Ocado Gains After Winning Key Ruling in Robot Patent Row (1)

Ocado Group Plc shares surged after the U.K. company won the first round in a patent-infringement case filed by rival AutoStore Holdings Ltd. that has been hanging over the online grocery-technology provider.

Ocado shares rose more than 9%, while Autostore dropped as much as 15%. Three AutoStore patents are invalid, while Ocado doesn’t infringe a fourth, U.S. International Trade Commission Judge Charles Bullock said in a notice posted on the agency’s website.

The judge’s findings of no violation of AutoStore patent rights are subject to review by the commission, which has the power to block or limit the types of ...