The International Trade Commission has upheld the General Exclusion Order recommended by Judge Essex regarding LED lighting product patents held by Litepanels, Inc. Judge Essex made his decision based upon tens of thousands of pages of Exhibits, numerous Expert Opinions and voluminous testimony from the various Parties.
“Litepanels is pleased with the result,” said Rudy Pohlert, President of Litepanels. “This decision is also a victory for the rights of all those who invest their efforts, ingenuity and resources to create innovative products and technologies.”
Contrary to the substantial amount of misinformation surrounding this case, the General Exclusion Order will not affect the importation of emergency lighting, cellular phones, automobile taillights, or LED bulbs themselves. It also does not affect other forms of LED lighting used for film, video or photography such as RGB and Remote Phosphor technologies. It simply prohibits the importation into the United States of LED lighting products for film, video or photography that infringe certain claims of the Litepanels patents without the patent holder’s consent.
Of the fourteen (14) companies named in the complaint, all of the major manufacturers have taken the professional route and chosen to license its intellectual property to continue manufacturing LED lighting products for sale in the United States. The overwhelming adoption of licensing will ensure that the marketplace for LED lighting products remains as diverse, robust and competitive as ever. In fact, the licensing agreements now allow these companies to build on top of Litepanels’ technology to create even more innovative products going forward.
What does it really mean to you? Not much, and never did. What can you expect to see happen to the Respondents? Well perhaps something similar to what has been imposed on two of the companies already.
F&V and Nanguang must now seek written permission from Litepanels to import into the United States or directly sell for importation into the United States any LED photographic lighting device. If F&V or Nanguang do bring in any LED photographic lighting device subject to written approval by Litepanels they will do so paying license fees and royalties to Litepanels.
If F&V or Nanguang want to bring into the USA any new LED photographic lighting device then they must provide Litepanels with a prototype of each Future Product.
Any agreed Royalty Product may only be imported into the United States through three ports of entry, New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA and Oakland, CA.
If F&V or Nanguang import new LED photographic lighting devices into the United States or sell for importation into the United States then products must be labeled with Litepanels as the trademark holder where appropriate.
So that Patent Free LED site which was a thinly disguised and poorly executed vehicle for one of the Respondents can now wallow in the knowledge that their shallow efforts were impecunious at best and now some of the money from their LED lights is going to Litepanels.
Need to read more on the Litepanels 337 Complaint then try:
Litepanels File a 337 Complaint, Could Halt Importing LED Panels into USA:
IKAN Is Opposing the Litepanels 337 Complaint:
Litepanels Terminate Part of Their 337 Complaint LED Patent Case:
Litepanels 337 Complaint Initial Determination Is Under Review:
Litepanels Address LED Patent Concerns:
Preliminary Recommendation WIN For Litepanels LED Lighting Case:
Please see Litepanels for more on their LED lighting range.