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February 9, 2008
Drilled in Norway
Transocean,
the world's largest offshore drilling company, has a patent portfolio for
multiple-activity offshore drilling that has been
a gusher,
scoring licensing agreements from major competitors, including
Nobel and
Pride
International. Now a Transocean drill has been bit: two Norwegian
patents have been invalidated by a Norwegian court in Transocean's suit against Smedvig, acquired by Seadrill in 2006. Transocean was ordered to pay all
litigation expenses. An appeal is being mulled.
Domestically, Transaction has active assertions in the Southern District of Texas against offshore drilling contractors Stena Drilling and Maersk Contractors USA.
GlobalSanteFe shelled out $15 million in settlement, then was acquired by Transocean; the merger closed at the end of November.
Transocean has patents in the U.S., Europe, Norway, Australia, Singapore, Korea and Japan.
Posted by Patent Hawk at February 9, 2008 12:39 AM | International