Progressive Settles Patent Dispute with Allstate

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OH--October 3, 2011: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company has reached a settlement agreement with Allstate Insurance Company and Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company regarding the litigation in which Progressive alleged that Allstate infringed on Progressive's patents for usage-based insurance and online insurance policy-servicing technology, as well as trademark infringement.

“We have always said we are willing to license our intellectual property rights to others and that we will enforce those rights when necessary.”

As part of the agreement, Progressive has granted a license to Allstate under Progressive's usage-based insurance and policy-servicing patent portfolios; and the companies have entered into a trademark co-existence agreement involving the Drive^® and DriveWise^® trademarks.

Additional details of the settlement will remain confidential.

"This was about protecting and leveraging Progressive's investment of more than 15 years in usage-based insurance research, development, testing and piloting," said Chuck Jarrett, Progressive's chief legal officer. "We have always said we are willing to license our intellectual property rights to others and that we will enforce those rights when necessary."

Progressive offers insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes. It's the fourth largest auto insurer in the country, the largest seller of motorcycle insurance, and a leader in commercial auto insurance.

Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price^®, the Snapshot Discount^®, and a concierge level of claims service.

The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at .