EPE, The Netherlands—The IP Tribunal of the Supreme People's Court of China ruled in favor of VMI Group in a patent ownership dispute in three "landmark decisions" Dec. 13 and 14, 2022.
In a case involving patents CN104354311B, CN201610332841.1 and CN201620457270.X against Safe-Run, VMI said is proved its "key technology on the vertical moving drum as well as the steering device are qualified to be protectable trade secrets," according to a Dec. 16 news release.
According to VMI, the court concluded that "Safe-Run misappropriated these trade secrets and has awarded the patents as filed by Safe-Run back to VMI."
VMI said Safe-Run used the company's patented technology to "to copy VMI's entire tire building machines, then blatantly usurped inventorships by filing the misappropriated VMI technology as patents under their name."
Despite the conclusion, however, VMI added that "further legal action" continues between the two entities, noting it is determined to "protect its IP in any court of any jurisdiction, wherever our rights are infringed."
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