Trunature Wins Patent Battle Against Scobie & Junor

Trunature was this week celebrating its success in a long running patent dispute with larger trade rival Scobie & Junor of East Kilbride .

Success came via a judgment of the Court of Session in Edinburgh which ruled on 21st July 2006 that Scobie & Junor group companies (SJ) had infringed Trunature's patent for key features of warp knitting machines used in the manufacture of elasticated meat netting for cooked and raw meats.

The key findings of infringement centred on components manufactured for SJ which carried out the same function as simpler components the subject of a patent registered by Trunature in 1998.

The hearing on infringement, which took place over eight days in May, involved detailed consideration of the characteristics of warp knitting machines, analysis of video film and still photographs of the operation of both Trunature and SJ's technology, and extensive witness evidence. Trunature's Managing Director Stuart Revill , inventor of the patented device, gave evidence over five days (including extensive cross examination by SJ's QC) and was supported by expert testimony from Patent Attorney and qualified Mechanical Engineer Adrian Chettle of Withers & Rogers, Leamington Spa, and Textile Technologist Julian Ellis OBE. Trunature were represented by Scottish commercial law firm McClure Naismith.

In a detailed written judgement, Lord Glennie found that the SJ machine had none of the features claimed by SJ as improvements in their device over Trunature's machine and therefore that the SJ components clearly infringed the Trunature patent.

Stuart Revill , Trunature's Managing Director, commented “We have been vindicated because we always maintained that the case for infringement was clear. We are pleased that the Court saw through the various arguments put forward by Scobie and realised that they were without merit. We are a small company compared to them but I felt we had to protect our property and the interests of our customers and workforce. We will be seeking our costs in full and looking to recover an appropriate royalty”.

Trunature was this week celebrating its success in a long running patent dispute with larger trade rival Scobie & Junor of East Kilbride .....