DuPont Wins $919 Mln. Kevlar Lawsuit Against Kolon

DuPont won a $919.9 million civil lawsuit against South Korea-based Kolon Industries related to Kevlar aramid fiber.

The jury found that Kolon stole trade secrets related to DuPont's Kevlar aramid fiber used in protective clothing for law enforcers.

The jury of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia found Kolon liable for the misappropriation of trade secrets and its actions were willful and malicious.

DuPont sued Kolon in 2009 accusing it of stealing confidential data on its brand Kevlar.

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

DuPont said it will ask the trial judge to impose injunctive relief requiring Kolon to return DuPont's proprietary information and stop manufacturing and selling products made from that information. DuPont also expects to recover its attorney's fees from Kolon.

Thomas Powell, president DuPont Protection Technologies, said "We are very pleased the jury recognized and protected DuPont's investment in Kevlar. 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 Kevlar protects."