Willemstad, Curucao–Innovations4Flooring (I4F), a technology company providing flooring installation solutions, announced it has initiated the filing of an action to nullify the Dutch part of the base patent EP 1 084 317 from Välinge Innovation AB. The invalidity proceedings on the merits against Välinge were filed before the District Court of The Hague in the Netherlands.
According to the company, I4F has clear evidence that the Dutch part of the base patent is fully anticipated by various prior art references, and is seeking a ruling that the claims of Välinge’s EP 1 084 317 are invalid. The enforcement of Välinge’s patent EP 1 084 317 has been imposed on the flooring industry for close to 17 years.
The proceedings allow for a decision in the Netherlands. A first instance decision, dealing with validity, can be obtained within approximately one year.
I4F is the original creator and provider of a truly patented one-piece drop lock solution, based on a threefold locking mechanism, suitable for laminate, LVT, WPC and wooden flooring panels. The company’s 3L TripleLock one piece drop-lock technology has patents granted in 37 countries worldwide and multiple additional patent applications pending.