SAN DIEGO, Calif.--Carl Zeiss Vision International and San Diego-based Carl Zeiss Vision have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Signet Armorlite. The move spotlights the increasing competition in the emerging field of digital surfacing technology also known as free-form lens technology.

In the suit, filed May 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, Carl Zeiss Vision alleges that Signet's line of Kodak Unique spectacle lenses and/or the process used to make the lenses infringes U.S. Patent No. 6,089,713, which covers a "spectacle lens with spherical lens with spherical front side and multifocal back side and process for its production."

"Technology innovation has always been a key to Carl Zeiss Vision’s success," said Fred Howard, president and general manager, Americas, Carl Zeiss Vision. "Our freeform lens technology covered by the '713 patent is an essential part of our cutting-edge approach to progressive lens customization. Carl Zeiss Vision is one of the world's leading creators of intellectual property in the field of ophthalmic lenses, and we intend to protect that property against unauthorized exploitation."

Responding to the suit, Bruno Salvadori, president and chief executive officer of Signet Armorlite, said, "Signet Armorlite, Inc., vigorously protects its intellectual property rights against unwarranted interference from others, including protection of its line of ophthalmic lens products licensed in cooperation with the Eastman Kodak Company, such as Signet Armorlite’s new Kodak Unique progressive lens product line.

"Signet Armorlite is disappointed that it was not provided the courtesy of any advance notice by Carl Zeiss Vision of its alleged patent infringement claims prior to the filing of those claims," continued Salvadori in a statement provided to VMail. "In view of Zeiss’s institution of formal legal action in federal court, Signet Armorlite will take the Zeiss claims under advisement, when received, and respond appropriately according to the court's permitted procedures."

"As presently advised, Signet Armorlite strongly believes that its accused progressive lens technology is not the same as that allegedly claimed by Zeiss, et al, in its asserted patent and, therefore, does not infringe the patent. This belief is reinforced by Signet Armorlite’s pre-existing license with a third party whose patent predates the Zeiss patent. Signet Armorlite will investigate the Zeiss claims when received and will respond with its defenses, which may also include counterclaims concerning the validity and/or enforceability of the ‘713 patent and related claims of unfair competition by Carl Zeiss Vision," Salvadori said.