Levi Strauss & Co. has settled a denim technology infringement case through the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). The company agreed to enter into a licensing agreement with RevoLaze, LLC and TechnoLines, LLC, which filed a complaint last August claiming infringement on six patents regarding laser abraded denim garments.
RevoLaze said it holds 29 patents for laser inscribing methods that apply patterns and worn-in looks to various materials, including denim. The laser abrasion technology is used as an alternative to sandblasting techniques, which can be harmful to workers’ health.
According to the family-operated company, RevoLaze CEO Darryl Costin, PhD., has spent 20 years developing high-speed, high-power laser scribing technology for the denim industry.
“We have worked very hard over the last two decades to invent and patent our proprietary laser scribing technology to benefit the denim industry,” Costin said. “Our goal has always been to do the right thing. We want to help protect workers. We want to conserve the environment and significantly contribute to the denim industry’s green movement. We want the denim industry to continue growing and to realize cost, quality, throughput and environmental advantages with RevoLaze technology.”
Levi’s was one of 17 companies the ITC complaint targeted, including VF Corp, Hennes & Mauritz and Gap Inc. BBC Apparel, Eddie Bauer, Fashion Box SpA and Gotham Licensing Group and have already settled the cases against them.
