Analysis
austriamicrosystems - patent infringement decision against Melexis valid
austriamicrosystems today confirmed that the first-instance verdict in the patent infringement lawsuit against Melexis N.V. / SA and its German subsidiary Melexis GmbH before the District Court (Landgericht) in Duesseldorf (Germany) regarding magnetic field encoder products and European Patent EP 0 916 074 B1 remains valid. At the same time, austriamicrosystems expects to ultimately prevail against the first-instance decision by the Federal Patent Court (Bundespatentgericht) in Munich (Germany) which deems the European Patent EP 0 916 074 B1 covering magnetic field encoder products and exclusively held by austriamicrosystems not patentable.
austaustriamicrosystems emphasizes that this recent development has no impact on its current and future business. As the first-instance decision by the Federal Patent Court remains legally non-binding until the appeal has been decided, Melexis will, however, continue to carry the risk of financial damages for patent infringement being awarded to austriamicrosystems after positive decision of the appeal.
austriamicrosystems is the worldwide leader in high resolution ICs with magnetic field sensors, offering a broad range of rotary and linear encoders. Providing robust, contactless position measurement, magnetic field encoders from austriamicrosystems are ideally suited for virtually countless applications in industrial, automotive and consumer electronics.