ChampionX ‘extremely pleased’ with appeals ruling in Synthetic Corp. ITC case

ChampionX (CHX) noted that its US Synthetic Corp. segment has secured a legal victory as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversing a prior International Trade Commission determination that had deemed the company’s patent claims ineligible. The case, involving U.S. Patent No. 10508502, pertains to a polycrystalline diamond compact used in rotary drill bits, which exhibits superior diamond to diamond bonding. The ITC had initially ruled that the patent’s claims were directed to an abstract idea, arguing that the disclosed magnetic properties were merely side effects of the manufacturing process rather than physical characteristics of the compound. However, the Federal Circuit disagreed, finding that the claims described a specific composition of matter and not an abstract idea, reinforcing that the magnetic properties provide meaningful insights into the PDC’s physical characteristics, the company stated. “We are extremely pleased with the Federal Circuit’s decision, which reaffirms the validity of our patent and the importance of our innovation. This ruling not only protects our intellectual property but also underscores the significance of our technology in advancing drilling performance and efficiency,” said Rob Galloway, President at US Synthetic.