22 July 2005
Trading update – Patent Office decision in CSEM
case
At the time of its listing on AIM in March 2004, Offshore
Hydrocarbon Mapping plc (OHM) advised investors that
a substantial company (Statoil) with an active interest
in OHM's field of operations had written to University
of Southampton seeking to assert rights in respect of
one of the patents licensed by University of Southampton
to OHM, and on 1 March 2004 had commenced proceedings
in the Patent Office under the Patents Act 1977 against
University of Southampton in respect of this patent.
OHM has now received a copy of the decision of the UK patent office in the case between University of Southampton and Statoil.
The decision of the patent office was to award the patent, which covers aspects of controlled source electromagnetic data acquisition and analysis for the detection of offshore hydrocarbon reservoirs, to Statoil.
The decision can be appealed and OHM has been advised that the University is in consultation with its advisors.
Dave Pratt CEO of OHM said: 'The ruling of the patent office is disappointing. Our current view is that the decision will not have an immediate effect on OHM's ongoing activities and we are consulting with legal and other advisors as to how to address it.'
Ends
For further information
OHM:
Dave Pratt Chief Executive Officer 0870 429 6581
Aquila Financial Limited:
Peter Reilly 020 7849 3319 peterreilly@aquila-financial.com
Notes to Editors
The case surrounded a patent application which was filed in December 2001 and subsequently granted to University of Southampton in the UK in March 2004, and is pending in other jurisdictions. Statoil disputed this patent award and lodged an entitlement claim against the University of Southampton in the UK patent office in February 2004.
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