USG Corp. has announced that its subsidiary, United States Gypsum Company, and Pacific Award Metals, Inc., settled a patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation suit brought by U.S. Gypsum (United States Gypsum Company v. Pacific Award Metals, Inc., C-04-0491, United States District Court for the Northern District of California).

In the settlement agreement, Pacific Award Metals recognized the value of U.S. Gypsum’s patent and proprietary technology utilized in the manufacture of coated, paper-faced corner bead and agreed to pay a one-time fee and an ongoing royalty to license the patent and technology. Coated, paper-faced corner bead is used to protect drywall corners formed in the construction of interior walls in homes and commercial buildings.

USG Corp. is a Fortune 500 company with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their key product groups: gypsum wallboard, joint compound and related gypsum products; cement board; gypsum fiber panels; ceiling panels and grid; and building products distribution.

Pacific Award Metals, headquartered in Baldwin Park, Calif., is one of the largest manufacturers of sheet metal products for the construction industry. For more information about Pacific Award Metals and its products, visitwww.awardmetals.com.