BOSTON — November 29, 2017 — Velcro Companies won an important jury verdict in a patent lawsuit brought by YKK Corp. The jury concluded that Velcro Companies’ VELCRO® Brand fasteners do not infringe YKK’s patent.
“We are pleased to have won a favorable jury verdict following a four-year lawsuit against YKK Corporation,” said Fraser Cameron, president and CEO of Velcro Companies. “Innovation is what drives our work and has been deeply rooted in the company since its founding more than 60 years ago. We strongly believe in ethical conduct and the value of intellectual property, and we take care to ensure our new products do not infringe on existing patents. We are pleased the jury in this case agreed with us.”
In August 2013 YKK sued Velcro Companies — its primary rival in the transportation and automotive segment of the hook-and-loop fastener business — for patent infringement with the goal of obtaining an injunction and removing VELCRO® Brand 4Gi and MH4 hook fasteners from the transportation market. Many cars in the U.S. with fabric or leather covers use hook fastener strips embedded in seat cushions to secure seat trim covers, so a large market was at risk. The jury delivered a complete defense verdict of non-infringement, finding that Velcro Companies’ VELCRO® Brand fasteners do not infringe YKK’s patent.
The case is YKK Corporation et al v. Velcro USA Inc. (Middle District of Georgia). Velcro Companies was represented by Fish & Richardson.
Posted November 29, 2017
Source: Velcro Companies
