2 August 2016

Cree receives favorable initial determination in ITC case against Feit and Unity

LED chip, lamp and lighting fixture maker Cree Inc of Durham, NC, USA has received notice of the initial determination in the US International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation no. 337-TA-947 ('Certain Light-Emitting Diode Products and Components Thereof') in favor of Cree against respondents Feit Electric Company Inc of Pico Rivera, CA, USA and its Asian supplier Unity Opto Technology Co Ltd on violations of trade laws for both patent infringement and false advertising.

The ITC judge's decision includes the following findings:

• A violation of section 337 of the Tariff Act by Feit and Unity due to infringement of US Patent Nos. 8,596,819 (LED Lighting Product Efficiency), 8,628,214 (LED Lighting Product Efficiency), 7,976,187 (Omni-directional LED Lighting Product), and 8,766,298 (LED Component Structure).
• A violation due to the false and misleading advertisement by Feit and Unity of certain products as bearing the ENERGY STAR logo when they failed to meet ENERGY STAR standards and/or requirements.

The ITC's final determination in the investigation is currently expected by 29 November.

"We are pleased that the judge's decision reaffirms Cree's breakthroughs on more efficient and omni-directional LED lighting products," says Cree's general counsel Brad Kohn. "We hope this decision results in an exclusion order and a cease and desist order that would protect both consumers and Cree by preventing the importation of products that improperly use Cree's patented technology, falsely claim to meet ENERGY STAR requirements, or both."

See related items:

Cree files patent infringement counterclaims in US against Feit Electric

Feit Electric files LED patent infringement lawsuit against Cree

ITC opens investigation into infringement of Cree LED lighting patents

Cree files US lawsuits against Feit and Unity Opto alleging infringement of ten LED lighting patents

Tags: Cree LED light bulbs

Visit: www.creebulb.com