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Warranty RegistrationEkornes wins important copy case in Germany
Ekornes has won an important copy case against Himolla Polstermöbel GmbH, one of the largest furniture manufacturers in Germany. Himolla must stop all sales and marketing of the recliner Zerostress in Germany, as it is considered to be a copy of Stressless.
Himolla presented their new recliner under the name Zerostress during the international furniture fair in January 2009. Ekornes reacted immediately to the similarity to Stressless, and took the case to court in Cologne (Landesgericht Köln). The court has now decided (12.11.2009) that the chair from Himolla is a copy of Stressless from Ekornes. The court especially put weight on the hourglass-shaped base, which has been a known characteristic for Stressless since 1981.
Himolla has the possibility of appealing the decision.
Ekornes has previously won copy cases in other countries where Stressless has been copied. In 1999, Ekornes won an important case against one of the major manufacturers in the USA, Lane Industries, and in 2006 the company won a copy case against the Danish furniture chain Biva. Ekornes has also won copy cases in other countries.
