Chemical Arts Practice Group
Chemistry is one of the fundamental foundations of science and technology. Emerging chemical research and experimentation continually produce innovations that shape the field of raw materials and affects the lives of every person on the planet.
Dunlap Codding is fortunate to work with and contribute to the success of many of the leading researchers and entrepreneurs in the chemical arts. From nano-fibers to synthetic and recombinant polymers, Dunlap Codding consistently provides clients with broad-based, cost-effective patent prosecution in the chemical arts.
The depth of our skill and experience is unmatched in our region. We represent several of the largest chemical companies in the word and have shepherded the development of complex patent portfolios and transactional items.
Selected Clients
Invista S.a.r.l. is one of the world’s largest integrated fibers and polymers businesses. The company has a powerful portfolio of some of the most recognized global brands—Lycra®, Stainmaster®, Cordura®—for example. Built on a heritage of innovation, Invista owns more than 700 unique pending or granted U.S. patents, with corresponding patents in nearly all the countries where they have a business presence. We were honored to be one of Invista’s preferred providers of intellectual property services supporting their chemical intermediates and performance fiber initiatives. As part of these efforts, we wrote and prosecuted patents on hundreds of Invista technologies and provided strategic planning and facilitated innovation services to maintain Invista’s technological lead. Notably, Invista relied on our chemical engineering and chemistry expertise for transactional matters requiring complex reviews of freedom to operate, infringement, and invalidity concerns. Recently we provided Invista with the due diligence analysis and opinions required for the placement and construction of a chemical plan requiring a capital investment of more than $1 billion dollars.
Cristal US is the United States arm of Cristal Arabia, one of the largest titanium dioxide and performance chemicals producers in the world. As part of our representation of Cristal, we are responsible for the strategic development and management of Cristal’s intellectual property portfolio, including the patent assets of Millennium Inorganic Chemicals—a wholly owned subsidiary of Cristal. Cristal and Millennium’s technologies encompass titanium dioxide, titanium metal, performance chemicals, and DeNOx technologies for removing nitrous oxide from the exhaust of internal combustion engines. We have developed a proprietary process for the identification of patenting opportunities, and use the process in facilitated sessions with technical and business personnel of Millennium. This proprietary process currently tracks more than 100 companies and approximately 1,000 intellectual property documents.
We work with DuPont Performance Elastomers to facilitate the development of new technologies and patenting strategies around DPE’s core elastomer technologies. In addition to such strategic planning, we provide assistance and guidance to DuPont’s in-house legal staff and technical champions.
Technology Focus
Highlights of the Chemical Arts Practice Group work by technology include the following examples:
Nanotechnology
Obtaining multiple patent families for Dr. Daniel Resasco, a University of Oklahoma professor of chemical engineering. Dr. Resasco’s pioneering work in sulfur tolerant catalysts and nanotechnology resulted in the first method for making carbon nanotubes in commercial quantities.
Surface Technology
Involvement with international chemical companies such as SDC Technologies Inc., a world leader in the development and manufacturing of polymeric high-performance abrasion resistant coating systems for application to plastic and glass materials. Dunlap Codding helped SDC develop patent portfolios involving several chemical arts such as nanotechnology, material sciences, and state of the art functional surface coating technologies. SDC’s considerable patent portfolio secured its position as a world-wide industry leader providing the chemical marketplace with enhancements required for the materials of tomorrow.
Polymers
Extensive work with polymers, polymeric coating compositions and resinous compositions having enhanced color, optical clarity, thermal shock, and impact resistance. Dunlap Codding obtained patent protection for Dr. William Franks’ innovative methods for polymerizing soybean oil. Dr. Franks’ methods led to the development of the first commercially available one hundred percent soybean oil based inks. Dunlap Codding also has expertise in the areas of petrochemicals and water repellent compositions for cellulose containing materials.
Environmental & Green Technologies
Procurement of patent rights in various fields of environmental science. Dunlap Codding obtained patents for one of the first water-based inks that is completely free of volatile organic compounds. These inks are water-resistant upon curing and can be printed on polymer films. The inks have won numerous awards and accolades for the impact they have had on environmental quality and safety. Dunlap Codding was also privileged to successfully prosecute the patent that protects the state of the art technology for using sophisticated surfactants to remediate underground pollution. This new technology may also revolutionize the household detergent industry.
The challenges inherent in the specialized field of procuring and protecting chemical intellectual property rights mandate working with legal experts who are well versed in the chemical arts. The Chemical Arts Practice Group’s diverse and knowledgeable team of patent attorneys and agents includes former research chemists with extensive chemical background at the doctoral level, a wealth of scientific knowledge gained from industry experience and a former corporate patent general counsel having responsibility for a chemical subsidiary of a major corporation.
