3M sues for alleged patent infringement of paint protection films

3M has sued automotive paint protection supplier XPEL Technologies Corp. for alleged patent infringement.

3M on Tuesday filed the lawsuit in federal district court in Minnesota against the San Antonio-based company, claiming that XPEL's XPF paint protection film product infringes on 3M's 2014 patent for "multilayer polyurethane protective films."

3M's protective film products protect the finish of a vehicle from scratches, stains, bug acids and rock chips. The company's automotive division supplies more than 1,000 different products.

"3M strives to provide its customers with the most innovative materials and solutions for their products," the Maplewood-based multinational company said Wednesday in a news release. "The company is committed to protecting its investments and intellectual property in paint protection film products and vigorously defends its intellectual property rights."

3M is asking the court to order XPEL to stop selling the films, to compensate 3M for the films in question that were sold and to pay for attorney and court costs.

XPEL's XPF paint protection film is a multilayer film, which XPEL advertises online as a paint protection product designed to "protect the leading edge of your vehicle from damage caused by rocks, gravel, salt or insects through the application of a thin and virtually invisible urethane paint protection film," the lawsuit said.

XPEL issued a statement Wednesday that it has been made aware of the lawsuit.

"The company was not given any prior notice of the allegations making the basis of the complaint and is currently evaluating the merit, if any, of such complaint," the statement said. "The company currently intends to vigorously defend itself against such patent infringement claims."

XPEL says it is the leading supplier of automotive paint and headlamp protection films with more than 70,000 vehicle-specific applications.

Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495

Twitter: @nicolenorfleet