PORTLAND, Ore. & GREENVILLE, Pa.--The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon ruled in favor of MSM Investments Co. (MIC), based in Portland, in regard to Greenville-based Carolwood Corp. not having the license to sell MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) under the U.S. patents held by Robert Herschler, founder of MIC. Carolwood was ordered to pay damages of $1.2 million, plus accruing interest.
According to MIC, the license was terminated on May 15, 2002, "based on Carolwood's failure to pay royalties and its breach of a settlement agreement reached in December 1999, which established the license."
Hershler said in a company statement he was delighted justice was served. "Income from this long-awaited award will fund increased enforcement efforts to protect the interest of our licensees and their loyal customers worldwide," he added.
MIC reiterated in its April 4 statement there are now only two companies currently licensed to sell MSM product using the Herschler patents--Cardinal Nutrition in Vancouver, Wash., and Chemiplus in Japan.
Carolwood, which supplies Lignisul MSM™, had no comment.
