Source: FieldTurf
PARIS AND MONTREAL – FieldTurf, a Tarkett Sports company and a global market leader in artificial turf, announces that on October 9th it was awarded $30 million in damages in its patent infringement case against AstroTurf, LLC.
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Source: FieldTurf
PARIS AND MONTREAL – FieldTurf, a Tarkett Sports company and a global market leader in artificial turf, announces that on October 9th it was awarded $30 million in damages in its patent infringement case against AstroTurf, LLC.
The case was filed in June of 2010 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. After a month long trial, the jury found AstroTurf infringed FieldTurf U.S. Patent No. 6,723,412. The jury determined AstroTurf’s infringement was “willful,” which allows for a trebling of damages. The jury also ruled in FieldTurf’s favor on AstroTurf’s counterclaim.
“We are grateful for the jury’s efforts and their attention to the evidence. While litigation was a last resort, the process confirmed the validity of our ‘412 patent and the significant damages awarded confirms the importance of this technology in delivering innovative artificial turf systems that provide optimum playability, and safety" said Eric Daliere, President of Tarkett Sports. "This victory reinforces our commitment to protect our intellectual property and innovation," added Marie-France Nantel, Tarkett Sports General Counsel.
Additional issues remain for the court to rule upon that could impact the amount of the award, and any final ruling and award in the case is subject to appeal.
FieldTurf was represented by Winston & Strawn LLP in this matter.
About Tarkett Sports
Tarkett Sports offers a comprehensive portfolio of sports flooring solutions: FieldTurf artificial turf for baseball, American football, soccer, rugby and golf; Beynon running tracks for outdoor and indoor surfaces; synthetic and hardwood flooring for basketball; floor protection and covering systems for gymnasium and weight room, for volleyball, squash and racquetball courts.
About Tarkett
Tarkett is a global leader in innovative and sustainable solutions for flooring and sports surfaces. Offering a wide range of products including vinyl, linoleum, carpet, rubber, wood & laminate, synthetic turf and athletic tracks, the Group serves customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. With 12,000 employees and 34 industrial sites, Tarkett sells 1.3 million square meters of flooring every day, for hospitals, schools, housing, hotels, offices, stores and sports fields. Committed to sustainable development, the Group has implemented an eco-innovation strategy and promotes circular economy. Tarkett’s net sales of 2.4 billion euros in 2014 are balanced between Europe, North America and the region comprising CIS countries, APAC & LATAM. Tarkett is listed on Euronext Paris (compartment A, ticker TKTT, ISIN: FR0004188670). www.tarkett.com
