Hydrapak prevails in patent suit

NEW YORK, NY (BRAIN) — A U.S. District Court judge has ruled in favor of Hydrapak in a patent infringement case filed last August by Vagabond Source Systems, an Israeli supplier of water reservoirs for personal hydration packs.

In a 10-page order published last Wednesday, Judge Coleen McMahon issued a summary judgment and dismissed the case due to lack of merit. At question was the slide-seal closure used in Hydrapak’s Reversible Reservoir, which Vagabond claimed infringed on its patent for its Widepac water reservoir, sold since 2001. One of Vagabond’s early buyers is the U.S. Marine Corp, which began buying the system in 2004.

Vagabond also claimed Hydrapak falsely marketed its system as “patent pending.” Vagabond was seeking at least $500 in damages for each of Hydrapak’s violations.

“We feel passionately about our intellectual property and innovation efforts, and the findings of the United States District Court are validation of our work," said Matt Lyon, Hydrapak's CEO. "We are glad to put this lawsuit behind us and continue to do what we do best—provide superior hydration systems for Hydrapak’s enthusiasts around the globe.”

Lyon said Hydrapak was awarded its own patent on its closure method last year.

The hearing to determine the amount of sanctions to be awarded to Hydrapak has been referred to the Hon. James L. Cott, United States Magistrate Judge.