 3M Health Care.

About 3M

3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs 88,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries.

3M, Incognito, and Unitek are trademarks of 3M.

 

3MMary Kokkinen, 651-733-8806mckokkinen@mmm.comorFleishman-HillardHeather Sheriff, 612-573-3105heather.sheriff@fleishman.com

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