Align Technology, Inc., a global medical device company known for its work in clear aligners and digital orthodontics, has filed multiple patent infringement lawsuits against Angelalign Technology, Inc. (“Angel”), a Shanghai-based clear aligner manufacturer. The lawsuits allege that certain Angel products and related software infringe on patents held by Align. These patents cover developments in multilayer aligner materials, digital treatment planning, and other technological features used in aligner therapy.
The legal actions have been initiated across several jurisdictions, including the United States, Europe, and China. Align is seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages as part of its broader intellectual property enforcement strategy.
“Align is a pioneer in orthodontics, investing over $300 million annually (and approximately $2 billion since 2001) in research and development. It’s an unrivalled level of investment that shows clearly our unwavering commitment to our customers and their patients. Our vision and passion for helping doctors transform the orthodontic industry from analog to digital through sustained investments fuels the company’s innovation and technological leadership and advances orthodontic care around the world,” said Julie Coletti, EVP, chief legal and regulatory officer. “We welcome fair and innovative competition, but we will protect our own innovations when companies choose to infringe our years of hard work and investment instead of legitimately performing research and development of their own. The patents we are asserting represent important components of our broad intellectual property portfolio and reflect key innovations in clear aligner therapy.”
Align’s global operations include manufacturing and treatment planning centers located across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific regions. These facilities support the company’s efforts to provide digitally planned, doctor-directed orthodontic care.
Facilities in Costa Rica, Poland, China, Spain, France, Germany, and Japan contribute to clinical treatment planning, while manufacturing centers in Juarez (Mexico), Wroclaw (Poland), and Ziyang (China) support production. In each region, the company's infrastructure aims to streamline operations and support local healthcare providers and patients.
