Patent Law

Overseas Out to Sea

By Gary Odom and Jordan Kuhn

Transocean, the world's largest offshore drilling company, has a patent portfolio for multiple-activity offshore drilling that has been a gusher, scoring licensing agreements from major competitors, including Nobel and Pride International. Now a Transocean drill has been bit: two Norwegian patents have been invalidated by a Norwegian court in Transocean's suit against Smedvig, acquired by Seadrill in 2006. Transocean was ordered to pay all litigation expenses. An appeal is being mulled.

Domestically, Transaction has active assertions in the Southern District of Texas against offshore drilling contractors Stena Drilling and  Maersk Contractors USA.

GlobalSanteFe shelled out $15 million in settlement, then was acquired by Transocean; the merger closed at the end of November.

Transocean has patents in the U.S., Europe, Norway, Australia, Singapore, Korea and Japan.

Full post as published by The Patent Prospector on February 09, 2008 (boomark / email).