Firms agree to share lens technologies

Carl Zeiss Vision (CZV) and Essilor have reached an agreement relating to CZV's back surface freeform progressive lens technology, which includes settling the patent infringement between CZV and Essilor affiliate Signet Armorlite.

Last month a court in California ruled in favour of CZV after a five-year patent infringement battle with Signet (News 17.08.12) with the order of enhanced damages and the removal of Kodak Unique back-surface progressives from distribution channels.

Now CZV has granted a royalty bearing licence under US Patent No 6,089,713 and its foreign counterparts to Essilor and its affiliates, including Signet, while Essilor has granted a licence to CZV for certain other ophthalmic technologies, including coatings.