Northern Cement files lawsuit against Safwa Cement

Logo of Northern Region Cement Co.

Northern Region Cement Co. filed lawsuit against Safwa Cement Co., seeking an order to halt the infringement and violation of its patent relating to white cement production.

The lawsuit was filed before the Commercial Court in Jeddah, as the competent authority for violations arising from the application of intellectual property regulations, the company said in a Tadawul statement.

The company explained that it said it has established that the defendant installed and developed one of its cement production lines in a manner that wholly and substantially incorporates a replica of the essential and patented elements of the company’s patent without obtaining its consent. This constitutes an explicit infringement, violation, and unlawful commercial exploitation of the intellectual property rights and patent owned by the company.

According to the statement, the financial impact of the lawsuit cannot be determined at the current stage and is expected to be determined following a decision by the competent authority.

Through this lawsuit, the company seeks to halt the infringement and exploitation and to thereafter to claim the necessary compensation, including the financial profits derived from the sale of white cement products resulting from the exploitation of the patent for commercial purposes without its consent.

There are no legal consequences or risks to the company arising from this lawsuit. Any developments relating to this lawsuit will be announced in due course, according to the statement.

The company highlighted that it has obtained legal advice confirming the strength of its legal position as patent owner and its regulatory right to file this lawsuit against the defendant for infringing and commercially exploiting its patent without its consent within the Kingdom, in accordance with the regulations and rules governing the protection of intellectual property rights.

Northern Cement also said it does not anticipate incurring any material liabilities as a result of filing this lawsuit. It has also engaged a specialist lawyer to follow up on the lawsuit proceedings and protect the Company’s interests.

Any material developments relating to this lawsuit will be announced in due course in accordance with the relevant regulations and instructions, it noted.