Comvita loses U.K. patent infringement case

Comvita loses U.K. patent infringement case, IP declared invalid

By Jason Krupp

Dec. 20 (BusinessDesk) - Comvita Ltd., the medical honey products developer,
has been dealt a double blow by the Patents Country Court in the U.K., after it ruled against the company in an infringement case and declared its wounds treatment patent invalid.

Comvita has been fighting an intellectual property infringement battle against Brightwake, which markets a honey-based wound care product in the U.K. that the company says violates a well-established patent granted in the U.K., U.S., New Zealand and Australia.

In a statement released today, the company said that while the ruling was "extremely disappointing and unexpected," it only applies to one of its patents in the U.K. and will not have a direct impact on other intellectual properties or commercial activities.

In October the company was forced to realise $2 million in legal costs relating to the case.

At the time chief executive Brett Hewlett said that although he was confident the company would win the case, provision had been made in the event that it lost.

Comvita will have to wait until Jan. 10 to learn the full impact of the ruling and what additional costs it will face.

The shares fell 0.6% to $1.59.

(BusinessDesk)

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