Safe-Run makes “significant progress” in VMI patent dispute

Kunshan, China – Safe-Run has made “significant progress” in its patent invalidation and patent litigation dispute with VMI Holland BV, the Chinese rubber machinery maker announced 8 Aug.

China’s Patent Re-examination Board of State Intellectual Property Office declared that the VMI’s invention patent titled Assembly for and Method of Making a Tyre Component is “entirely invalid”, said a press release from Safe-Run.

“The patent declared invalid is deemed to be not exist[ing] from the very beginning,” said the company based in Kunshan city, Jiangsu province. “In addition, the court has dismissed VMI's litigation action against Safe-Run for this patent infringement.”

The statement, supplied by Safe-Run Machinery (Suzhou) Co. Ltd, went on to emphasise that Safe-Run attaches great importance to independent R&D and intellectual property protection, and respects patent rights of other companies.

The company concluded that it would “continue to actively respond to challenges, put more emphasis on the strategy of intellectual property development, and devote great efforts to make positive contributions to the tire industry.”

On 31 July, VMI announced that the Chinese Patent Re-examination Board of State Intellectual Property Office had upheld its “major invention patents” relating to this dispute (see report).