Välinge Successfully Successfully Defends Patent

Viken, Sweden - July 5, 2007--The European Opposition Division at EPO has, after an oral proceeding, maintained Välinge’s European patent EP 1 272 716 as granted without requiring any amendments.

The Opponents, Spanolux and Tilo, failed in their argumentation to have the EP patent 1 272 716 revoked or reduced in its scope of protection. The Opposition Division found the patent to be inventive and novel over the presented prior art (this decision can be appealed).

This patent describes in detail a very precise locking system whereby guiding parts in the locking element and in the locking groove make it possible to lock and unlock the floor panels in a very easy way and additionally provide an increased locking strength.

Today already seven EP patents have successfully past the opponents’ attacks and so far three even the appeal.

”Our patent position continues to strengthen as more and more of our patents are successfully withstanding the ultimate test during the opposition procedures” says Darko Pervan CEO of Välinge.

Välinge will now assert these patents against companies who infringe upon its intellectual property and refuse to take a license or cease the unauthorized use of the patented technology.