Ivoclar Vivadent Alleges Patent, Trade Violations by GC and GC America

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) announced it will investigate, for patent infringement and tariff violations, certain dental ceramics and related products, and methods of making them.

Dental ceramics maker Ivoclar Vivadent, of Schaan, Liechtenstein, filed the USITC complaint and a related lawsuit against GC of Tokyo as well as GC America, Alsip, Ill.

Ivoclar Vivadent asserts that GC’s products infringe U.S. patents protecting its lithium silicate glass ceramics technology. USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. — William Schulz