Titleist's Pro V1 golf ball
The years-long legal battle between Titleist parent Acushnet Company and Callaway Golf has reached an end. The equipment giants jointly announced they have reached a settlement of all pending litigation and disputes, including disputes beyond the golf ball suits between the parties. No money changed hands, but under the terms of the agreement, each company will have specified rights to make golf ball and club products under patents owned by the other. Details of the settlement are confidential.
Basically the lawsuits involve Callaway allegations that the Acushnet Company violated patents it owned in regards to early models of the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball. Callaway obtained those patents when it bought Spalding Sports in 2003. Ironically, Callaway divested itself of the last remnants of that acquisition earlier this month when it sold its Top-Flite business unit to retail giant Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The lawsuit was originally filed in 2006 and for the better of the part of the six years, each side had been winning rulings and counter-rulings from various courts.
What does their “Kumbaya” moment mean for consumers? Not much, other than our long golf ball patent nightmare is finally over.
