In a significant legal victory, the Oslo District Court has ruled that Amer Sports, the parent company of well-known skiing brands Atomic and Salomon, has infringed upon Rottefella’s patent rights.

This ruling prohibits Amer Sports from selling or marketing its Shift and Shift Race binding systems, effectively barring retailers from offering Atomic or Salomon skis equipped with these bindings. Halvor Manshaus, a partner at the law firm Schjødt, which represented Rottefella in the case, expressed disappointment in Amer Sports’ continued disregard for the legal findings. “It is disappointing that Salomon and Atomic still refuse to take responsibility for their actions and the consequences they have caused,” Manshaus stated.

This ruling is not the first of its kind; it follows a similar decision from the Borgarting Court of Appeal in 2023, which also imposed a ban on the sale of Amer Sports’ Shift-in binding system due to patent violations against Rottefella. As a result of this latest ruling, it is anticipated that thousands of skis with the banned binding systems will need to be removed from retail shelves just ahead of the winter season.

Manshaus further emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the Oslo District Court described Amer Sports’ actions as a “grossly negligent patent infringement” and highlighted the company’s “highly culpable conduct.” He mentioned that despite Rottefella’s repeated attempts to engage in dialogue with Amer Sports, those efforts have been dismissed.

Impact on Athletes and Retailers

Torstein Myklebostad, CEO of Rottefella, expressed concern for the athletes and retailers affected by this ruling. “This type of uncertainty is the last thing both the industry and the athletes need,” he stated. Myklebostad urged compliance with the sales ban and the removal of the infringing products from the market. He placed the responsibility for the situation squarely on Salomon and Atomic.

Myklebostad added, “For many years, Rottefella has developed unique products that enhance the enjoyment of sports and leisure activities. These innovations require significant investment, and protecting our patents is essential to safeguard our ongoing development against copying by foreign companies.”

The Oslo District Court delivered its ruling on October 10, with a one-month appeal deadline looming for Amer Sports.

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