Andfjord Salmon wins patent case
Oslo District Court has ruled in favour of the Norwegian land-based fish farmer in a dispute with a former employee.
The verdict was first reported by Bladet Vesterålen .
Andfjord Salmon has won a patent dispute against former employee Ben Tommy Eriksen and his company Andfjord Innovation.
Oslo District Court has decided that the patent "A land based system for aquaculture for providing a fluid flow" shall be transferred to Andfjord Salmon, and that Eriksen and the company must cover legal costs.
One of several co-inventors
The case concerned the ownership of a patent for a land-based aquaculture system with interconnected tanks. Eriksen was associated with Andfjord Salmon as a consultant from 2016 and an employee from 2019 to 2022, while the patent was registered to his company.
The inventor notified in March 2025 that he would demand a licence and payment from Andfjord Salmon for use of the patent.
The court concluded that the technology was most likely developed through ongoing collaboration between several employees and consultants at Andfjord Salmon, and that Eriksen was only one of several co-inventors.
His contribution was also considered to have a clear connection to his employment relationship with the company.
Must pay legal costs
Oslo District Court also found no basis for further compensation beyond a previous settlement agreement, and also pointed out that the employment agreement supports Andfjord Salmon's ownership of the patent.
Eriksen and Andfjord Innovation have been ordered to pay legal costs of NOK 1.1 million, of which 60% is charged to the company and 40% to Eriksen personally.
Eriksen has not yet decided whether to appeal the verdict. The verdict is not final.
