STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 28, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Today, the Court of Appeal in Stockholm announced its ruling in the patent dispute between Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB and Sandvik Tamrock Corp., concluding that Atlas Copco has not infringed the patents.
"It is positive that the Court of Appeal has confirmed that we have not made patent infringements," says Hans Sandberg, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Atlas Copco AB.
Atlas Copco and Sandvik are major competitors and world leaders with their respective ranges of mining equipment. In April 2001, Sandvik filed a complaint based on two alleged patent infringements. One is related to a method of guiding the drilling process, which the Court of Appeal declared invalid. The other concerns how the handling of electronic memories is carried out in modern drill rigs.
For further information please contact: Hans Sandberg, Senior Vice President Legal Council +46 (0)8 743 9041 or +46 (0)70 319 9041 Annika Berglund, Senior Vice President Communications +46 (0)8 743 8070 or +46 (0)70 322 8070
Atlas Copco is an international industrial Group with its head office in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2004, the Group had revenues of approximately BSEK 49, with 98% of revenues outside Sweden. The Group has more than 25 000 employees. The Group produces and markets compressed air equipment and generators, construction and mining equipment, industrial tools, and assembly systems and offers related service and equipment rental. The Atlas Copco Group includes famous brands such as Atlas Copco, RSC Equipment Rental, and CP. More information can be found on atlascopco.com.
Construction and Mining Technique business area develops, manufactures, and markets rock drilling tools, underground rock drilling rigs for tunneling and mining applications, surface drilling rigs, loading equipment, exploration drilling equipment, and construction tools.
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