Published
Nov 25, 2015
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H&M to pay ‘millions of pounds’ to Stretchline in patent infringement case

Published
Nov 25, 2015

H&M has lost a patent infringement battle against Derbyshire-based firm Stretchline Holdings, established a High Court established on Friday. The bra manufacturer initiated the proceeding alleging that various H&M brassieres used a patented invention called Fortitube, which prevents bra underwires from puncturing their casing and causing damage or injury.



It was found that the technology had been used for 12 of the Swedish retailer's bra ranges without a licence, which means the payout could amount to millions, the local media has reported.

Stretchline, established in the UK in 2001, first initiated proceedings against H&M in the US and the UK in 2011, but the parties entered into a global settlement the same year.

In 2013 Stretchline became suspicious that H&M had breached the settlement agreement and initiated new proceedings against the Swedish company.

The extent of the infringement has not yet been established, as H&M has more than 3,700 stores where bras are sold. The parties will be back in court in January to establish the damages.

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