ALPHARETTA, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GreenShift Corporation (OTCQB: GERS) today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has issued a notice of allowance for patent application number 12/559,136, titled “Method of Recovering Oil From Thin Stillage” (the “’136 Patent Application”).
Increased Strength
The new notice of allowance is the second allowance issued by the USPTO on this particular application. To further strengthen its legal position, GreenShift previously requested the USPTO to withdraw the earlier allowance and review all of the materials submitted by all of the defendants in GreenShift’s current patent infringement litigation, including ICM, Flottwegg, and Westfalia in support of their invalidity arguments. The USPTO issued the new notice of allowance for the ‘136 Patent Application in spite of everything raised by each and every defendant, including ICM.
GreenShift believes that the allowance of the new patent by the USPTO is further substantial confirmation of the validity of GreenShift’s patents, and significantly increases the strength of GreenShift’s legal position in asserting its claims of infringement of its corn oil extraction patents.
Powerful Competitive Advantage for Licensed Producers
GreenShift’s patented extraction technologies are proven to deliver increased profit, reduced energy costs, a smaller carbon footprint, and lower risks to licensed ethanol producers. Ethanol producers that license GreenShift’s technologies also share in the competitive protections afforded us by the U.S. patent laws. These benefits collectively provide licensed ethanol producers with a powerful competitive advantage when compared to ethanol producers that do not license GreenShift’s technologies.
GreenShift will continue to protect the competitive advantage of its licensees. David Winsness, GreenShift’s Chief Technology Officer, said that “We are aware of no practical method to recover corn oil from stillage that is not covered by our patents, including processes involving ‘staged’ recovery of oil from emulsion layers, recovery of oil following cold fermentation, and use of chemical additives. We welcome and expect innovation, however, we also expect any and all use of our technologies to be lawful.”
GreenShift intends to take all necessary steps to bring infringement of its patents to an end, including filing additional lawsuits at the appropriate time. GreenShift further plans to seek additional relief for instances of willful infringement.
GreenShift’s technical services staff are available at 888-ETHANOIL or sales@greenshift.com to respond to quotation requests and to answer any questions about GreenShift’s corn oil extraction and other technologies.
About the USPTO
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is the Federal agency for granting U.S. patents. In doing this, the USPTO fulfills the mandate of Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, of the Constitution that the Executive branch "promote the progress of science and the useful arts by securing for limited times to inventors the exclusive right to their respective discoveries." Under this system of protection, American industry has flourished. New products have been invented, new uses for old ones discovered, and employment opportunities created for millions of Americans. The strength and vitality of the U.S. economy depends directly on effective mechanisms that protect new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity. The continued demand for patents underscores the ingenuity of American inventors and entrepreneurs. The USPTO is at the cutting edge of the Nation's technological progress and achievement.
About GreenShift Corporation
GreenShift Corporation (OTCQB: GERS) develops and commercializes clean technologies that facilitate the more efficient use of natural resources. GreenShift is focused on doing so today in the U.S. ethanol industry, where GreenShift innovates and offers technologies that improve the profitability of licensed ethanol producers. Additional information on GreenShift and its technologies is available online at www.greenshift.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of GreenShift Corporation and members of its management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Important factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-statements include fluctuation of commodity prices and operating results, the ability to compete successfully, and the ability to complete before-mentioned transactions. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results.