Materialise Sues Nobel Biocare

Any thoughts on the recently filed lawsuit by Materialise against Nobel? Materialise claims that the NobelGuide system infringes on a patent granted to Materialise back in the 90´s, a patent which formed the basis of Materialise´s dental drill guide system, SurgiGuide, introduced back in 1999.

According to Materialise, the principal allegation against Nobel refers to a method for making medical models, including guides for dental surgery, that involves the use of grey value images and rapid prototyping. “We would prefer not to resort to litigation, but we must protect our intellectual property and patented technology, wherever it is infringed,” stated Materialise CEO Wilfried Vancraen. “Our solution was the result of years of development work and a basis for further developments, continuously providing cutting-edge technology that contributes to the success of implant dentistry.”

Materialise asserts that Nobel Biocare as well as diverse dental experts and opinion leaders in the industry were very well aware of the development of the SurgiGuide drill guides, which were presented at open conferences for clinicians. “Customers,” says Vancraen, “have been shocked about the launch of the NobelGuide system and the Procera software from Nobel Biocare without the involvement or the acknowledgement of the rights of Materialise.” He adds that “our customers need to know they can rely on Materialise. Our products are based on extensive research and supported by a large R&D team.”

How do you think this lawsuit will play out? Quick out of court settlement, perhaps? Will there be any long-term effects on Nobel or others?

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16 Responses to “ Materialise Sues Nobel Biocare ”

• Ramses Spindola July 18th, 2006

  
  

  Slowly we will know more about the rapid growth of a Company like Nobel.
  The Company is like Enron story…too much business growth, loss in the 3 or 4 first years in some markets, initially big (huge) staff of people,sales personnel, ….and then re-eingeneering of the Company, fired people and some cash-floww stabilization after paying sues,workers,losses…etc,etc,no more support, no more credit, increase pricing after doctors are really switched,but they do not count that same products and compatible will be appear soon….like Implant Direct Company and some others…..

• Ramon Melendez July 18th, 2006

  
  

  It came to my attention the similaries from the both softwares.I use Simplant for three Implant Systems very succesful…..

• Anonymous July 18th, 2006

  
  

  That’s why I don’t really see the benefit of Nobel Guide vs Simplant (other than teeth in an hour which only fills a tiny need).

  I’d rather work with software that is compatible with all implant systems and has a longer trackrecord

• David Levitt July 21st, 2006

  
  

  A patent on the use of Gray Values in CT scans? Oh please. We were doing that with CT generated subperiosteal implants in the 1980’s. I have given implant surgery courses all over the United States. The only company that refused to cooperate was Columbia Scientific/Materialise. Their arrogance is incredible. The only “good” patent is one that withstands a legal challenge. I hope this one does not.

• Howard Gluckman July 21st, 2006

  
  

  The fact that Nobelbiocare seem to be advertising their Nobelguide as something new in itself is criminal. Its about time someone took them on. They are trying to reinvent the wheel. The concept has been their all along. the only thing that Nobel has done is to put a name to it in the “teeth in an hour” Go Materialise

• Vicenzo Buzo July 22nd, 2006

  
  

  Doctors buying Nobel implants at 400 dollars each….will fully pay any legal claim…it will be just a little cash-flow inconvenience.Incredible i that they are making too much money and does not invest in software…apparaently they copy….nothing strange!

• Robert J. Miller July 22nd, 2006

  
  

  This case only proves that there is very little that is revolutionary in our discipline. Add to that Nobel Biocare using big name clinicians to put on programs for a modality they have NEVER used. The big gorilla may control the market, but when they fall, we will all hear the thud!

• Dan Shapiro July 23rd, 2006

  
  

  What else is new. Someone once said, grow like a coconut palm tree, fall like the coconut. The ENRON of dentistry, and yes We continue paying their product fees and increase their absurd profit.

• Albert Hall July 23rd, 2006

  
  

  Implant Industry is so profitable, that you can waist money in anything you want.The unique reason why they reach that level is because of doctors eager to increase their income with NO responsability.
  And…if we allow a Comapany to steal invents (Branemark-Simplant)we are guilty or at least we co-honest that!
  Back to the very beginning….we do not allow students to place implants with strong evidence….today some colleagues allow it….because they are been paid with courses, tours, vegas, etc, etc….

• Anonymous July 25th, 2006

  
  

  Nobel butto earnings last quarter 84% profit…Succesful company - no question about it

• Anonymous July 26th, 2006

  
  

  Transparency of companies with high sucess is not directly proportionally.
  But Nobel is really a very impressive company

• Anonymous July 27th, 2006

  
  

  Enron was built up by fraud in regards to accounting principles. Nobel may be heading for trouble, (This lawsuit, NobelDirect or The Scalloped Implant) but it is not based on a reckless regard for accounting principles. They continue to grow and produce higher profits and owners equity. Will the bottom fall out? Who knows, but until practitioners grow tired of failed marketing promises with research published in non-peer reviewed newsletters then they will continue to lead the market. We will also continue to have 64 dental implant companies with fewer than ten of those providing any real long term clinical trials proving the product they launched last week. In fact only one seems to wait about three years prior to launching a change in their system. All the others copy thread location or location of roughened surface based on a single 12 month study prior to launch. But it doesn’t stop Implantologists from buying a $100 Implant online.

• Anonymous August 16th, 2006

  
  

  Ask Materialise what county or Jurisdiction they filed the lawsuit? There isn’t even a lawsuit and its a marketing ploy of their own.

• Jeff August 16th, 2007

  
  

  Check out todays headlines about Nobel infringing on Materialise’s patent! click here for the Forbes article.

   

• JPCacciatoredmd November 24th, 2007

  
  

  Its ironic that people on this site criticize successful companies like Nobel and assume there must be something unethical underneath the success. But no one mentions the profits that dentists make charging patients to place implants. Even if a Nobel implant was $400, that is the list price, no one pays that, and a dentist charges $2000 to place an implant, that means the dentist is making $1600 gross profit on the procedure. Sure the rent, the insurance, the help, etc. Nobel doesn’t have overhead? Look lets be real here, the dentists placing an implant makes more money per implant than Nobel Biocare does. That is OK though because the doctors placing the implants are not large corporations? Lets stop with the hypocritical comments, and look in our own practices. There is no law against making money. Not for a doctor and not for a corporation.

• Jeff November 26th, 2007

  
  

  Interesting comment! There is absolutely nothing wrong with a company such as Nobel making a profit. After all, that is why they are in business. What is wrong, is to continually present “new and better” implants as if they are the fall and spring fashion with no research to support the products and no communication as to the potential complications and challenges of products such as nobelguide or nobeldirect or nobelactive. If there newest and greatest product does indeed offer a superior clinical result, then stop selling the old crap! It is the doctor who is responsible to the patient and charged and trusted to provide the best possible care to our patients. That is why we get a higher premium ‘per implant’ than nobel who simply machines screws and doesn’t answer to anyone other than shareholders. Although, last I checked there were few dentists pulling in the kinds of profits and benefits that the higher ups at Nobel do.

  Integrity is the name of the game, and when Nobel can get there head out of there a*** and remember this, they may be able to upright a capsizing ship!

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