3M has filed two patent lawsuits in Germany regarding its technology for coloring ceramic-based dental restorations.
The first lawsuit is against Metoxit and alleges infringement of 3M's patent rights by coloring liquids sold under the brands Z-CAD FlowPen and Z-CAD Liquid HD, as well as zirconia CAD/CAM blocks sold under the brand Z-CAD.
The second lawsuit is against White Peaks Dental Systems and alleges infringement of 3M's patent rights by coloring liquids sold under the brands CopranColor, CopranUltra-T Color, and MonolithColor, as well as zirconia CAD/CAM blocks sold under the Copran Zr brand.
Both patent infringement lawsuits were filed in Düsseldorf, Germany.
3M's patented technology enables the coloring of unshaded ceramics by color-matching dental restorations to the natural color of patients' teeth. 3M has licensed its patents to much of the dental industry, and the company noted that it remains open to licensing its technology to other interested parties.
