VMI announces patent-invalidation win in Safe-Run dispute

Epe, The Netherlands – In a new development in the intellectual property dispute between the companies, VMI announced that it has won a patent-invalidation case against Chinese rival Safe-Run.

“Recently, the Chinese Patent Review Board has ruled in this case and invalidated the first Safe-Run patent in its entirety as the patent was based on prior art,” said a 26 Oct statement from the Dutch tire-building machine maker.

According to a VMI spokeswoman, the patent in question is CN 202592763 and the date of the ruling was 22 Aug.

The ruling is the first in a number of filings seeking the invalidation of Safe-Run patents, according to VMI, which added that it “feels confident” that these will also be granted.

“The technology in question can be proven to have been developed by VMI and utilised in VMI machines prior to Safe-Run’s application for a patent,” the European company stated.

“We feel strengthened in our belief in the Chinese legal system. This illegal use of protected intellectual property undermines innovation and prevents advancement in the industry,” said Harm Voortman, president & CEO of VMI Group.