Infringing Robots Now Subject to Impound and Destruction Orders throughout Germany
BEDFORD, Mass., May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in delivering robotic technology-based solutions, has received full affirmation of four preliminary injunctions against Chinese company Shenzhen Silver Star Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. with the District Court of Dusseldorf. The requests were based on the German parts of four European patents, EP 1 331 537 B1, EP 2 251 757 B1, EP 1 969 438 B1, and EP 1 395 888 B1.
Following the parties' full briefing and a hearing on infringement of the four patents, the District Court of Dusseldorf upheld the previously granted preliminary injunctions against Shenzhen Silver Star prohibiting the distribution of vacuum cleaner robots of the types XR210, M-H688 and M-788 within Germany.
The District Court has affirmed that the question of infringement has been answered so clearly in favor of iRobot that it cannot be seriously expected that Shenzhen Silver Star will ultimately prevail in any subsequent main action proceedings on any one of the four patents.
Shenzhen Silver Star has brought separate nullity actions against the four patents before the Federal Patent Court in Germany. However, the District Court's decisions reflect that Shenzhen Silver Star's challenges to patent validity were deemed insufficient to merit lifting even one preliminary injunction.
Shenzhen Silver Star can appeal the Court's decision.
The same chamber of the District Court of Dusseldorf will hear the parties in a parallel lawsuit on the same patents versus Shenzhen Silver Star and three other companies involved in selling the Solac Ecogenic AA3400 in Germany.
The affirmation of the preliminary injunctions begins an enforcement phase in which, in addition to a cease and desist order, iRobot is entitled to assert a claim for information on importation of all such robots throughout Germany, to impound, and ultimately obtain a destruction order for such robots.
"iRobot has made significant investments to protect its intellectual property. As the worldwide leader in home robots, we intend to protect our investments with our patent portfolio by the appropriate means available domestically and abroad," said Colin Angle, chairman and chief executive officer of iRobot.
iRobot's patent portfolio now contains more than 500 U.S. and International patents. Additional detail on iRobot intellectual property and patents can be found at www.irobot.com\patents.
About iRobot Corp.
iRobot designs and builds robots that make a difference. The company's home robots help people find smarter ways to clean, its defense & security robots protect those in harm's way, and its remote presence robots enable virtual presence from anywhere in the world. iRobot's products feature proprietary technologies incorporating advanced concepts in navigation, mobility, manipulation and artificial intelligence. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.
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SOURCE iRobot Corp.
