Mystic Tan®, Inc. announced on Jan. 11 a settlement in the patent infringement case filed in February 2005 against California Tan®, Inc. and New Tan, Inc. The settlement included Mystic Tan granting California Tan and New Tan a license to make, sell and use their AutoBronzer Spray Tanning Towers in the United States for an undisclosed fee.
The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,387,081, a patent covering MagneTan™ technology developed and owned by Mystic Tan.
Both Mystic Tan and California Tan released statements announcing they are pleased with the outcome of the settlement.
"This case demonstrates our determination to legally protect all patent rights held by Mystic Tan, Inc.," says Rick Stone, chief operating officer of Mystic Tan, Inc. "Our patented MagneTan™ technology has enabled us to achieve our leadership position in the UV-free spray-on tanning industry. We want our consumers and salon owners to be confident that we will continue to protect their interest, and ours, by defending our patented application technology. We are pleased, in this case, that we were able to reach an amicable settlement."
"We are pleased with the result," says Duncan Robins, chief executive officer of California Tan. "This is a good example of two companies reaching a compromise that maximizes the benefits to our industry, minimizes the dollars spent on lawyers, while respecting the intellectual property rights of all parties involved."
