Ocado Group plc (LON:OCDO) has announced that the litigation between Ocado and AutoStore has been settled and each party is taking steps to withdraw their actions against the other party. The terms of the settlement are confidential, however we can disclose that:
1. There is a cross-licence of certain patents between the parties whereby:
● Ocado and AutoStore have complete freedom to access and use technology covered by each other’s pre-2020 patents
● Ocado and AutoStore are allowed to continue to use and market their own existing products without challenge of infringement of the other’s post-2020 patents
● AutoStore is not permitted to make or use a single-space cavity robot in any jurisdiction where Ocado has patent protection.
2. AutoStore will pay £200m to Ocado. This will be paid in 24 monthly instalments, starting in July 2023.
3. The agreement gives access to part of each party’s patent portfolio for them to use or develop their own products. It does not provide for collaboration, technology assistance or access to actual products.
Tim Steiner, Chief Executive Officer of Ocado Group plc, said:
“I am pleased that we have worked together to resolve our differences and can now continue to focus on what we do best – innovating, developing and enabling partners to access world beating technology”
Neill Abrams, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, said:
“I’m delighted that this litigation has now ended on satisfactory terms. I’d like to thank the internal Ocado IP team and our external counsel for their immense efforts in getting to this result.”
