Malaysia, Jan. 23, 2013 – DuPont, the registered owner of the DuPont™ and Nomex® trademarks and inventor of the Nomex® fiber used in fire protective garments, has recently secured a settlement for damages in trademark infringement cases in Malaysia and Singapore.
The infringers, King Rotary (S) Pte Ltd. of Singapore and K-Rotary (M) Sdn Bhd. of Malaysia, have admitted to infringing the DuPont™ and Nomex® trademarks through the unauthorized labeling of their fire garments, which are made from unknown sources and not from
DuPont™ Nomex®.
After an extensive investigation and tracking by DuPont, compensation for damages was made by the infringers, including the publication of apology notices in major newspapers in Malaysia and Singapore.
An extract from the apology notice published in Singapore states as follows:
"We (King Rotary) acknowledge that we have without authorization, used the (Nomex®) trademarks and therefore apologize unreservedly to Du Pont for importing , selling and distributing in Singapore apparel and labels bearing identical to the trademarks (of Nomex®). We regret the damage and injury caused to Du Pont as a result of our acts".
“DuPont TM Nomex® has been serving the industrial marketplace for 45 years and many fire fighters and first responders rely on the trusted and proven flame resistant properties of Nomex® to keep them safe from the potential hazards they face,” said Kelvin Tan, sales leader of ASEAN for DuPont Protection Technologies. “The DuPont™ and Nomex® brands have become synonymous with fire safety and protection. DuPont would like to assure the industry and the public that it will not tolerate the unauthorized use of its brands to misrepresent fire garments that do not use Nomex®. DuPont will not jeopardize the safety of workers who DuPont is committed to protecting in countries where the company operates."
DuPont™ Nomex® is a flame-resistant, high-temperature fiber that will not melt, drip or support combustion in air. It is best known as a critical component in fire protective apparel as its protection is permanent and cannot be washed or worn out by constant usage. The effectiveness of Nomex® in protecting users against serious burn injuries has been well documented in laboratories, field tests and real life situations. In a flash fire, a matter of seconds can mean the difference between minor burns and life-threatening injuries. Flame resistant garments made from Nomex® help protect users from the heat and flames of a flash fire, providing valuable seconds of protection for escape and minimizing the potential for burn injury.
Ordinary protective garments, including those made from cotton, polyester and/or cotton blends, are not flame resistant and will not afford any protection against the hazards of flash fires. In fact, they may actually compound the potential for burn injury. This is because fabrics of 100 percent cotton and blends with synthetic materials, such as nylon and polyester, can ignite and burn. Certain synthetics can also melt and drip.
Today, more than three million fire fighters around the world are protected by turnout gear, station wear and accessories made of Nomex® by DuPont due to its unique combination of flame protection, durability and mobility. Protective apparel made of Nomex® is also used all over the world by industrial workers who face the risks of working in flash fire and electric arc hazard enviroments.
According to Ong Ewe Hock, managing director of DuPont Malaysia, “DuPont has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials and services since 1802. The company believes that one of our greatest challenges in the coming decades will be adequately protecting humanity and the world we share. DuPont is working with customers, partners, governments, NGOs, academics and other organizations to develop a vast range of materials, products and consulting solutions that help ensure the protection of life and help safeguard our environment.”
Ong further added that Malaysia is one of the key strategic markets of DuPont in ASEAN considering its growing population and high growth economy. In Malaysia, DuPont is looking forward not only to its business growth but also to collaborate and support Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Program and 10th Malaysia Plan particularly in the Oil, Gas & Energy sector, which has been a mainstay of Malaysia’s growth and contributes approximately 20 percent of national GDP.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.