Court dismisses Eurocopter lawsuit

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FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Bell Helicopter's 429 landing skid gear will continue to be produced following a French court's finding that the product does not infringe a Eurocopter patent.

The decision in the lawsuit brought by Eurocopter was made by the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris, which in its decision also ordered the French company to pay Bell Helicopter's expenditure in contesting the lawsuit and the costs of court proceedings.

"This ruling by the French court, once again validating the design of the Bell 429 production skid gear, is a resounding victory for Bell Helicopter," said John L. Garrison, president and chief executive officer of Bell Helicopter. "Integrity is woven into the fiber of our company and we work tirelessly to ensure our actions are consistent with this core value."

Garrison also said the company would vigorously defend the production gear in the pending Eurocopter patent infringement suit brought in the United States.

Eurocopter's lawsuit against Bell in Canada was dismissed earlier this year.