VMI claims win in latest round of IP battle with Safe-Run

EPE, Netherlands—VMI Holland, the world's largest producer of tire manufacturing machinery, claimed a victory with the latest decisions in the long-running patent infringement case between it and China's Safe-Run Intelligent Equipment Co. Ltd.

The Epe-headquartered firm said the Higher People's Court of Jiangsu delivered two judgments on Nov. 3 where the court declined to set aside a ruling against Safe-Run made in a lower court, and also maintained damages awarded for its continued infringement of one of VMI's patents in China, according to a VMI news release.

The legal battle between VMI and Safe-Run dates back to December 2016, when the Dutch firm filed action claiming that Safe-Run had infringed on a long-established patent. Safe-Run then made counter-claims, maintaining that its technology didn't infringe on VMI's.

VMI, in its release, said the validity of its patents have been upheld by the court, with initial judgment in its favor issued by the Intermediate People's Court of Suzhou Municipality. It said those rulings now have been upheld by the higher court.

VMI claimed the latest rulings confirm Safe-Run infringed on its patent; that the VMI patent is valid and enforceable, upholding the machinery firm's intellectual property; and shows the Chinese legal system is committed to protecting IP.

"We believe these two judgments send a positive signal to all companies that invest heavily in original IP, and this very much includes Chinese innovators, as well," VMI said in its statement. "This can only raise confidence among international investors in China and improve business relationships between Chinese and foreign companies."

Despite this court decision, the legal actions between VMI and Safe-Run will continue, as there are still other pending court cases between the two machinery makers.