ArcelorMittal’s Key High Strength Steel Patent is Confirmed

On March 20, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit left in place its December 2012 decision confirming that ArcelorMittal’s pioneer patent (US Patent No. 6,296,805) broadly covers aluminum pre-coated hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel for hot stamping, a product sold worldwide as Usibor®.

Based on the decision, ArcelorMittal intends to enforce its rights against any infringers. As interpreted by the Court, ArcelorMittal’s US patent covers most of the steel US carmakers specify for hot-stamped parts. The Court’s most recent decision comes after the decision on February 19, 2013 of the United States Patent and Trademark Office allowing re-issue of the ArcelorMittal patent, confirming its full validity and scope as applying in particular to cold-rolled steel for hot stamping with a final UTS of more than 1000 MPa.

ArcelorMittal’s steelmaking facilities in Indiana supply Usibor® steel in the United States. ArcelorMittal’s Global Research and Development facilities continue to be the worldwide leader in developing and improving automotive steel technologies, including the Usibor® technology.