The Hockey Company Holdings Inc. announced that the U.S District Court for the Central District of California has denied Oakley, Inc.'s application for a temporary restraining order against two of its subsidiaries, The Hockey Company and JOFA AB.
In denying Oakley's application, the court recognized that Oakley's own papers filed with the court raised a substantial question about the validity of Oakley's patents.
Oakley filed its lawsuit July 31, 2003 alleging that the JOFA(R) IMAGE(TM) visor, designed, manufactured and distributed by subsidiaries of The Hockey Company Holdings Inc., violated Oakley's U.S Patent No. 5,815,848 and U.S Patent No. 6,010,217.
The Hockey Company Holdings Inc.'s subsidiary, The Hockey Company, has moved to have Oakley's suit in California dismissed and its subsidiaries have instituted an action in Vermont to have Oakley's patents declared invalid.
“Our subsidiaries have been very vigilant in designing and creating the JOFA(R) visor and will defend vigorously their position, products and practices,” said Matt O'Toole, CEO and President of The Hockey Company Holdings Inc. “Our company is the preeminent name in hockey equipment and related items, and the products designed, created and manufactured by our subsidiaries set the standard for quality in the industry.”
