Välinge welcomes the legal dispute with Classen in US.

Viken, Sweden - January 15, 2010

Classen has filed a legal case against Välinge, Shaw and Carpet One in Texas related to fold down technology. This give Välinge the opportunity to show non infringement and to invalidate the Classen US patent.

Shaw has not been willing to pay for an indemnification from Classen since analyses showed that the Classen US patent was not infringed.

Since the termination of the cross license agreement between Välinge and Classen, Välinge has expected that Classen would try to take some actions. Välinge is expecting further actions from Classen.

Välinge is well prepared and appropriate counteractions will be initiated soon on multiple patents in several countries on a large scale. Välinge has many patents that could be used and has already filed new patent applications that specifically aim to cover systems similar to the Classen Megaloc.

Välinge is prepared for a long litigation and has the advantage that the Classen volumes are considerable.The Shaw volumes are still rather low in relation to the Classen volumes and Välinge has developed compatible high quality side push systems that could be used if needed.

Välinge can easily apply alternative technologies in its future licensing if needed , for example 5G-S systems, and continue with litigations against Classen during a long time period.

Välinge looks forward to the legal dispute that had to come sooner or later and is convinced that it will able to accomplish the same result as some years ago when Pergo filed a similar unjustified case against the Välinge licensees Alloc, Berry and Armstrong. Välinge supported successfully its licensees in their defense and the jury found that all of the asserted Pergo patent claims of two US patents were invalid and that none of the claims were infringed.

Due to this legal action Välinge is no longer willing to give indemnifications to any party that whish to license a locking system from Classen.