Desktop Metal support removal technology
Desktop Metal has filed a lawsuit against Markforged, one of its main competitors in the office-friendly metal 3D printing market, for a series of patent infringements and trade and contract violations.
The two companies both launched office-friendly metal additive manufacturing systems last year, Markforged unveiling the Metal X at CES in January, and Desktop Metal introducing the Studio and Production Systems three months later. A year on, Desktop Metal has taken legal action against the fellow Massachusetts-based firm, as well as a former employee of theirs who left in December 2016, weeks before the official launch of Markforged's Metal X machine.
Matiu Parangi worked with Desktop Metal as a print lab technician, where he would have had access to “a host of Proprietary Information, including drawings, intellectual property, supplier-related information, and the processes Desktop Metal developed for printing parts,” per the complaint. He left his role soon after the Desktop Metal hierarchy learned he had downloaded information regarding the company’s R&D strategy and proprietary technology, which was unrelated to his responsibilities working on the print farm. Matiu Parangi is also the brother of Abraham Parangi, Director, Technology & Creative, Markforged. Desktop Metal, ‘on information and belief’ suspects he passed on information to benefit his brother and Markforged, in direct violation of a Non-Disclosure Agreement he signed upon his employment at Desktop Metal in August 2016.
The intellectual property at the centre of the lawsuit concern U.S. Patent No. 9,815,118 (the ‘118 patent), entitled ‘Fabricating Multi-Part Assemblies’ and U.S. Patent No. 9,833,839 (the ‘839 patent), entitled ‘Fabricating an Interface Layer for Removable Support.’ Desktop Metal, who was granted the patents earlier this year, alleges that Markforged has infringed and continues to infringe on this IP, and has been doing so knowingly. A further six counts Desktop Metal has filed against the defendants include Violation of the Defend Trade Secrets of 2016; Trade Secret Misappropriation; Unfair or Deceptive Trade practices; Breach of Contract (NDA); and Breach of the Covenant of Good Fair and Fair Dealing. The latter two are being levelled solely at Matiu Parangi. Desktop Metal has requested a Jury Trial and is seeking from the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts a permanent injunction against Markforged which will prevent the company from continuing to infringe on the IP, as well as an award of damages to compensate against current or future profits deemed to be generated by Markforged as a result of their alleged IP infringement.
Desktop Metal comment
Desktop Metal CEO, Ric Fulop, through venture capital investor, North Bridge, was an early supporter of Markforged’s while the company focused exclusively on polymer 3D printing. In 2015, he set up Desktop Metal and, in the wake of his current company’s law suit against Markforged, commented:
“Metal 3D printing is an exciting, quickly growing and rapidly evolving industry, and as a pioneer in the space, Desktop Metal welcomes healthy and vibrant competition. When that competition infringes on our technology, however, we have a duty to respond. We believe Markforged products clearly utilise technology patented by Desktop Metal and we will do what is necessary to protect our IP and our company.”
Markforged comment
Markforged has since responded to the impending lawsuit through a blog on the company's website penned by CEO, Greg Mark. It reads:
"I founded Markforged in my kitchen six years ago. I dreamt of giving every engineer the ability to 3D print real, functional, mechanical parts. We invented something that had never existed before - a continuous carbon fiber 3D printer. Our Metal X product is an extension of that platform.
"We’ve come a long way. We now have the most advanced technology platform in 3D printing, and I’m incredibly proud of what our team of engineers have accomplished.
"On Monday, a competitor filed a lawsuit against us, including various far-fetched allegations. Markforged categorically denies these allegations and we will be formally responding shortly in our own court filing.
"Markforged is a thriving business with a dedicated team of passionate people, and we’re going to continue to execute and deliver amazing products to our customers."
