Master Lock Prevails in Patent Infringement Lawsuit

U.S. Court of Appeals Overturns Previous Patent Infringement Jury Verdict Covering Hitch Pin Locks

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On July 22, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned a previous $5.35 million patent infringement jury verdict against Master Lock in a lawsuit filed by Philip W. Wyers and Wyers Products Group, Inc. A three-judge panel found that the claims in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,672,115, 7,165,426 and 7,225,649 are obvious as a matter of law. Combining elements that were already known “was a matter of common sense,” according to the panel. The patents in the lawsuit cover hitch pin locks that secure trailers to cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles.

“New Product of the Year in Hardware”

“We are pleased the appeals court agreed with Master Lock’s position and we want to thank our customers for their continuous support during the appeals process,” said Dave Love, Vice President & General Manager, Automotive for Master Lock.

Since 1921, Master Lock, www.masterlock.com, has been the world’s largest and premier manufacturer of padlocks and related security products as well as one of the nation’s most trusted brands. The original inventor of the laminated padlock and combination locker lock, Master Lock has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to innovation and continues to revolutionize the industry with a wide variety of new products as it has done most recently with its Speed Dial Padlock. The company has been repeatedly recognized with a series of Industrial Design Excellence Awards for New Product Design and most recently has earned accolades from the industry, winning the 2009 “New Product of the Year in Hardware” Award from a national hardware store chain for its Speed Dial padlock.

About Master Lock

Master Lock is the world’s largest manufacturer of padlocks and related security products providing innovative security solutions for home, automotive, campus, power sports, bike and storage security needs for consumers and contractors alike. Master Lock Company LLC is an operating unit of Fortune Brands, Inc., a leading consumer brands company. Headquartered in Deerfield, IL, Fortune Brands (NYSE:FO) is included in the S&P 500 Index. (www.masterlock.com)