STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 2, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Supreme Court has, on April 2, fully and conclusively exonerated Pergo (Other OTC:PGABF) in the copyright case initiated by Valinge Innovation AB.
In 1996 Valinge Innovation AB (previously Valinge Aluminum) filed a writ on Pergo in the District Court claiming that a certain drawing regarding a mechanical joint system, prepared by Valinge, is protected by copyright. Furthermore Valinge thought that Pergo, by using said drawing, infringed on the copyright and consequently would be liable to pay damages.
Pergo claimed, for example, that the drawing, due to its simple and schematic characteristic not even reaches the low requirements that are demanded from such products and that a copyright protection on which an infringement can be made therefore doesn't apply.
The matter was tried in the District Court, which ruled in favor of Pergo. Valinge then appealed to the Court of Appeal, which only dealt with the question of whether the drawing is protected by copyright and rendered a partial award in favor of Valinge. Pergo appealed to the Supreme Court, which admitted the case. The Supreme Court had a hearing on March 10 and on April fully and conclusively ruled in favor of Pergo by declaring that Valinge Innovation AB does not have the copyright of the drawing.
"During the whole process we believed we were wrongfully accused. Therefore we are very satisfied with the ruling of the Supreme Court," says Goran Bernhoff, President and CEO of Pergo.
Trelleborg 2003-04-02 Pergo AB Corporate Communications
For further information, please contact: CEO -- Goran Bernhoff, phone number +46 410 36 31 00 CFO -- Annette Kumlien, phone number +46 410 36 31 00
Pergo is a laminate flooring company with leading market positions, particularly in Europe and the US. Net sales amounted to MSEK 2,799 (3,194) in full-year 2003 and the number of employees was 795 (784) as at December 31, 2003. Pergo developed laminate flooring at the end of the 1970s and launched the product in Europe during the 1980s. The company started sales in the US in 1994 and, to a smaller degree, in Asia in 1995 and Latin America in 1997. The company's products have been marketed under the Pergo(R) brand name since 1989. The company is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. For further information about Pergo, please visit our homepage www.pergo.com.
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