A TEXTILE firm has won a substantial settlement after a copyright battle with a company over its designs.

Monks International BV has agreed to pay a five figure sum to Oswaldtwistle-based Hilden Manufacturing, after a dispute over copying by Monks of its gingham mattress designs.

As well as the settlement, Monks has agreed to a licensing arrangement with Hilden .

"It is very important for companies to guard their intellectual property and this result demonstrates that," said Susan Hall, a partner with Taylors solicitors in Blackburn, whose textile law unit handled the case.

"Hilden is a company which makes a massive annual investment in designs and recognises the importance of being prepared to take legal action if necessary to defend that investment.

"Fortunately, we were able to reach a good commercial resolution without having to go to court."

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