Columbia Sportswear Granted Preliminary Injunction Against Geox for Infringement of OutDry Waterproof-Breathable Footwear Patent

Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ: COLM) and its Italian-based subsidiaryOutDry 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” brandedshoes in Italy. The court, after determining that some Amphibiox shoes likelyinfringed an OutDry patent used to create waterproof-breathable footwear,authorized the seizure of certain Amphibiox products and issued an injunctionto prevent further sale of the offending footwear. The interim decision issubject to appeal.“We are very pleased with the ruling by the Court of Milan, and look forwardto the next stage of the proceedings,” said Peter Bragdon, Senior VicePresident of Legal and Corporate Affairs for Columbia and OutDry. “We believestrongly that OutDry technology provides superior performance inwaterproof-breathable footwear, and the OutDry patent portfolio is critical tothe protection and advancement of our innovative technology. We will continueto pursue infringing products aggressively.”Since its founding near Milan in 1998, OutDry, which is pursuing a similarinfringement action against Geox in Germany, has established itself as atechnology 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 orglove, thereby preventing water or dirt from penetrating to internal airspacesand fabric layers as commonly occurs with products that rely on bulky bootiesor bladders. OutDry improves waterproof, breathable performance, reduceswater-weight gain, maintains insulation capacity, and improves fit anddexterity, resulting in greater comfort. Avoiding water penetration beyond theoutermost layer may also help reduce the incidence of mold, mildew andbacteria that often develop when internal fabric layers become wet. Thecompany is based in the North of Italy with an operations branch in China. Formore information, visit: http://www.outdry.com.About Columbia SportswearColumbia Sportswear Company is a leading innovator in the global outdoorapparel, footwear, accessories and equipment industry. Founded in 1938 inPortland, Oregon, Columbia products are sold in approximately 100 countriesand have earned an international reputation for innovation, quality andperformance. Columbia products feature innovative technologies and designsthat protect outdoor enthusiasts from the elements, increase comfort, and makeoutdoor 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'swebsites at www.columbia.com, www.mountainhardwear.com, www.sorel.com,www.montrail.com and www.outdry.com.