Smith & Fong Denies Teragren's Patent Charges

Seattle, WA, January 3, 2008--Bamboo flooring manufacturer Smith & Fong Co. is challenging a claim that its products infringe on a patent that is licensed to competitor Teragren. Smith & Fong also claims the patent is invalid.

On Nov. 5, Teragren filed a one count patent infringement complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Teragren claims Smith & Fong infringes on a bamboo strand patent that it says is exclusively licensed to Teragren. The process fuses bamboo strands together with adhesives.

“We believe strongly the alleged patent is invalid,” said Dan Smith, president and founder of Smith & Fong. “And even if the patent were valid, none of Smith & Fong’s products infringes it.”

Smith noted that while Smith & Fong, which does business as Plyboo, is the first competitor to be served a lawsuit by Teragren, the bamboo industry at large has been targeted.

“We are trying to vindicate the rights of strand-bamboo manufacturers as well as importers and distributors.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in San Francisco, Smith & Fong Co. was the first U.S. company to manufacture bamboo flooring in China for sale in North America. In 1996 the firm began producing bamboo plywood, followed by coconut palm flooring and plywood products in 2000.