David Myron, editor of ProSales (a sister publication to JLC covering the building material supply chain) reports that Huber Engineered Woods (HEW) filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against LP Building Solutions, claiming LP’s new WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier products infringe on at least eight of HEW’s Zip System sheathing and tape patents.
LP just unveiled WeatherLogic at the International Builders' Show last week, firmly underscoring that "integrated sheathing"--structural panel products that combine an air barrier and water-resistive barrier with structural OSB in one labor-saving panel--continues to grow. So far, however, HEW's patent seems to hold total control over this new market.
A similar lawsuit filed by Huber against Georgia-Pacific was settled in 2017, when GP signed an agreement that granted it a license to offer its ForceField System products in return for an undisclosed upfront amount and ongoing royalties paid to HEW. Three months ago, HEW filed another patent-infringement lawsuit against Martco, and Corrigan OSB, alleging that the RoyOMartin Eclipse Weather Resistant Barrier products infringe on at least seven of HEW's Zip System sheathing and tape patents.
