Mar 03, 2003
Michael Gouldsmith, president of OK International Inc., reported that U.S. District Court Judge Robert M. Takasugi dismissed a lawsuit filed by American Hakko Products, Inc., against OK International's soldering instruments division, Metcal, Inc.
In a suit filed last October, American Hakko sought a declaratory judgment in support of the recent introduction of the FM 202 soldering system, in the hope that the court would forestall a potential claim by OK International and its Metcal division that the FM 202 product infringes U.S. Patent No. 4,839,501.
Metcal moved the court to dismiss the action for lack of jurisdiction. Judge Takasugi granted Metcal's motion, dismissing the case.
Mr. Gouldsmith stated that a great deal of American Hakko's statements, in its complaint to the court, appeared to be based on hearsay and speculation, and that it was not in OK International's interest to get involved in this kind of conduct.
Asked whether OK International would pursue litigation against people it thought were violating its intellectual property rights, Mr. Gouldsmith answered, "yes."
OK International is a subsidiary of the Dover Corporation.
