STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov. 18, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Pergo's strategy to protect and defend Pergo's technology and know-how has, as earlier communicated, resulted in Pergo initiating several legal cases against the Faus Group for, amongst other things, patent and copyright infringements.
In one of the legal cases the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina on November 7, 2005, declined to grant a preliminary injunction requested by Pergo against Faus Group Inc's and Industrias Auxiliares Faus S.L's sales of a molding product which infringes several of Pergo's patents. The ruling concerns only one of six asserted patents, in one of Pergo's suits against Faus.
While the Court indicated in the decision that Faus had raised certain questions about the validity of one of Pergo's patents, the Court also held that Faus had not proved the Pergo patent protecting, amongst other things Pergo's revolutionary and innovative SimpleSolutions(TM) Four-in-One Molding product, to be invalid. At trial, Faus cannot merely raise questions about validity but will be required to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the patent, as well as each of the other five asserted patents, are invalid. The Court also noted that, based on the evidence Pergo is ``viewed in the marketplace as the pioneer in the field of multi-configuration transition moldings".
"This case is only one in a number of cases we have against Faus and the patent assessed in the decision is only one of six patents asserted against Faus in the case. We intend, at trial, to vigorously pursue our claims for infringement of all six of Pergo's patents, seeking a permanent injunction and monetary damages against Faus. We feel confident that the outcome of this legal proceeding, as well as the other legal proceedings, against the Faus Group will be in our favour." says Tony Sturrus CEO.
The patent in question protects Pergo's invention which, amongst other things, can reduce the number of molding products by as much as 75 percent, while providing manufacturers, distributors and retailers greatly increased inventory turns.
About Pergo
Pergo is a leading flooring company with leading market positions, particularly in Europe and the USA. Pergo's net sales amount to approximately SEK 2.8 billion and the number of employees is around 700. Pergo developed laminate flooring at the end of the 1970s and launched the product in Europe during the 1980s. The company initiated sales in the US in 1994 and on a smaller scale later in Asia in 1995 and Latin America in 1997. The company's products have been marketed under the PERGO(R) brand since 1989. The company is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange's O-list. For further information about Pergo, please visit www.pergo.com.
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