Classen Patent Confirmed Again

The Düsseldorf District Court confirms that the Megaloc patent has been infringed by the Välinge 5G „bow shaped tongue“ and „bristle tongue“ embodiments.

Kaisersesch, 25th September 2011. In its decision pronounced on 28 July, 2011 (Case No. 4 O 92/10), the Düsseldorf District Court established vis-à-vis ter Hürne GmbH & Co. KG et al – a licensee of the Välinge 5G embodiment – that – independently of whether a locking element called a „bow shaped tongue“ or „bristle tongue“ is used – floor panels laid as a „fold down“ using a Välinge 5G system infringe the Megaloc patent EP 1 415 056 B1 owned by the Classen group.

By issuing the decision, the District Court confirmed its earlier legally valid decisions dated 18 October, 2007 (4a O 265/06) against Välinge and 31 July, 2007 (4b O 266/06) against another Välinge licensee, in which, at that time, the „bow shaped tongue“ version was likewise deemed an infringement of the Megaloc patent. According to the decision, both of the locking elements designed by Välinge provide a resilient snap tab in accordance with the Megaloc patent.

The District Court has, moreover, expressly acknowledged that the Megaloc patent also protects embodiments in the case of which the separate locking element is pre-assembled in a groove of the panel already mounted on the floor. The District Court reached this decision in particular taking into account the legally valid decision of the European Patent Office issued on 20 September, 2007, under which the Megaloc patent was deemed legally valid to an unlimited extent.

The District Court therefore ordered ter Hürne GmbH & Co. KG et al to cease and desist, provide corresponding accounting documentation, pay compensation for damage, destroy its panels and recall its panels. The decision is not yet final; the Defendants, ter Hürne GmbH & Co. KG et al, will have the option to file an appeal against the decision with the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf.

About Classen:
The CLASSEN Group manufactures high-quality wooden products and wood-based products for internal fixtures and fittings. CLASSEN is one of the largest suppliers in the world for laminate flooring. New product developments always focus on the needs of the DIY market. Product success is closely related to product quality and is a direct result of the corporate objective of taking ever-increasing customer expectations into account.
The CLASSEN group works together with the professional trade throughout the world!

Firm contact details
CLASSEN Gruppe
– Abt. Marketing –
Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 18-20
56759 Kaisersesch
Tel. +49 2653 9800
Fax +49 2653 980699
E-Mail: info@classen.de

Media contact
H.W.G
Marketing & Werbung
Dieter Meyer
Wiedbachstr. 50
56567 Neuwied
Tel. +49 2631 964628
Fax +49 2631 964614
E-Mail: dieter.meyer@hwg-media.de

tags: Classen District Court tongue Välinge confirmed ter shaped bow Megaloc patent Hürne Düsseldorf legally valid bristle locking element infringed Panels Megaloc Patents
The CLASSEN Group manufactures high-quality wooden products and wood-based products for internal fixtures and fittings. CLASSEN is one of the largest suppliers in the world for laminate flooring. New product developments always focus on the needs of the DIY market. Product success is closely related to product quality and is a direct result of the corporate objective of taking ever-increasing customer expectations into account.
The CLASSEN group works together with the professional trade throughout the world! Edited with the aid of http://die.pressefritzen.de

CLASSEN Gruppe
D. Meyer
Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 18-20
56759 Kaisersesch
+49 2653 9800

http://www.classen.de
info@classen.de

Pressekontakt:
H.W.G. Marketing & Werbung
Dieter Meyer
Wiedbachstr. 50
56567 Neuwied
dieter.meyer@hwg-media.de
+49 2631 964628
http://www.hwg-media.de