Patent and Trade Secret Suit Against FillShape and the IMA Group is Meritless

BOLOGNA, Italy, June 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 5, 2015, Indag GmbH and Wild Parma S.r.L. filed a complaint against several entities within the IMA Group, including FillShape, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging that these IMA Group entities have violated federal patent laws and have engaged in trade secret misappropriation.  The allegations and lawsuit have no merit.   

In its complaint, Indag and Wild Parma state that in July 2014 they "became aware that FillShape was offering for sale competitive hot filling and aseptic cold filling machinery." But then for nearly a year, Indag and Wild Parma did not contact the IMA Group, express any concerns to the IMA Group about intellectual property rights, or otherwise raise any issues about FillShape's hot filling and aseptic filling machinery.  It was not until June 2015, eleven months later, that they filed their lawsuit, which speaks volumes about the lack of merit of their allegations.  

The timing and nature of the lawsuit suggests that Indag and Wild Parma are seeking to thwart rightful competition in the U.S. market from IMA Group and FillShape.  Indeed, the rhetoric contained in the complaint, coupled with Indag's and Wild Parma's attempt to publicize it, make crystal clear that Indag and Wild Parma are trying to protect market share rather than any legitimate intellectual property right.   When the smoke surrounding the complaint is blown away, what will be left is the fact that FillShape and the IMA Group developed, manufacture and offer advanced technology products with significant advantages to customers.  Customers want the best technology available in the market and FillShape and the IMA Group have such technology. 

FillShape and the IMA Group strongly dispute the allegations made by Indag and Wild Parma in their complaint, including both the allegations about patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation.  FillShape and the IMA Group will vigorously defend themselves in court against these claims, and are confident they will prevail.

FillShape and the IMA Group have focused substantial time, effort and resources on developing and manufacturing world-class products at competitive prices.  FillShape and the IMA Group have been, are and will continue to be equally committed to operating in accordance with the highest professional standards and with all applicable laws in connection with the manufacture, sale and marketing of their products, including FillShape's hot filling and aseptic cold filling machinery. 

FillShape and the IMA Group have worked hard to innovate and bring their products to the market—products that better enable their customers to compete and succeed in their markets.  The filing of Indag's and Wild Parma's lawsuit does not affect in any way FillShape's, ability to manufacture, offer to sell or sell its hot filling and aseptic cold filling machinery. 

The IMA Group, headquartered in Bologna, Italy, is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of automatic machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, tea and coffee. 

SOURCE The IMA Group and FillShape