Ocado wins patent trial against Norway's AutoStore at ITC

British online supermarket group Ocado on Monday said it had won a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Norwegian robotics company AutoStore Holdings in the International Trade Commission (ITC).

The ITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge held three of the four AutoStore patents were invalid while the fourth one was not infringed by Ocado, the company said in a statement.

AutoStore abandoned its claim over a fifth patent the night before the trial, but said it would challenge the decision before the full commission, which will review the findings and issue a final verdict in April 2022.

The lawsuit was filed last year in both the US and the UK. AutoStore claimed it was the inventor and rightful owner of certain patents filed by Ocado.

"Today's decision has no impact on AutoStore's ability to sell its product in the US or globally," the Norwegian company said in a statement late on Monday.

The judge also rejected a claim to stop Ocado and its partners from making and selling the products involved, and from importing them into the US.

"We have consistently stated that Ocado does not infringe any valid AutoStore IP, and we are pleased that the judge has now agreed with us," an Ocado spokesperson said.

“This was a misconceived attempt by AutoStore to interfere with our business in the United States. We intend vigorously to continue our infringement claims against AutoStore in the United States and Europe."