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www.bicycleretailer.com JUNE 20, 2003 -- MUNICH, Germany (BRAIN)--Shimano won a patent infringement
suit against SRAM in a German District Court--a decision that could halt SRAM's shipment of its
Powerglide II cassettes into Europe's largest bicycle market.
SRAM stated in a press release that it will immediately file for a stay of execution and appeal
the decision.
The case revolves around Shimano's European Patent 0 313 345 on its Hyper Glide technology. Shimano
brought the case against SRAM Deutschland GmbH, its director, Kai-Uwe Rude, and SRAM Corporation
Europe Livisham Limited, said Harald Troost, Shimano Europe's press spokesman.
Troost said that Shimano is advising all its customers that it intends to enforce this decision
against the defendants in order to protect Shimano's legal rights.
"Following the decision of today (June 16) SRAM Deutschland GmbH and the other defendants in this
case will no longer be allowed to market its 'Powerglide II' brand cassettes (sold under their 5.0
and 7.0 trademarks) in Germany, even if SRAM exercises its right to appeal the decision because
Shimano intends to secure a deposit to enforce its patent rights," Troost said.
The administrative processes that could lead to a ban will take several weeks, during which SRAM
indicated it will file for a stay of execution and appeal the court decision. If the court grants
SRAM a stay, it can continue shipping the contested pieces into Germany. If not, it would have to
win on appeal.
The SRAM cassettes are eight- and nine-speed cogsets for mountain bikes.
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suit against SRAM in a German District Court--a decision that could halt SRAM's shipment of its
Powerglide II cassettes into Europe's largest bicycle market.
SRAM stated in a press release that it will immediately file for a stay of execution and appeal
the decision.
The case revolves around Shimano's European Patent 0 313 345 on its Hyper Glide technology. Shimano
brought the case against SRAM Deutschland GmbH, its director, Kai-Uwe Rude, and SRAM Corporation
Europe Livisham Limited, said Harald Troost, Shimano Europe's press spokesman.
Troost said that Shimano is advising all its customers that it intends to enforce this decision
against the defendants in order to protect Shimano's legal rights.
"Following the decision of today (June 16) SRAM Deutschland GmbH and the other defendants in this
case will no longer be allowed to market its 'Powerglide II' brand cassettes (sold under their 5.0
and 7.0 trademarks) in Germany, even if SRAM exercises its right to appeal the decision because
Shimano intends to secure a deposit to enforce its patent rights," Troost said.
The administrative processes that could lead to a ban will take several weeks, during which SRAM
indicated it will file for a stay of execution and appeal the court decision. If the court grants
SRAM a stay, it can continue shipping the contested pieces into Germany. If not, it would have to
win on appeal.
The SRAM cassettes are eight- and nine-speed cogsets for mountain bikes.
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