Callaway Golf Company and TaylorMade Golf Company have reached a settlement and patent license agreement that provides “specified rights” for each company to make certain products under patents owned by the other. The agreement covers technologies involving high MOI (moment of inertia) drivers, undercut irons and golf balls. The agreement announced jointly on Friday is expected to resolve all pending litigation between the companies. Details of the settlement are to remain confidential.
In other golf patent litigation news, the Associated Press is reporting that Callaway has apparently won a verdict against Acushnet Company, parent of Titleist, Cobra and Footjoy. Callaway had filed suit against Acushnet last year in a Delaware federal court for patent infringement relating to Callaway's three-layer golf balls. Acushnet reportedly acknowledged that its Titleist Pro V1 balls had infringed the Callaway patent, but claimed that those patents held by ELY were not valid.
A jury last week found that four of Callaway's contested patents were valid, while one was invalid. An additional trial is expected to be held to assess damages.
Acushnet claims that the Pro V1 is based on 70 of its own patents. The company sees the verdict as a mixed decision and said it expects to ultimately prevail in the case and was awaiting a decision on a motion for judgment.
