Sumitomo Rubber Industries And Callaway Golf Agree To Mutual Licenses
Sumitomo Rubber Industries And Callaway Golf Agree To Mutual Licenses
May 9, 2001 at 12:00 AM EDT
CONTACT(S): Larry Dorman, (Japan) Alex Boezeman, 81-3-5405-4500 (760) 931-1771
CARLSBAD, Calif., and TOKYO, Japan, May 9, 2001 – Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. and Callaway Golf Company headquarters announced that they have agreed to limited mutual license agreements on the use of Sumitomo Rubber Industries' patented technology on metal woods and Callaway Golf's patented technology on undercut irons.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries distributed Callaway Golf products in Japan from 1988 through the end of 1999 under the Exclusive Distributor Agreement for Japan. In January 2000, distribution in Japan of Callaway Golf products was transferred to Callaway Golf K.K. and Sumitomo Rubber Industries ceased its distribution relationship. Thereafter, in the process of defining the future relationship of the two companies, they recognized that a limited agreement on the use of Sumitomo Rubber Industries' patented technology on metal woods and Callaway Golf's patented technology on undercut irons would benefit both companies. The terms of the parties' agreement are confidential.
Both Sumitomo Rubber Industries and Callaway Golf believe that this agreement gives both parties the freedom to pursue their respective product developments while recognizing the right of the other, and to seek further technology innovations in the marketplace.
Callaway Golf Company makes and sells Big Bertha® Metal Woods and Irons, including Big Bertha ERC™ II Forged Titanium Drivers, Big Bertha Hawk Eye® VFT™ and Big Bertha Hawk Eye VFT Pro Series Titanium Drivers and Fairway Woods, Big Bertha Steelhead Plus™ Stainless Steel Drivers and Fairway Woods, Hawk Eye Tungsten Injected™ Titanium Irons, Steelhead™ X-14® and Steelhead X-14 Pro Series Stainless Steel Irons. Callaway Golf Company also makes and sells Odyssey® Putters, including White Hot®, TriHot™, and Dual Force® Putters. Callaway Golf Company makes and sells the Callaway Golf® “Rule 35”® Firmfeel™ and Softfeel™ golf balls, and the CB1™ Red and CB1 Blue golf balls. For more information about Callaway Golf Company, please visit our Web sites at www.callawaygolf.com, www.callawaygolfball.com and www.odysseygolf.com.