Carlco sues US firm over touch screen “patent breach”

The Osset, West Yorkshire-based group, said Texas firm Uni-Pixel Displays Inc has breached its contract, confidence and patent entitlement.

It issued proceedings against the engineered films company in June, and they were served this month. It is claiming damages and injunctive relief.

Carclo designs and makes touch screen technology for mobile phones and tablet PCs through its Conductive Inkjet Technology (CIT) arm.

It said: “The basis of the claim is CIT’s belief that Uni-Pixel has made unauthorised use of confidential CIT know-how, relating to the formulation and use of catalytic inks and metallisation technology in touch screen applications, in the development of its own metal mesh process and products (which it calls UniBoss) and related patents it has filed (or been issued) on these processes.”

Carclo said CIT’s know-how in that field was disclosed to Uni-Pixel as part of a project with a development partner, but added it only permitted Uni-Pixel to use that knowledge in a different field of use, unrelated to touch screen sensors.

“CIT believes that Uni-Pixel has breached the restrictions imposed in respect of its use of that know-how,” it said. “CIT is seeking injunctive relief against Uni-Pixel to deprive it of the unfair head-start in its development efforts which CIT believes it to have gained from unauthorised use of CIT know-how, plus damages.”

Separately, Carclo said mass production of CIT touch sensors started this month, triggering a $10m (£6.1m) payment from partner Atmel Corporation.