Status on patent disputes with Enercon GmbH, Mr Aloys Wobben
Company announcement from
Vestas Wind Systems A/S
Randers, 16 January 2008
Company announcement No. 4/2008
Status on patent disputes with Enercon GmbH, Mr Aloys Wobben
In previous company announcements 1)Vestas Wind Systems A/S has informed of
various patent disputes with Enercon GmbH/Mr Aloys Wobben. Mr Aloys Wobben
claims that Vestas Wind Systems A/S infringes various patents; primarily in the
area of grid connection, but also in other technical areas.
As mentioned in previous announcements, all cases regarding other technical
areas have been decided in favour of Vestas.
In the area of grid connection, Mr Aloys Wobben has initiated court proceedings
in Holland, England and Scotland, Canada and Ireland as previously announced.
Holland
In part of the case regarding the Dutch market, judgment was handed down by the
Dutch District Court of The Hague on 16 January 2008 acquitting Vestas.
The case concerned the following patens owned by Mr Aloys Wobben:
Voltage control I (EP 1 040 564)
Voltage control II (EP 1 164 691)
The District Court has denied Mr Aloys Wobben's claims and ruled both patents
invalid.
At the moment, it is not known whether Mr Aloys Wobben will appeal the decision.
Vestas' management is very satisfied with the decision, which is in accordance
with the ruling made by the British High Court on 14 November 2007, as mentioned
below.
The case regarding the third and last patent (frequency EP 1 282 774) in Holland
will be heard at the District Court in The Hague on 8 February 2008, and the
decision is not expected until later this year.
England and Scotland
In the case regarding England and Scotland, judgment was handed down by the
British High Court on 14 November 2007 acquitting Vestas completely. On 13
December 2007, Mr Aloys Wobben appealed the judgment to the Court of Appeal.
Canada and Ireland
The remaining cases in Canada and Ireland regarding grid connections will
continue. There is nothing to report in addition to previous announcements
regarding these cases.
Any questions may be addressed to Ditlev Engel, President and CEO of Vestas Wind
Systems A/S, or to Peter Wenzel Kruse, Senior Vice President of Group
Communications at Vestas Wind Systems A/S, telephone +45 9730 0000.
Yours sincerely
Vestas Wind Systems A/S
Ditlev Engel
President and CEO
Note 1) Company announcements Nos. 27/2005 of 19 August 2005, 30/2005 of 16
September 2005, 39/2005 of 22 November 2005, 22/2006 of 5 April 2006, 12/2007
of 2 April 2007, 15/2007 of 12 April 2007, 23/2007 of 25 May 2007, 25/2007 of 4
June 2007, 38/2007 of 14 November 2007 and 44/2007 of 18 December 2007.
