Topseat International, Inc. ("Topseat") today announced that it has prevailed 
in a patent infringement proceeding concerning certain types of toilet seats 
against German DIY retailer, Hornbach Baumarkt AG ("Hornbach").

Background
Topseat owns various intellectual property rights in its toilet seats, 
including Topseat's patent EP3205497 protecting a laminar composite toilet lid 
and seat. Hornbach had offered toilet seats making use of this invention. 
Therefore, Topseat, represented by the German firm of patent attorneys and 
attorneys at law, BARDEHLE PAGENBERG in Munich, sued Hornbach for patent 
infringement in Germany. On June 21, 2019, the Mannheim District Court (case 7 
O 122/18) confirmed infringement of Topseat's patent EP3205497 by Hornbach, and 
granted all the claims Topseat had raised, including damages and permanent 
injunctions. Hornbach initially appealed this decision, but withdrew the appeal 
in November 2019. With the withdrawal of Hornbach's appeal, the judgment of the 
Mannheim District Court has become final. Consequently, Hornbach is prohibited 
from offering, marketing and/or using the challenged toilet seats.

"The German court decision is a victory in our patent litigation directed at 
holding infringers accountable for using our valuable intellectual property 
rights without paying us," says David Wu, Managing Director of Topseat. "We 
seek to enforce our patent rights rigorously in EU countries where our 
innovations have been the key to our market success." It is thus expected that 
the court decision confirming infringement might have some influence on the 
market in the EU.

About Topseat
Topseat is the world leader in toilet seats design, production and perfection, 
recognized internationally for its top quality and innovation. With over 
200,000 sq. feet of manufacturing, warehousing, research and development, and 
office space across the globe, Topseat produces multimillion toilet seats 
annually, serving both Professional and DIY markets in Germany, France, UK, 
Italy, South Africa, the USA and beyond.

SOURCE  Topseat International