Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ:COLM) and its Italian-based
subsidiary OutDry Technologies welcomed an April 29 ruling of the Court
of Milan, Italy, granting a preliminary injunction against defendants
Geox S.p.A., Geox s.r.l., and Nibar S.r.l., in connection with the sale
of certain “Amphibiox” branded shoes in Italy. The court, after
determining that some Amphibiox shoes likely infringed an OutDry patent
used to create waterproof-breathable footwear, authorized the seizure of
certain Amphibiox products and issued an injunction to prevent further
sale of the offending footwear. The interim decision is subject to
appeal.
“We are very pleased with the ruling by the Court of Milan, and look
forward to the next stage of the proceedings,” said Peter Bragdon,
Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs for Columbia and
OutDry. “We believe strongly that OutDry technology provides superior
performance in waterproof-breathable footwear, and the OutDry patent
portfolio is critical to the protection and advancement of our
innovative technology. We will continue to pursue infringing products
aggressively.”
Since its founding near Milan in 1998, OutDry, which is pursuing a
similar infringement action against Geox in Germany, has established
itself as a technology leader for producing waterproof, breathable
footwear and gloves. OutDry’s patented and patent-pending construction
methods bond a waterproof, breathable membrane directly to the inside of
the outermost layer of a shoe or glove, thereby preventing water
or dirt from penetrating to internal airspaces and fabric layers as
commonly occurs with products that rely on bulky booties or bladders.
OutDry improves waterproof, breathable performance, reduces water-weight
gain, maintains insulation capacity, and improves fit and dexterity,
resulting in greater comfort. Avoiding water penetration beyond the
outermost layer may also help reduce the incidence of mold, mildew and
bacteria that often develop when internal fabric layers become wet. The
company is based in the North of Italy with an operations branch in
China. For more information, visit: http://www.outdry.com.
About Columbia Sportswear
Columbia Sportswear Company is a leading innovator in the global outdoor
apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment industry. Founded in 1938
in Portland, Oregon, Columbia products are sold in approximately 100
countries and have earned an international reputation for innovation,
quality and performance. Columbia products feature innovative
technologies and designs that protect outdoor enthusiasts from the
elements, increase comfort, and make outdoor activities more enjoyable.
In addition to the Columbia® brand, Columbia Sportswear Company also
owns the outdoor brands Mountain Hardwear®, Sorel®, Montrail® and
OutDry®. To learn more, please visit the company’s websites at www.columbia.com,
www.mountainhardwear.com,
www.sorel.com,
www.montrail.com
and www.outdry.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014