According to North Sails’ North American website, the long-running legal dispute between North Sails and Sobstad, concerning several patents allegedly infringed by North Sails’ 3DL range, has reached settlement.

The following statement was posted late yesterday on North Sails’ North American website:

“Sobstad Corporation and North Sails Group, LLC have settled the patent infringement litigation regarding Sobstad’s structural sail patents, the ‘639, ‘953 and ‘205 patents in suit. North Sails Group, LLC will now own the ‘639, ‘953 and ‘205 patents and all of their counterparts, often referred to as the ‘Airframe Patents.’

“Sobstad Corporation will retain full ownership of Sobstad’s ‘080 patent, often referred to as the ‘Genesis Patent’ and all of its counterparts. The ‘080 patent was not a patent in suit.”

In short, North Sails has not only taken control of 3DL, but also takes ownership of the Airframe patents – initially held by Sobstad – that sparked the action. How much – if any – North Sails paid in the settlement is unclear at present.