Unilin Cites European Licensing Agreement in Pergo

Thomasville, NC, June 25--The basis for the lawsuit initiated by Unilin against Pergo Inc. and Pergo AB on June 22, according to Unilin, is the infringement by unlicensed Pergo Smartlock joints of Unilin's US 6 490 836 patent. Although Pergo has already recognized Unilin's rights on Smartlock in Europe and has a license for it, Unilin claims that Pergo refuses to accept the parallel US patents. One of Pergo's main customers of Smartlock joints in the US is Lowe's.