Oakley, Inc. has entered into an agreement with The Hockey Company to be the company’s exclusive worldwide distributor for its patented, optically correct, hockey face shields. The Hockey Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reebok International, Ltd., and the most storied and successful hockey company in the world, conducts business under the CCM, JOFA and KOHO trade names.
“This exclusive agreement with The Hockey Company enables Oakley to leverage THC’s expertise as distributors of hockey products worldwide, and allows us to tap markets more effectively than we have before. This agreement allows us to focus more of our energy towards our other product categories, commented Oakley’s Chief Operating Officer, Link Newcomb.
By way of the distribution agreement, THC will begin marketing and distributing Oakley’s patented hockey face shields worldwide, on behalf of Oakley, beginning January 1, 2005. In addition to handling the worldwide distribution of Oakley’s hockey shields, THC will continue Oakley’s efforts to supply professional hockey players with the Oakley hockey shields, the most optically correct face shields on the planet.
The distribution agreement follows the agreement by the parties to settle and dismiss litigation filed by Oakley in federal court alleging that THC and its subsidiaries infringed Oakley’s U.S. Patent Nos. 5,815,848, 6,010,217, and 6,038,705. The parties agreed to dismiss Oakley’s claims and the Defendants counterclaims in the lawsuit, which contended that Oakley’s patents were invalid. The Hockey Company, and its subsidiaries, have agreed to cease making and selling its JOFA-branded hockey shield accused of infringement in the lawsuit, and to not contest the validity of the patents during the life of the distribution agreement. The effective term of the agreement, of which other specific terms were not disclosed, runs through December 31, 2015, soon after the first of Oakley’s face shield patents begin to expire.
“This is a very exciting long term partnership that presents an opportunity for both parties to resolve all past issues and to team up in a way that is both, constructive and mutually beneficial, said Len Rhodes, The Hockey Company’s Vice President, Product Creation and Global Marketing.
Oakley entered into the hockey equipment business in 1997 when the company acquired One Xcel, the owner of a portfolio of patents covering optically correct face shields. Oakley will continue to manufacture, market and distribute its face shields for football.
