ITC wades into robotic vacuum row
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) will investigate nine companies, including vacuum makers Hoover and Black and Decker, following a complaint by technology company iRobot Corporation.
In an announcement on its website the ITC said it had voted to institute a section 337 investigation into “robotic vacuum cleaning devices”.
If the ITC finds in favour of iRobot then the companies could be hit with an exclusion order preventing importation of the allegedly infringing products, as well as a cease-and-desist order to stop the sale and marketing of the products in the US.
The ITC’s announcement comes after Massachusetts-based iRobot asked it to investigate the companies last month on the grounds they had infringed six of its patents related to vacuuming robots.
As reported by WIPR, it also filed a separate patent infringement claim at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The case is currently pending.
The patents asserted are US numbers 6,809,490; 7,155,308; 8,474,090; 8,600,553; 9,038,233; and 9,486,924.
Glen Weinstein, chief legal officer at iRobot, said he was pleased with the ITC's decision.
“iRobot is committed to protecting its valuable intellectual property as it continues to drive innovation in consumer robotics worldwide,” he added.
The ITC will investigate Bissell Homecare; Hoover; Royal Appliance Manufacturing; Bobsweep Canada and Bobsweep USA; Black and Decker; Shenzhen ZhiYi Technology; Matsutek Enterprises; Suzhou Real Power Electric Appliance; and Shenzhen Silver Star Intelligent Technology.
The ITC will set a target date for completing the investigation within 45 days.
Section 337 orders become final 60 days after issuance unless they are overturned for policy reasons by the US Trade Representative within that period.
The ITC said by instituting the investigation it has not made any decision on the merits of the case.
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