http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10795728
- A Kiwi inventor has been awarded more than $1 million in damages after a court ruled an American company copied his patented champagne bottle opener.
- Bryce Stewart, a long-time inventor, spent eight years perfecting a opener, which removes the cork, wire restraint and foil wrapping virtually intact from a champagne bottle.
- United States company Franmara offered the 71-year-old US$2500 ($3050) for the licence in 2003, but when rebuffed, later exactly copied the design and sold it online.
- Mr Stewart, who now lives in Australia, patented the “Stopper Removing Tool” in New Zealand and the United States in 2003.
