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- EcoGraf (EGR) identifies itself as the likely competitor to Renascor Resources’ (RNU) patented no-acid-graphite-purification tech recently promoted by the company
- Both Renascor and EcoGraf are trying to patent tech that allows graphite purification without hydrofluoric acid
- Contrary to Renascor’s claims, EcoGraf reports that it won recognition for its acid-free patent before Renascor did
- The companies are heading to a hearing led by patent body IP Australia later this year
- EcoGraf has encouraged its shareholders to ignore Renascor’s claims
- EcoGraf shares last traded at 14.3 cents
On the 10th of August, Renascor Resources (RNU) announced it secured licensing rights to employ a hydrofluoric acid-free downstream graphite purification process in partnership with a German entity.
Buried at the bottom of Renascor’s announcement was a mention of an ongoing patent lawsuit initiated by a company seeking to utilise a similar process.
This legal battle has been ongoing since at least April 2022.
Renascor did not disclose the name of the company it was contesting, but confidently asserted that its competitor would not succeed in the challenge.
The challenger behind the lawsuit was revealed to be EcoGraf (EGR), which released its own response on Monday to Renascor’s announcement. EcoGraf noted that it already holds patent rights in the US.
EcoGraf stated that it had been informed of Renascor’s release, which highlighted an opposition lodged against one of Renascor’s patent applications related to graphite purification. EcoGraf identified itself as the company Renascor failed to name.
Contradicting Renascor’s claims of an application battle since April 2022, EcoGraf pointed to a 2021 announcement made in November. This announcement emphasised that an international patent body had recognized EcoGraf’s process as “novel and inventive.” The chief of that body found all 25 patent claims in EcoGraf’s applications to be sound, aiming to safeguard EcoGraf’s purification technology.
Renascor responded to EcoGraf’s statements by expressing strong disagreement.
EcoGraf also stated that it had received notice from the US Patent and Trademark Office that its patent application had been granted on July 18th of this year, suggesting that EcoGraf is protected at least in the US.
Additionally, EcoGraf pointed out that in December 2021, IP Australia, the Australian government’s patent body, confirmed the acceptance of EcoGraf’s patent. The patent was published in the Australian Journal of Patents, allowing readers a three-month window to lodge formal objections. Two objections were made, though it is not clear if both came from Renascor. IP Australia will proceed to a hearing on the matter later this year.
EcoGraf did not consider its announcement today price sensitive. But clearly, Renascor’s claims of an unlikely-to-succeed opposition are a little far-fetched.
It’s worth noting that Renascor has entered a deal with POSCO, as has EcoGraf. Renascor’s patent is registered in Germany, while EcoGraf’s covers Australia and the US.
The international patent body referenced multiple times in EcoGraf’s news today pertains to The International Preliminary Examining Authority of the Patent Co-operation Treaty, established by a treaty ratified in Washington DC in 1970. This could complicate Renascor’s expectation that its German patent will proceed without issues.
EGR shares last traded at 14.3 cents.
