Decision reached in Eurocopter-Bell case MARIGNANE, France, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A Canadian court has awarded punitive damages to France company Eurocopter for intentional patent infringement by Bell Helicopter. The infringement is connected to skid landing gear Eurocopter developed and which is installed on EC120 and EC130 helicopters. Eurocopter had brought 16 claims against Bell Helicopter but 15 of them were decided in Bell's favor. Eurocopter said the court determined "that Bell leased a Eurocopter EC120 helicopter equipped with the patented landing gear, studied the design of the gear, and created a 'slavish copy' to be used on its new 429 model." Bell Helicopter, in commenting on the case, said "this original skid gear was never placed into production or sold to a customer." "While we respect the court's opinion, based on prior art, we believe that the patent should never have been granted for the sleigh gear design," said John L. Garrison, president and chief executive officer of Bell Helicopter. We are considering an appeal on the findings of both validity and infringement.