Indoor Skydiving Germany wins utility patent case against Skyventure

Munich, May 5, 2010. In the patent litigation between the German manufacturer of freefall simulators, Indoor Skydiving Germany Group (ISG), and its US competitor Skventure, the German Patent Office ruled on April 30, 2010 in favor of ISG and cancelled Skyventure´s utility patent 20 2005 021 531.

Indoor Skydiving Germany Group (ISG), German manufacturer of freefall simulators for professional skydiving, military education and the sports- and entertainment industry, gained a victory in court in the utility patent dispute with its US competitor Skyventure. ISG manufactures freefall simulators in form of closed recirculating vertical windtunnels. The windtunnel technology was developed by the group in cooperation with the Aerospace Department of the University Berlin (Technische Universität Berlin), Germany, and is internationally recognized for its energy efficiency, safety and design. The first reference facility of ISG was inaugurated in Bottrop, Germany, in March 2009 ("Jochen Schweizer Indoor Skydiving" – www.indoor-skydiving.com).

In summer 2008, Skyventure attempted to adversely affect ISG's market opportunities and prevent competition by extending its German utility patent application 20 2005 021 531 as well as its European Patent application EP 05 80 3928.0 on freefall simulators. The utility patent should by extension claims no longer be limited to the typical Skyventure design, but cover most vertical windtunnel design alternatives – including the ISG design. ISG challenged the extension with the German Patent Office in autumn 2008 and by ruling of April 30, 2010 the German Patent Office proved ISG's concerns correct. The DPMA cancelled the extension claims under the utility patent 20 2005 021 531 and reasoned that they did not contain new inventions. Under patent law only claims on true inventions are patentable and protected by the law.

"We are very happy about the ruling by the German Patent Office ", says Dr. Manuel Dohr, CEO of ISG. "Market rumours alleging us of patent infringements were lately and markedly fueled vis-à-vis customers. The hereby generated need for explanation unnecessarily tied up resources within the group. The ruling now offers us a neutral argument in customer discussions on market rumours damaging our reputation."

And ISG received another pleasant news. In September 2008, ISG applied for patent registration regarding various windtunnel components developed by the company with the German and the European Patent Office. The international research report by the European Patent Office now confirmed the patentability of all 26 patent claims in relation to ISG's freefall simulators. Current information on the pending patent claims is available at http://ep.espacenet.com/, keyword "indoor skydiving".

About Indoor Skydiving Germany Group (ISG):
Driven by mankind's dream of flying, ISG develops, constructs and operates vertical windtunnels for professional skydivers, military education and the entertainment industry. ISG developed the latest and most silent vertical windtunnel technology worldwide. ISG Vertical Windtunnels meet the highest standards of German engineering and impress with their energy efficiency, design, safety and quality. CEO is Dr. Manuel Dohr. Group headquarters are in Munich. For further information: www.isg-group.de

Press Contact:
Indoor Skydiving Germany GmbH
Attn: Angelika Dressen
Schubertstrasse 10
80336 Munich
Email: angelika.dressen@isg-group.de
Web: www.isg-group.de

This release was published on openPR.