Snow helmet and goggle brand Anon and parent company Burton Snowboards secured a legal victory against Koroyd S.A.R.L.
Following a 26-month legal battle in the German Federal Patent Court (Docket No. 7 Ni 1/22 (EP)), the court fully confirmed Burton Snowboard’s position and declared Koroyd’s patent (EP 1694 152 B1) invalid in Germany. Burton said the decision, announced on March 19, marks a “pivotal moment in the ongoing dispute over intellectual property rights regarding WaveCel technology.”
“We are thrilled with the outcome of the legal proceedings in the German Federal Patent Court,” said Mark Wakeling, global general manager at Anon. “This decision validates our stance and reinforces our commitment to innovation and fair competition in the industry. We have always maintained that our use of WaveCel technology in our Anon-branded helmets is legitimate, and this ruling affirms that position.”
Smith Optics, the maker of Smith-branded ski and snowboard helmets, and Koroyd have also jointly filed an intellectual property lawsuit against Burton for using WaveCel in its products in the United States. While that litigation is still pending, Burton Snowboards said it anticipates a similarly positive result.
“These legal battles, spanning over two years, underscore the complexities surrounding intellectual property disputes in the snow sports industry,” Anon said in a release. “Despite the German Federal Patent Court ruling in Burton’s favor, Koroyd retains the option to appeal the decision to the German Federal Court of Justice.”
Image courtesy Burton
