AutoStore Files New Lawsuit Against Ocado Over Technology Patents
10 Novembre 2020 - 10:43AM
Dow Jones News
By Matteo Castia
AutoStore said late Monday that it has filed an entitlement
action in the U.K. against Ocado Group PLC, claiming the ownership
of certain patents filed by the online grocer and technology
group.
The Norwegian robot-technology company said it is acting to
obtain orders to investigate the ownership of some Ocado patents
relating to the Ocado Smart Platform filed by British company since
June 2014.
"AutoStore is seeking orders that, among other things, affirm it
is the true owner of the patents, assign the patents to AutoStore,
and declare that none of the Ocado personnel named as inventors
within the patents was in fact the inventor or has the right to be
named as such," the Norwegian company said.
Specifically, the disputed technology covered by these patents
includes several aspects of design in automated storage and
retrieval systems which form the basis of Ocado's partnerships with
international retailers such as Kroger Co. in the U.S. and Marks
& Spencer Group PLC in the U.K.
The lawsuit claims that Ocado took possession of technical
expertise, know-how and materials relating to robotic technology
from AutoStore in a series of interactions between the two
companies in 2011 and 2012, when Ocado became an AutoStore
customer.
The relevant patents have been granted in the U.K. in 2018 and
2019 but are still pending patent applications in Europe.
"These inventions are ours and we will continue to defend our
intellectual property by whatever means necessary. Ocado is
entirely confident in the integrity of its intellectual property
portfolio and the disciplined approach we have taken to building
our capabilities and the Ocado Smart Platform," an Ocado
spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal.
AutoStore's action follows its lawsuits against Ocado in the
U.S. and U.K. last month, also filed over alleged patent
infringement.
Ocado shares at 0910 GMT were down 41 pence, or 2.1%, at 2,234
pence.
Write to Matteo Castia at matteo.castia@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 10, 2020 04:28 ET (09:28 GMT)
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