Polimaster charges RAE Systems misappropriated intellectual property

San Francisco, CA— Polimaster Ltd. reports that it filed a complaint May 9 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against RAE Systems Inc. The litigation alleges that RAE Systems misappropriated and misused technological and proprietary information developed by Polimaster to manufacture the GammaRAE II handheld radiation detection unit.

Under a 2003 license agreement, Polimaster had been providing RAE Systems with confidential information, proprietary components, and intellectual property, enabling RAE Systems to manufacture and sell radiation detection units under its brand name. In 2005, Polimaster charges that RAE Systems suddenly announced its plan to sell analogous radiation detection units outside of the framework of its license agreement with Polimaster. The firm states its investigations and subsequent filing alleges that, in contravention of the license agreement and without Polimaster’s authorization, RAE Systems manufactured the new units using Polimaster’s proprietary technological information and intellectual property.

When it learned of the potential misappropriation of its technology by RAE Systems, Polimaster adds that it terminated its license agreement, including the licenses that allowed RAE Systems to manufacture radiation detectors models PM1703M and PM1703GN under its GammaRAE and NeutronRAE brand names.

Polimaster is now seeking a preliminary injunction from the district court, which would preclude RAE Systems from selling and distributing all of the infringing products until the issue is resolved pursuant to mandatory arbitration. Polimaster adds that RAE Systems’ technology misappropriation and license breach are so blatant and obvious that it has no doubt about an ultimately favorable ruling in the case.

RAE Systems responded May 19 that Polimaster’s claims are entirely without merit. Robert Chen, RAE Systems’ president and CEO, added May 19 that, “We will vigorously defend ourselves against all claims made by Polimaster. However, the appropriate forum to address this complaint is in the U.S. District Court and not through the press.’

Polimaster develops and manufactures radiation detection equipment, including fixed portal radiation monitors, portable instruments designed to detect the intensity of and locate hidden radiation sources, and portable radiation monitors equipped with a set of external detectors for detection of gamma, alpha, beta and neutron radiation.

RAE Systems develops and manufactures of rapidly deployable, multi-sensor chemical detection monitors and networks for homeland security and industrial applications. It also offers a full line of portable, single-sensor chemical and radiation detection products.

Control Engineering Daily News DeskJim Montague, news editorjmontague@reedbusiness.com

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