COMPANIES in Spain are free to sell the R22 drop-in replacements RS-44 (R424A) and RS-45 (R434A) after a claim of patent infringement by US manufacturer DuPont was rejected by the Barcelona patent court.
DuPont had issued a writ against Spanish companies Gases Research Innovation & Technology (GRIT) and Gas Servei alleging infringement of a Star Refrigeration patent of which DuPont is the exclusive licensee.

The refrigerants, which dominate the Spanish market, were invented and patented by UK-based Refrigerant Solutions Ltd (RSL). DuPont allegation of infringement has been rejected and all claims in the Star Refrigeration patent have been declared void and the patent revoked.

Following the decision, Altrincham-based RSL said it was disappointed that DuPont had taken 'this unwarranted and unnecessary action'. The company added that it welcomed the fact that GRIT and Gas Servei would be able to continue deploying RS-44 and RS-45 as replacements for R22 in the air conditioning and refrigeration market.