OCDO Ocado Group Plc

By Joe Hoppe

Ocado Group PLC said Tuesday that a U.S. International Trade Commission trial has found in favor of the company, with a judge ruling it hasn't infringed Autostore Holdings Ltd.'s patents. Autostore said it intends to appeal.

The online grocer and retail-technology specialist said three of the four Autostore patents were found invalid by a chief administrative law judge, and the fourth wasn't infringed. The fifth patent was abandoned by Autostore the night before the trial.

The company said all 33 claims across five patents were rejected by the judge or abandoned by Autostore.

Autostore said the initial determination that found its patents invalid were based on a narrow legal issue. The warehouse robot and technology company said it intends to challenge the decision before the full commission, which will review the findings and is expected to issue a final determination in April.

Ocado said it is separately pursuing claims against Autostore for infringement of Ocado's patents in the U.S. and Europe.

"We have consistently stated that Ocado does not infringe any valid Autostore IP, and we are pleased that the judge has now agreed with us," an Ocado spokesperson said.

Autostore said it believes strongly in its litigation positions and will continue to pursue them.

"Autostore also continues to believe that each of the claims and counterclaims raised by Ocado is without merit and intends to vigorously defend against those claims," the company said.

Write to Joe Hoppe at joseph.hoppe@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 14, 2021 03:05 ET (08:05 GMT)

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