Subscribe!
Implant Abstracts
Implant Cases
Ask UsMaterialise Scores Against Nobel Biocare: More Changes Looming in the Surgical Guide Market?
« Best Technique for Removing Osseointegrated Implants? | Purulent Discharge on the Mesial and Distal: What is Going On? »
Late last week Materialise Dental, developer of SimPlant, scored a victory against Nobel Biocare, developer of the NobelGuide system, when a German court ruled that Nobel Biocare was infringing the Materialise patent supporting its SurgiGuide drillguide system.
According to Materialise, the company may decide to provisionally enforce this judgment which would stop Nobel Biocare from offering its “NobelGuide” drilling templates in their current form in Germany.
Bart Swaelens, CEO of Materialise Dental, commented: “I am very glad that the Court agreed that Nobel Biocare is infringing our patent. We have been promoting Computer Guided Implantology for many years…our own SimPlant software was introduced into the market already in 1993 and we commercially launched our “SurgiGuide” drill guides in 1999, i.e. six years before the introduction of NobelGuide by Nobel Biocare in 2005.” Mr. Swaelens continues: “This judgment supports our market position as the provider of an open and complete system, compatible with all implant brands “.
Of course, Nobel is not about to cede defeat in this ongoing litigation. Nicolas Weidmann a Nobel Biocare spokesman stated, ‘Nobel Biocare is… of the opinion that no valid claims of the Materialise patent are being infringed.’ Meanwhile, Nobel Biocare has filed a lawsuit in the US against Materialise Group and its unit Materialise Dental, seeking a determination that Nobel Biocare does not infringe Materialise’s relevant patents, Weidmann added.
What are your thoughts on the recent court victory of Materialise against Nobel? Will this ruling dramatically change the overall competitive landscape in the Computer Guided Implant Surgery market? Will smaller players in the market also soon feel the heat from Materialise?
Featured Sponsor
Free Daily Email Alert Click Here>>
Get OsseoNews.com Comments delivered daily! Click Here to subscribe.FREE Weekly Email
Keep current on the latest dental implant discussions! It's Free!
>>Click Here to Subscribe to OsseoNews.com Now!
-
Hot Topics
-
Editor Picks
-
Patient Issues
- Cone Beam CT
- Mini Implants
- Bone Grafting
- Oral Bisphosphonates
- Sinus Lifts
- Implant Complications
- Immediate Loading
- Overdentures
- Nobel Biocare
- >>See All Main Topics
Sponsor
6 Responses to “ Materialise Scores Against Nobel Biocare: More Changes Looming in the Surgical Guide Market? ”
Great decision. When looking at the overpriced basic program of Nobel’s, it is so clear they copied Simplant. Copyrighted and patened works need protection, and I’m glad the courts have ruled properly. But I’m sure Nobel will continue to fight and the only people that will truly win are the attornies. If there is a large settlement, they’ll pass that right on to the consumer by up-ing the price of their implants, drills, and/or restorative pieces.
Geeze! you sound like a disgruntled man about Nobel. I am wondering what effect this may have on other companies coming out with similar systems and will it hit the U.S.?
My very preliminary review on this matter reveals the following. German ruling on Claim 1 of Materialise patent only. Claim 1 is about the stereolithographic method of guide creation. This is a Euro patent. Claims 1-23 of Materialise patent application in US were “Not Accepted” as patentable
So….If Im correct, be sure that the same reasons why 1 -23 were not patentable in the US will be brought up in the appeal in Germany. Plus, in the states, Nobel is attempting to “invalidate” the patent. If sucessful…status quo. If the patent survives the invalidation process in US PTO, it will emerge as a “stronger” patent. But, Im not an attorney or representative of either entity…I just reviewed the issues on the internet…open to all interested parties.
Recently Biomet 3I signed a contract with Materialise so hopfully they will come up with guided surgery less expensive and user freindly software better than Procera software.
About the court issue, Germany is a different football feild I think ,in the US, Nobel will settle the case for ten miilion dollars as Invisalign did to Orthoclear 2 years ago.
At the end they pay the fine and that is it
Nobel customers will not take any negative decision about this, since they need to preserve the inversion in the software, at least in the US….
In Germany I do not know, they will return the money back to customers….
They seemed to be too rich, but it stock is having changes lately and Mrs.Canepa is gone
Wow, guess this is what happens when money is paramount to Corporations and not patient care, Wall Street strikes again.
Leave a Comment
Note: Please refrain from ad hominem attacks, and promotional comments. Outside links are not permitted in comments. Though we require an email to route questionable comments to our editors, we will NEVER publish your email or use it for any other purpose. Thank you for your understanding.
Note: At times your comment may not appear on the website immediately, because it has been sent to our editors for approval. Once approved, we will publish the comment. There is NO need to resubmit your comment, if it does not appear on the website immediately.