The University of Limerick is being sued by a company over a patent for recycling old LCD screens

The University of Limerick (UL) is being sued by a technology recycling company that claims a patent on the process of treating LCD screens to remove hazardous substances is invalid.

Ork-based Peregrine Technologies (Holdings) Ltd, which is involved in the development and commercialization of advanced technological solutions for the recycling of WEEE, says the patent granted to UL in 2016 should be revoked.

The patent was renewed last December.

Disposing of old LCD screens is particularly problematic as they contain hazardous mercury, which can result in emissions to the atmosphere or groundwater if landfilled or incinerated.

They are disposed of safely as part of the recycling process.

Peregrine’s developments include a robotic recycling system for processing discarded flat screens and laptops, and in particular a system called the FPD Pro.

It is said that a company called ALR Innovations, trading as Votechnik and holding an exclusive license to the UL patent, recently sent him (Peregrine) correspondence claiming that the FPD Pro System infringes the patent.

Peregrine rejects this claim.

It says UL’s patent is invalid and should be revoked because its specification goes beyond what it disclosed in its patent application.

In addition, the patent lacks novelty and an inventive step.

She brought an action against UL in the High Court, asking for the patent to be invalidated.

UL, which disputes the claims, on Monday agreed to place the Peregrine lawsuit on the expedited commercial court list.

Mr Judge Denis McDonald approved instructions on how the case should progress and said he could be brought back to court in June.

In her lawsuit, Peregrine seeks a declaration that the patent is invalid. She is seeking an order to revoke it or such orders under the European Communities (Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights) Regulations 2008, as appropriate.