German Makers of Leopard 2 Tank Settle Authorized Dispute

DUESSELDORF (Reuters) – German arms makers Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann have settled a authorized dispute over the mental property rights to the Leopard 2, one of many world’s most superior battle tanks, a courtroom stated on Tuesday.

A growth in defence orders as a result of conflict in Ukraine, and specifically demand for Leopard tanks from Kyiv to assist in the struggle towards Russian forces, has boosted each corporations.

Duesseldorf-based Rheinmetall makes the cannon of the Leopard 2 and Munich-based KMW makes its chassis.

KMW had taken authorized motion towards statements made by Rheinmetall Chief Govt Armin Papperger in a newspaper interview with the Neue Zuercher Zeitung in March, through which he was quoted as saying that Rheinmetall owned the rights to the Leopard 2A4 mannequin.

A district courtroom in Munich stated a listening to for Tuesday had been cancelled due to the settlement between the 2 corporations. It gave no particulars.

Rheinmetall stated each events had sought to settle the dispute as shortly as attainable with the intention of returning to day-to-day enterprise.

“Within the statements which have been the topic of criticism, neither Mr Papperger nor Rheinmetall AG wished or wish to counsel that Rheinmetall AG has unique rights to the Leopard 2A4 major battle tank,” the corporate stated in a press release.

With out giving any monetary particulars, it stated the authorized course of had been terminated by mutual consent.

KMW didn’t instantly remark.

Greater defence spending helped Rheinmetall publish report earnings final yr, and it has joined Germany’s DAX blue-chip index.

Earlier this yr, Germany bowed to stress from allies and agreed to ship Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

(Reporting by Alexander Huebner in Munich, Matthias Inverardi in Duesseldorf; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Modifying by Friederike Heine and Barbara Lewis)

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