On Sunday, textile firm Kolon announced the resumption of its Kevlar-like fiber production in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. This move comes after a temporary halt of one day due to ongoing legal proceedings in the United States.
A U.S. court has granted an appeal from Kolon, which temporarily suspends the injunction that was preventing the company from globally producing and selling its aramid fiber, a key component in the manufacturing of body armor.
In a recent ruling by Judge Robert Payne of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, in favor of Kevlar manufacturer DuPont, it was determined that Kolon had misappropriated “trade secrets and confidential information” related to the trademarked fiber. As a result, a 20-year ban on Kolon’s worldwide production and sales of the product was imposed, along with a fine of $919 million in damages.
Kolon has initiated an appeal that will be reviewed and heard in the U.S. Court of Appeals. The company expresses optimism in obtaining a fair and equitable ruling through this process. A spokesperson for Kolon suggested that non-legal factors may have influenced the initial decision.
