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Välinge signs license agreements for Extended Patent Protection

time2016/05/09

[Viken, Sweden] Välinge announced it has signed several license agreements with manufacturers of WPC and LVT floorings, thereby extending its IP protection through cross-licenses and non-assertion undertakings.

Posted Date: 5/6/2016

[Viken, Sweden] Välinge announced it has signed several license agreements with manufacturers of WPC and LVT floorings, thereby extending its IP protection through cross-licenses and non-assertion undertakings.

The Välinge patent portfolio for LVT and WPC products has been available to licensees for over 10 years. Since Välinge announced the Extended Patent Protection (EPP) for LVT and WPC floorings earlier this year, the following companies have been granted an extension to their license agreements: 

- Anhui Sentai WPC Tec Flooring Co., Ltd.
- Qing Yuan Kuai Di New Building Materials Co., Ltd.
- Anhui Omi Vinyl. Co., Ltd.
- Baroque Timber Industry (Zhongshan) Co., Ltd.
- Xianju Deyi Decoration Material Co., Ltd.
- Huizhou Naibao Plastic Products Co., Ltd.
- Chiping Jiahua Plastics Co., Ltd

The period 2012-2015 was marked by several legal disputes regarding scope of protection and patent rights applicable to LVT and WPC products, thereby bringing uncertainties to the market. Claims regarding certain of these IP rights were sent to several LVT/WPC licensees and their customers during that period. 

In order to eliminate market uncertainties, reduce legal costs for licensees and to speed up market introduction of new technologies, Välinge is now able to offer an Extended Patent Protection (EPP) for LVT and WPC floorings. The protection includes cross-licenses and non-assertion undertakings with companies such as Classen, Unilin, Windmöller, Mannington and USFloors. These third-party patent holders would have the right to take legal actions against producers, importers and distributors, dealing with infringing LVT and WPC products without this Extended Patent Protection.