Supreme Court sides with Golfzon over patent fight with Kakao VX Ruling likely to have little impact on two companies
Translated by Kim So-in 공개 2021-07-07 07:47:46
이 기사는 2021년 07월 07일 07:43 thebell 에 표출된 기사입니다.
Golfzon has practically won a patent infringement lawsuit against Kakao VX, which has lasted for five years. But the ruling is unlikely to have a huge impact on Kakao VX's screen golf business as it no longer uses the patent technology.The Supreme Court Monday overturned the ruling by a lower court, which sided with Kakao VX, and remanded the case to the Patent Court.
Golfzon filed patent infringement suit against Kakao VX in 2016, claiming that Kakao VX infringed on the virtual golf simulation device technology, which Golfzon applied for a patent in 2010.
After that, the Seoul Central District Court sided with Golfzon in September 2019 while the Patent Court ruled in favor of Kakao VX earlier this year before the top court’s ruling.
In the latest ruling, the Supreme Court said, "The (Patent Court's ruling) interpreted that the defendant (Kakao VX)'s product was not equipped with the technology to adjust the distance with the preset distance reduction rate and a correction value according to terrain conditions," adding, “This judgment carries an error as it affects the ruling by misunderstanding legal principles regarding the interpretation of claims.”
This means the Supreme Court has finally ruled that Kakao VX has infringed on a Golfzon patent. Accordingly, only the legal judgment of the extent of damage and the amount of compensation for damages will be decided on the premise that Kakao VX's patent technology infringement is true.
“We feel bad that the Supreme Court overturned the ruling and remanded it," an official at Kakao VX said. He added that the company will fully prepare for the next trial.
The top court's ruling is likely to have little impact on both companies’ business as Kakao VX no longer uses the particular technology. Kakao VX is applying its own technology to the equipment used in its screen golf courses.
Last year, Kakao already set aside 2.8 billion won ($2.47 million) worth of damages and other expenses as provisions for lawsuits. The actual payment of damages has also been made as it deposited 3 billion won in the court. Golfzon is likely to receive 3 billion won in damages. (Reporting by Sang-woo Seong)
< 저작권자 ⓒ 자본시장 미디어 'thebell', 무단 전재, 재배포 및 AI학습 이용 금지 >
best clicks
최신뉴스 in 전체기사
-
- 가보지 않은 길 'ARC' 셀비온-앱티스 맞손, 독성에 도전
- [여전사경영분석]BNK캐피탈, 순익 반등에도 수익성 제고 과제 여전히
- [은행경영분석]권재중 BNK금융 CFO 첫 성적표 'CET1 12%대' 진입
- 마이금융파트너, 신계약 성과에 2년째 매출 급증
- [여전사경영분석]문동권식 수익다변화 전략 적중…신한카드, 순익 회복 시동
- BNK캐피탈, 상임감사에 김상대 전 금감원 국장 선임
- [은행경영분석]우리은행, 기업금융 명가 재건 '중기 대출' 강화에 달렸다
- DGB금융, '대구은행장 후계자' 육성 작업 본격화
- [외국계 보험사는 지금]동양생명, 건강보험시장 공략 강화 키워드 'GA'
- [저축은행 유동성 진단]BNK저축, 대출 영업·유동성비율 '다 잡았다'