Intellectual Property

Taking into account the time and substantial investments required to develop innovative technologies and products as well as the efforts required to obtain regulatory approvals, it is Company's policy to seek sound patent protection both for those technologies and products developed in-house or for which commercialization rights have been obtained from third parties. Consequently, the Company is overseeing patent prosecution for several technologies. It is also vigilant in ensuring that commercial secrets are safeguarded and that activities are not infringing the rights of third parties.

Typically, patent applications would first be filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and would then be pursued in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and other countries as may be deemed appropriate, in accordance with the Company's marketing and development plans. Furthermore, the advantages of filing provisional applications are exploited to ensure the earliest possible protection of new and innovative solutions as soon as they are put forward and considered for potential use.