Jump to full article: RTTNews.com, 2007-06-26
Intro: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., an indirect subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc. (RAI), said Tuesday that it welcomes the decision in favor of the company in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by smokeless tobacco developer Star Scientific, Inc. (STSI).
A U.S. federal court ruled on Tuesday that Star Scientific engaged in inequitable conduct before the U.S. Patent Office in obtaining patents involving a method of treating tobacco to substantially prevent the formation of cancer-causing toxins known as tobacco-specific nitrosamines.
In patent law, "inequitable conduct" suggests that the patent-holder knowingly misrepresented itself or withheld relevant information in applying for its patent, allowing the court to deem its patent unenforceable.
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