IN August 2005, German company Enercon initiated legal action against Vestas, claiming Vestas had unlawfully infringed on its patent for lightning protection of blades for wind turbines.

Enercon issued writs against Danish parent company Vestas, its German subsidiary and several of its customers.

In September, Vestas issued a statement saying three independent German patent experts had examined the writs, advising that Enercon's claims were not legitimate.

Vestas said the matter now had to proceed through the German legal system and that it did not expect a resolution before the end of the year.

Yesterday, Vestas made a stock exchange announcement, saying Enercon had claimed the Vestas Group may be infringing additional patent rights.

"The claim concerns patents related to electricity grid codes, however, it may also concern other issues," Vestas said.

Vestas said there was no need for further comment at this stage.

Enercon is no stranger to legal battles over patented technology, having settled its 10-year battle with General Electric's Wind Energy business in May 2004 with a cross-licensing agreement for a variety of disputed patents, including claims and counter-claims over variable speed wind turbine technology.

During the battle, GE Wind Power told the Canadian Wind Energy Association that legal action over patent infringement was "standard business practice and is important to help the industry grow."

EnvironmentalManagementNews.net