CARLSBAD, Calif., and TOKYO, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Sumitomo Rubber
Industries Ltd. and Callaway Golf Company headquarters announced that they
have agreed to limited mutual license agreements on the use of Sumitomo Rubber
Industries' patented technology on metal woods and Callaway Golf's patented
technology on undercut irons.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries distributed Callaway Golf products in Japan
from 1988 through the end of 1999 under the Exclusive Distributor Agreement
for Japan. In January 2000, distribution in Japan of Callaway Golf products
was transferred to Callaway Golf K.K. and Sumitomo Rubber Industries ceased
its distribution relationship. Thereafter, in the process of defining the
future relationship of the two companies, they recognized that a limited
agreement on the use of Sumitomo Rubber Industries' patented technology on
metal woods and Callaway Golf's patented technology on undercut irons would
benefit both companies. The terms of the parties' agreement are confidential.
Both Sumitomo Rubber Industries and Callaway Golf believe that this
agreement gives both parties the freedom to pursue their respective product
developments while recognizing the right of the other, and to seek further
technology innovations in the marketplace.
Callaway Golf Company makes and sells Big Bertha(R) Metal Woods and Irons,
including Big Bertha ERC(TM) II Forged Titanium Drivers, Big Bertha Hawk
Eye(R) VFT(TM) and Big Bertha Hawk Eye VFT Pro Series Titanium Drivers and
Fairway Woods, Big Bertha Steelhead Plus(TM) Stainless Steel Drivers and
Fairway Woods, Hawk Eye Tungsten Injected(TM) Titanium Irons, Steelhead(TM)
X-14(R) and Steelhead X-14 Pro Series Stainless Steel Irons. Callaway Golf
Company also makes and sells Odyssey(R) Putters, including White Hot(R),
TriHot(TM), and Dual Force(R) Putters. Callaway Golf Company makes and sells
the Callaway Golf(R) "Rule 35"(R) Firmfeel(TM) and Softfeel(TM) golf balls,
and the CB1(TM) Red and CB1 Blue golf balls. For more information about
Callaway Golf Company, please visit our Web sites at http://www.callawaygolf.com,
http://www.callawaygolfball.com and http://www.odysseygolf.com.
SOURCE Callaway Golf Company
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Related links:
http://www.callawaygolf.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/124825.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 124825
CONTACT:
U.S., Larry Dorman, 760-931-1771, or Japan,
Alex Boezeman, +81-3-5405-4500, both of Callaway Golf Company
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