Unilin Wins Patent Challenge in Appeals Court

Dalton, GA, Aug. 4, 2008--The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has rejected a challenge to Unilin's glueless laminate flooring patents.

Unilin filed a complaint on July 1, 2005 before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) against 32 importers and overseas manufacturers of glueless laminate flooring. Unilin claimed infringement on three of its glueless patents.

On Jan. 7, 2007 the ITC determined that Unilin's claims were justified and that the appropriate measure for protecting Unilin's position was the institution of a general exclusion order. The general exclusion order makes the importation of infringing glueless flooring panels illegal and U.S. customs is in charge of the enforcement of such general exclusion order.

The ITC decision was subsequently appealed by Yingbing Nature, Power Dekor and Lodgi Wood Industry. Power Dekor and Lodgi have in the meanwhile entered into settlement and license agreements with Unilin.

"We noticed a tremendous drop in the importation of infringing products following the institution of the general exclusion order early last year," said Paul De Cock, president Unilin North America.

"Manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers realized that the risks for importing and selling infringing goods had become huge and switched to product licensed by Unilin. This decision of the court of appeals will allow us to act forcefully against the remaining unlicensed products on the market. We believe that it will now become practically impossible to import glueless flooring ligitimately into the U.S. without a Unilin license."