International Trade Commission to Investigate 30 Glove Manufacturers Following King & Spalding's Nitrile Glove Complaint for the Tillotson Corporation

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - July 2, 2007) - The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted to investigate 30 international glove manufacturers for alleged patent infringement in the importation into the United States of certain nitrile gloves for hand protection. The ITC action is based on a complaint filed on May 30 by King & Spalding, a leading international law firm, on behalf of Georgia-based Tillotson Corporation for intellectual property infringement under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930.

The case is being referred to ITC administrative law judge Charles H. Bullock, who will hold an evidentiary hearing to determine whether infringement exists.

More than 22 billion nitrile gloves were imported into the United States in the past four years, with a retail value of nearly $250 million.

Nitrile gloves are made of synthetic latex and offer more puncture and chemical resistance than standard rubber gloves. Global demand is expected to reach 120 billion pieces in 2007, with Malaysia supplying approximately 60 percent of the global market. Three of the world's largest rubber glove manufacturers, Top Glove Corp Bhd., Supermax Corporation Bhd. and Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd., all of Malaysia, are included in the complaint.

King & Spalding international trade partner Gilbert B. Kaplan will lead representation of Tillotson Corporation in the investigation. King & Spalding intellectual property lawyers Anthony B. Askew (partner), Katrina M. Quicker (counsel) and Jason M. Pass (associate) will also advise on this matter, along with international trade lawyers Jeffrey M. Telep (counsel) and Taryn L. Koball (associate).

King & Spalding's international trade group, headquartered in the firm's Washington, D.C. and London offices, handles a wide range of international trade, export control and customs matters for clients the world over. The group is well-known for its expertise in representing domestic industries that are being injured by dumped and subsidized imports. It is also active in advising companies and industries and representing governments in dispute settlement proceedings before the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

About King & Spalding

King & Spalding is an international law firm with more than 800 lawyers in Atlanta, Houston, London, New York, Riyadh (affiliated office) and Washington, D.C. The firm represents half of the Fortune 100, and in a Corporate Counsel survey in August 2006 was ranked one of the top ten firms representing Fortune 250 companies overall. For additional information, visit www.kslaw.com.

Contact Information: Contact: Matthew Hyams King & Spalding Ph (212) 827-4057