58. PI 14973 describes the formation of a supported catalyst by reacting MeB(OH)2 with an
alumina or silica support material in a solvent and drying to obtain a powder. The powder is
suspended in toluene and Me3Al is added in a prescribed ratio of Al to B. After the reaction is
complete, a specified amount of Cp2ZrCl2 is added and the mixture is dried to obtain a free flowing
solid. The solid is said to be an active catalyst for alpha-olefins without the need of an additional
co-catalyst. GX 9.
59. A letter dated February 13, 1991 informed Dr. Geerts that PI 14973 had sufficient merit to
be presented to the Invention Committee and that IN 15174 was assigned to the idea. GR 18, ¶ 31;
GR 421, ¶ 31; GX 45.
60. On May 13, 1992, IN 15174 was transferred from the patent liaison to patent attorney
Bowman. GR 19, ¶ 32; GX 45.
61. Almost 15 months passed between the date of the letter to Dr. Geerts and transfer of IN
15174 to the patent attorney.
62. Geerts provides no explanation for why IN 15174 was not promptly forwarded to a patent
attorney for further evaluation.
63. A letter dated July 7, 1992, informed Dr. Geerts that filing a patent application on IN 15174
was not warranted “because of insufficient patent value in its present state of development.” GR 19,
¶ 33; GR 326-27, ¶ 9; GX 66.
64. On June 18, 1993, the Phillips Invention Committee decided that an application should be
filed on IN 15174 but the filing would be part of Case 33136. GR 23-24, ¶ 45; GX 65.
Patent Idea Record 16876
65. On June 26, 1992, Drs. Geerts and Hill prepared a Patent Idea Record that was subsequently
designated PI 16876. GR 20, ¶ 35; GR 306, ¶ 371; GR 364, ¶ 29; GX 27.
66. PI 16876 describes the formation of ethylaluminoxane by the reaction of triethylaluminum
and methylboronic acid in a hydrocarbon solvent and indicates that the soluble product can be used
as an olefin polymerization catalyst. GX 27.
67. A letter dated September 22, 1992, informed Drs. Geerts and Hill that PI 16876 had sufficient
merit to be referred to the Phillips Invention Committee and that IN 15622 had been assigned to the
idea. GR 36-37, ¶ 19; GR 20, ¶ 36; GX 57.
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