Columbia Sportswear Company 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.
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