Baby carrier maker names Babybjörn in mass patent infringement action
Swedish baby products company Babybjörn is facing lawsuits in the US International Trade Commission (USITC) and US federal court over alleged patent infringement.
The complaints were filed by US-based child carrier manufacturer Líllébaby yesterday, March 6, as part of a wider legal action by the company involving nearly 30 competitors.
The Colorado company alleges Babybjörn and its exclusive US distributor Babyswede infringed two of its patents (US numbers 8,172,116 and 8,424,732) covering child carrier designs.
Both patents are for a child carrier with “adaptive leg supports”. According to the complaint filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, multiple Babybjörn products including the Baby Carrier One and the Baby Carrier One Outdoors infringe Líllébaby’s IP.
Líllébaby also filed a section 337 complaint at the USITC yesterday, requesting an investigation into the importation of the allegedly infringing products.
The company is seeking treble damages for Babybjörn’s “wilful infringement” and attorneys’ fees.
According to a statement sent to WIPR, Líllébaby is also asking the USITC to prevent the import, distribution, sale and advertising of any products which infringe its patents.
Líllébaby CEO Jeff Colton said that the company was seeking “to protect our intellectual property and support our ability to continue to innovate in ways that benefit parents and their children”.
The Babybjörn suit comes as part of a wide-ranging litigation that saw Líllébaby sue 29 companies, including Stokke, Cybex and Phil & Teds, in the USITC and federal district courts yesterday.
WIPR has contacted Babybjörn for comment.
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