LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global visual technology market leader RealD Inc. announced today that the European Patent Office’s (EPO) Opposition Division has upheld the validity of one of the Company’s key patents for light-doubling 3D cinema projection systems.
Volfoni and MasterImage had both challenged the EPO’s grant of RealD’s European patent (EP2067066B1), which covers optical architectures in light-doubling 3D cinema systems. On January 24, 2018, the EPO issued their detailed written opinion, dismissing the opposition, concluding that the patent will continue to be maintained as originally granted. As a result, the patent remains in full force.
This patent was asserted in December 2017 in the Düsseldorf District Court in which RealD filed a complaint for patent infringement against manufacturer Volfoni and distributor CinemaNext. In the complaint, RealD requested an injunction banning the sale of the alleged infringing devices and is seeking financial damages.
“RealD’s research and development efforts and the resulting award-winning products have been instrumental in the establishment and growth of the 3D cinema industry. The European Patent Office’s recent decision upholding this key patent strengthens our patent position in Europe and it once again recognizes our substantial efforts and significant investment over many years to innovate and provide the industry’s brightest, premium 3D visual experience for our partners and moviegoers around the world,” said Jeff Spain, Chief Financial Officer at RealD.
The EPO’s ruling is the latest victory upholding and affirming the validity of RealD’s patents around the world. It follows similar wins by RealD, where the company’s patents were unsuccessfully challenged by competitors in the United States, Japan, Russia, and Australia. “These challenges support and underline third parties’ recognition of the quality and value of our patents, and we are pleased to have the intellectual property behind our high quality systems reconfirmed by the European Patent Office,” said Neil Mothew, RealD’s Vice President of Intellectual Property & Legal Affairs.
RealD’s patented light-doubling 3D cinema systems deliver the most light efficiency of any other 3D cinema projection technology, and as a result, provide a superior projected 3D image at a lower operating cost. RealD 3D cinema systems are installed in approximately 30,000 auditoriums in 75 countries around the world.
About Opposition Proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO)
EPO Opposition Proceedings are post-grant adversarial proceedings in which interested third parties can challenge the validity of all the national parts of a European patent via a single centralized procedure. The decision of the Opposition Division to uphold RealD’s EP2067066B1 as it was originally issued is available online, and is open to an appeal to one of the EPO’s Technical Boards of Appeal.
About RealD Inc.
RealD is a leading global licensor of 3D and other visual technologies. RealD's extensive industry-defining intellectual property portfolio is used in applications and products that enable a premium viewing experience in the theater, the home and elsewhere. RealD’s core business is the licensing of RealD 3D Cinema Systems and the product sale of RealD eyewear to motion picture exhibitors to enable a premium viewing experience for 3D motion pictures and alternative 3D content in theaters.
RealD was founded in 2003 and has offices in Beverly Hills, California; Boulder, Colorado; London, United Kingdom; Moscow, Russia; Shanghai, China; Beijing, China; Hong Kong; and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit our website at www.reald.com.
