Callaway Golf's Market-Leading Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball Putter Protected by Court Injunction Against Copies

July 1, 2002 at 3:42 PM EDT

CARLSBAD, Calif., Jul 1, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) announced today that the U.S. District Court in San Diego, California, has approved and issued an injunction prohibiting the sale of a copy or "knock-off" of its immensely popular Odyssey(R) White Hot(R) "2-Ball" Putter. The injunction prohibits the sale of the Vortex Plus VP-00 putter and applies to the defendant, Technique Golf LLC, and "all persons acting in concert or participation with" Technique Golf. Technique Golf agreed to the injunction as a part of a settlement that also included payment of an undisclosed amount to Callaway Golf.

The Odyssey White Hot "2-Ball" Putter was introduced in 2002 and is currently the #1 selling putter model in the United States based upon Golf Datatech national retail market reports. In fact, sales of the Odyssey White Hot "2-Ball" putter have been so brisk that it would be among the top three putter companies in the U.S. if it were a stand-alone putter company. The "2-Ball" Putter has also been used to win 16 tournaments on the six major professional tours combined since its introduction.

Similar relief was obtained earlier this month against the "White Shot Twin Ball" putter distributed by Green Grass Golf Inc. Green Grass Golf signed a settlement agreement, agreed to a court injunction prohibiting further sales of the "White Shot Twin Ball" putter, and paid Callaway Golf an undisclosed amount of money.

"Given the enormous success of the Odyssey White Hot '2-Ball' Putter in the marketplace and on Tour, it is no wonder that there are others who want to copy our unique, patented concept and product," said Steve McCracken, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Callaway Golf. "We do not intend to let that happen, however, and will be very diligent in protecting the '2-Ball' Putter throughout the world."

Callaway Golf Company makes and sells Big Bertha(R) Metal Woods and Irons, including Big Bertha C4(TM) Compression Cured Carbon Composite Drivers, Big Bertha ERC(R) II Forged Titanium Drivers, Big Bertha ERC Forged Titanium Fairway Woods, Big Bertha Hawk Eye(R) VFT(R) and Big Bertha Hawk Eye VFT Pro Series Titanium Drivers and Fairway Woods, Big Bertha Steelhead(TM) III Stainless Steel Drivers and Fairway Woods, Hawk Eye VFT Tungsten Injected(TM) Titanium Irons, Big Bertha Stainless Steel Irons, Steelhead X-14(R) and Steelhead X-14 Pro Series Stainless Steel Irons. Callaway Golf Company also makes and sells Odyssey(R) Putters, including White Hot(R), TriHot(TM), and Dual Force(R) Putters. Callaway Golf Company makes and sells the Callaway Golf(R) HX(R) Blue and HX Red balls, the HX Blue and HX Red Two Piece balls, the CTU 30(TM) Blue and CTU 30 Red balls, and the CB1(TM) Blue and CB1 Red balls. For more information about Callaway Golf Company, please visit our Web sites at www.callawaygolf.com and www.odysseygolf.com

 

CONTACT:
Callaway Golf Company
Larry Dorman / Steve McCracken, 760/931-1771

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