Earlier this week, Huber Engineered Woods (HEW) filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against LP Building Solutions, claiming LP’s WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier products infringe at least eight of HEW’s ZIP System sheathing and tape patents.
HEW’s ZIP System sheathing and tape, introduced in 2006, is a structural panel with a built-in exterior weather-resistive barrier (WRB) that provides moisture protection and air sealing. The all-in-one system is designed to offer the same structural bracing as traditional sheathing combined with a WRB, saving builders time and money on the job site.
The WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier products debuted this week at the International Builders’ Show, in Las Vegas, where HEW’s ZIP System sheathing and tape products were also showcased. Similar to HEWs system, the WeatherLogic offering aims to replace traditional sheathing and housewrap methods with an all-in-one air and water barrier system.
“We have consistently invested to develop a broad portfolio of patents to protect our branded products, including ZIP System sheathing and tape products and AdvanTech flooring and sheathing panels,” said HEW President Brian Carlson in a prepared statement. “We have a history of successfully enforcing our patent rights, and we will continue vigorously enforcing those rights as evidenced by these lawsuits.”
In an email response to ProSales magazine about the lawsuit filing, LP stated, “We are aware of Huber’s press release but we have not seen the actual lawsuit, so we cannot comment on the specifics. Our legal team is handling it. LP’s product development process includes rigorous legal research and we will vigorously defend LP WeatherLogic in court.”
LP’s WeatherLogic system is featured in ProSales magazine’s upcoming New Products Issue (the March / April issue), which already shipped to the printer.
HEW filed the lawsuit against LP Building Solutions in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (Huber Engineered Woods LLC v. Louisiana-Pacific Corporation) on February 18, 2019.
The lawsuit filing comes less than three months after HEW filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Martco, and Corrigan OSB, alleging that the RoyOMartin Eclipse Weather Resistant Barrier products infringe at least seven of HEW’s ZIP System sheathing and tape patents. HEW filed the RoyOMartin lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Huber Engineered Woods LLC v. Martco, L.L.C. and Corrigan OSB, L.L.C., Civil Action No. 2:18-cv-530) on December 7, 2018.
