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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 2, 1997
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THE GEON COMPANY
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Delaware 1-11804 34-1730488
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(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
One Geon Center, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code 216-930-1241
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Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Item 5. Other Events
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The Geon Company announced that it has obtained a U.S. District Court judgment
to prevent Universal Vinyl Corporation from infringing a patent Geon holds on
pearlescent compounds used in the production of vinyl vertical window blinds.
Additionally, the Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida awarded
Geon triple damages of $4.3 million for past willful patent infringement.
Item 7(c). Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
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Exhibit 99.1 Press Release of September 2, 1997 announcing that Geon has won a
lawsuit for patient infringement.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
THE GEON COMPANY
By /s/ Gregory L. Rutman
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Gregory L. Rutman
Secretary
Dated September 8, 1997
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EXHIBIT 99.1
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GEON WINS LAWSUIT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
CLEVELAND, OHIO -- September 2, 1997 -- The Geon Company (NYSE: GON) announced
today that it has obtained a U.S. District Court judgment to prevent Universal
Vinyl Corporation from further infringing a patent Geon holds on pearlescent
compounds used in the production of vinyl vertical window blinds.
In addition to granting a permanent injunction, the federal court for the
Southern District of Florida awarded Geon triple damages of $4.3 million for
past willful patent infringement. Geon had brought suit in Florida because
Universal Vinyl is headquartered outside Miami.
"Our purpose in pursuing this suit was to ensure that our rights to the
technology and the interests of our loyal customers who had licensed the patents
were protected," said V. Lance Mitchell, Geon vice president and general
manager, compounds. "We believe this demonstrates our resolve to aggressively
pursue these types of issues, when appropriate."
Geon holds three patents on a pigment system used in polyvinyl chloride or vinyl
compounds that are processed into vertical window blinds. The system gives the
blinds a unique, attractive pearlescent appearance.
The Geon Company is one of the largest suppliers of polyvinyl chloride resins in
North America, and is the world's largest merchant provider of PVC compounds.
Headquartered in Avon Lake, Ohio, the Geon Company and its subsidiaries have 11
manufacturing plants in the United States and Canada, and joint ventures in
Europe and Southeast Asia.
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Media contact: Dennis Cocco
216-930-1538
