Norway-based geophysical services company Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS) says it is going to appeal a Court decision over its Towed Streamer EM patent.
The firm had issued a claims against Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) in the High Court of Justice, Patent Court, in London, UK, and in Norwegian courts, on the basis that PGS used its Towed Streamer EM in the UK, Ireland and Norway in violation of one of EMGS' patents.
On 13 February 2015, EMGS received the decision of the Oslo District Court where EMGS' patent was found to be invalid.
According to PGS, the court found that EMGS' patent NO 324 454 was invalid and that PGS' Towed Streamer EM system therefore does not infringe the EMGS Patent. PGS was also awarded legal fees of NOK15.2 million.
According to EMGS, it successfully defended the patent against claims of invalidity from Schlumberger Holding in the Netherlands, in February 2008, and in the UK Court of Appeal in July 2010, and through several oppositions in the European Patent Office appeal division in December 2011.