Leatt® Corporation Sues Atlas Brace for Patent Infringement

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Leatt Corporation (OTC: LEAT.PK) ("Leatt" or the "Company"), a global developer, marketer and the distributor of the Leatt-Brace®, a neck brace system designed to help prevent potentially devastating injuries to the cervical spine (neck) for helmeted sports, announced today that the Company has sued Atlas Brace Technologies US, LLC ("Atlas") for infringement on two of the Company's neck brace patents.

Leatt is the exclusive licensee of certain patents, manufacturing, sale, use and distribution rights held by Xceed Holdings CC ("Xceed"), a South African company owned by Leatt's founder, Dr. Christopher Leatt, including the patents to the Leatt-Brace®.  On October 21, 2011, the Company sent a letter to Atlas' subsidiary notifying them that certain models of Atlas' neck braces infringe on the Company's patents, demanding that Atlas cease and desist the manufacture, use, offer and sale of such products.  Instead of complying with the Company's request, on or about December 1, 2011, Atlas brought suit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California seeking a declaration that Atlas does not infringe on the Leatt neck brace patents. On January 18, 2012, the Company filed an Answer and Counterclaim with the Court, denying Atlas' claims and countersuing Atlas (with Xceed) for patent infringement of the Leatt neck brace patents.  The Company is also seeking injunctive relief, damages for Atlas' willful infringement of the Leatt neck brace patents, and attorneys' fees.

Sean Macdonald, the Chief Executive Officer of Leatt Corporation, remarked "we are disturbed by Atlas' filing of this action in response to our initial letter and by their continued infringement on our patents. We will take all necessary action to vigorously prosecute and enforce Leatt's intellectual property rights which protect the product internationally."

About Leatt Corporation: 

Leatt Corporation develops, markets and distributes personal protective equipment and ancillary products for all forms of sports, especially extreme motor sports. The Leatt-Brace® is an award-winning neck brace system considered the gold standard for neck protection for anyone wearing a crash helmet as a form of protection. It was designed for participants in extreme sports or riding motorcycles, bicycles, mountain bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other vehicles.  Additional information is at http://www.leatt.com.

Safe Harbor

This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding Leatt Corporation (the "Company") within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "seeks," "should," "could," "intends," or "projects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Any indication of the merits of a claim does not necessarily mean the claim will prevail at trial or otherwise. The Company's actual results in any endeavor may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, which factors or uncertainties may be beyond our ability to foresee or control.

Contacts:

Leatt Corporation
Sean Macdonald
Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]
+ (27) 21 557 8257

Allen & Caron, Inc.
Rudy Barrio (Investors)
[email protected]
(212) 691-8087

Len Hall (Media)
[email protected]
(949) 474-4300

SOURCE Leatt Corporation