Thursday, September 4, 2008

Ze-gen hit with patent suit by competitors

By Mass High Tech Staff

Boston-based Ze-gen Inc., which is developing a process for making synthetic gas from construction and other waste materials, has been hit with a patent infringement lawsuit from two competitors.

Fall River-based Quantum Catalytics LLC and Texas-based Texas Syngas Inc., which is partially owned by Quantum Catalytics, filed the suit in Boston federal court on August 22, according to a report from the Patriot Ledger, claiming Ze-gen improperly uses patents and trade secrets that belong to Quantum and Texas Syngas.

Ze-gen officials, including CEO Bill Davis, said the accusations are without merit, and that the company will vigorously defend its position. While Davis declined to discuss specific details of the case, he said the suit is “beyond frivolous” and that the firm would be filing its response with the court in the coming weeks.

Founded in 2004, Ze-gen has raised more than $8 million in private funding, $2.5 million of which was added in January of this year. The company’s technology is in the demonstration stage at several sites, including a New Bedford Waste Services LLC processing facility in New Bedford.

Officials have publicly stated the company hopes to have its own facility open in New England in 2009.

Investors in the company include Pinnacle Ventures, Flagship Ventures, VantagePoint Venture Partners, the Massachusetts Technology Development Corp. and the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust.