Viken, Sweden, September 13, 2006--Välinge Innovation AB issued a statement this morning saying that the Classen Group had claimed to have filed a legal action against the company in Düsseldorf. However Välinge said in the statement that, “at present, not been served yet.”
Välinge said it believes that Classen is overstretching the scope of its patent EP 1 415 056 and is trying to protect commercial solutions it never considered, nor disclosed, when filing its patent application.
Classen clearly tries to protect a hook-like system with an incorporated flexible snap tab and is only at present launching it so-called Megaloc product, Välinge said it the statement.
Välinge said it was however the first company in the world (more than one year ago) to launch a floor panel with an angling lock on the long side and a vertical locking system on the short side comprising a tongue that is displaceable in a groove. Such floorboards are covered by several patents and patent applications from Välinge.
Välinge said it is its strong belief that Classen’s allegations are unjustified. Välinge’s solution lacks several of the required features of the Classen’s EP 1 415 056: for example the loose locking element that displays a resilient snap tab and the undercut groove. Further Välinge believes that the Classen patent will face serious problems before the EPO during the upcoming opposition procedures.
Välinge said it has has instructed its lawyers to file an opposition procedure against this patent before the European patent Office in Munich, Germany.
And it said it welcomes this legal action from Classen, so that it will be able to challenge, in an early stage, the unjustified allegations of Classen.
