Leatt Corporation (OTC: LEAT.PK) ("Leatt" or the "Company"), a global developer, marketer and the distributor of the Leatt-Brace®, a neck brace system designed to help prevent potentially devastating injuries to the cervical spine (neck) for helmeted sports, announced today that the Company has sued Atlas Brace Technologies US, LLC ("Atlas") for infringement on two of the Company's neck brace patents.
Leatt is the exclusive licensee of certain patents, manufacturing, sale, use and distribution rights held by Xceed Holdings CC ("Xceed"), a South African company owned by Leatt's founder, Dr. Christopher Leatt, including the patents to the Leatt-Brace®. On October 21, 2011, the Company sent a letter to Atlas' subsidiary notifying them that certain models of Atlas' neck braces infringe on the Company's patents, demanding that Atlas cease and desist the manufacture, use, offer and sale of such products. Instead of complying with the Company's request, on or about December 1, 2011, Atlas brought suit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California seeking a declaration that Atlas does not infringe on the Leatt neck brace patents. On January 18, 2012, the Company filed an Answer and Counterclaim with the Court, denying Atlas' claims and countersuing Atlas (with Xceed) for patent infringement of the Leatt neck brace patents. The Company is also seeking injunctive relief, damages for Atlas' willful infringement of the Leatt neck brace patents, and attorneys' fees.
Sean Macdonald, the Chief Executive Officer of Leatt Corporation, remarked "we are disturbed by Atlas' filing of this action in response to our initial letter and by their continued infringement on our patents. We will take all necessary action to vigorously prosecute and enforce Leatt's intellectual property rights which protect the product internationally."
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