DURHAM, N.H., Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third time, a federal decision has struck down claims of patent infringement by David Tropp and his company Safe Skies.

In the most recent ruling entered on August 10, 2011, the Eastern District Court of New York dismissed with prejudice the patent infringement suit brought by Tropp against 18 licensees of Travel Sentry. In an earlier case, the court had already found that Travel Sentry did not, and could not, in any way infringe Tropp's patents. The same court has now concluded exactly the same for Travel Sentry's accused licensees.

In another separate, earlier decision the U.S.  Department of Commerce's International Trade Commission (ITC) also dismissed Tropp's claims that 20 of Travel Sentry's foreign manufacturers and licensees also infringed his patents. That suit was similarly dismissed by that court.

"This is a satisfying legal and moral victory for us," according to Travel Sentry's founder and CEO John Vermilye. "Travel Sentry invented this concept, was the first to implement it, and our licensees are by far the largest provider of TSA accepted and recognized luggage locks around the world."

"We knew from day one that Tropp's claims were groundless and meant only to intimidate our partners and stifle fair competition in the marketplace. We are very gratified that we now have three court decisions which support our and our valued partners' position."

In 2003 Travel Sentry created the industry standard for luggage locking systems, which can be operated independently by passengers as well as TSA Security Officers.  Travel Sentry has provided, at no cost to the government, thousands of tool sets at each of the 450+ airports under the control of the TSA.  Travel Sentry also provides, at no cost, ongoing training, support, and maintenance of the system.

Travel Sentry licenses its system to lock and luggage manufacturers and, in accordance with its agreement with the TSA, monitors the performance of its licensees to ensure product functionality, quality and accuracy in the marketing and promotion of the system.

There are more than 350 worldwide companies participating as licensees in the program including every one of the biggest brand names in the travel goods business. To date more than 120 million Travel Sentry Approved locks have been manufactured and sold worldwide through virtually every major retailer as well as specialist travel shops.

SOURCE Travel Sentry