3M (NYSE:MMM) announced yesterday that the District Court of Frankfurt, Germany, has ordered a preliminary injunction against China-based Qingdao Summit Industrial Co., Ltd. for infringement of the German portion of 3M’s European patent EP 0,954,381 B2. This patent relates to 3M’s PPS technology that enables the mixing and spraying of coatings for collision repair.
The court order prohibits the offer and sale of Summit’s infringing paint spray gun cup sets in Germany with immediate effect and directs Summit to reimburse 3M for its litigation costs. Summit may appeal the court decision to the Upper District Court of Frankfurt.
3M is