Daikin expands patent non-assertion pledge for air conditioners using low GWP refrigerant HFC-32

Daikin Industries, Ltd. has added 120 new patents to its “Pledge of Non-Assertion of Patents Relating to the Manufacture and Sale of HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) Equipment Using the Single Component Refrigerant HFC-32 (R32).” Thirty of these patents relate to the manufacture and sale of VRF in Europe and are jointly held by Daikin Industries, Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiary Daikin Europe N.V. A total of 419 patents can be used without the need for prior permission or written contract from Daikin. With this expansion, Daikin aims to facilitate further adoption of the HFC-32 refrigerant which has a lower impact to global warming than conventional refrigerants.