By Elena Vardon
Powerhouse Energy Group said that the process to publish the specification of its European patent has been paused and that an unspecified claim against the company has been filed by GetGo Recycling.
The U.K. technology company said Monday that the European Patent Office notified it that the process was “stayed” on Oct. 9. It said that its patent advisors have said that this is standard practice when entitlement proceedings for a patent have started in the courts and that the “stay” attached to a granted patent would be removed once the claim is dismissed.
The group said that GetGo Recycling filed a claim against it on Oct. 6. “The company considers the claim to be entirely without merit and vexatious and will vigorously defend any claim on its Intellectual Property,” Powerhouse Energy said, adding it hasn’t had any communication with the group or received more information or details.
It said that service has to happen within four months of the filing date if GetGo decides to pursue the claim, it said.
The group doesn’t expect the proceedings to impact its continuing work or interfere with its business.
“I do not know the claimant company and I believe its action is intended to “soften” PHE as the targeted party before a follow-on approach on something unrelated,” Chairman Antony Gardner-Hillman said, adding that the company has filed a claim for defence legal costs indemnity under its Intellectual Property insurance policy and is in the process of instructing IP litigation solicitors.
The grant of the patent application–which is for the treatment of waste material–was confirmed on Sept. 15.
GetGo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Dow Jones Newswires.
Write to Elena Vardon at elena.vardon@wsj.com
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