Microwave oven, illustrative image. PHOTO: © Maksym Prykhodnyuk | Dreamstime.com
US appliance maker Whirlpool asked a US trade agency on Tuesday to block the import and sale of microwave ovens from rival manufacturers based in South Korea and China, claiming they copied its patented technology for over-the-range microwave models, Reuters writes.
The complaint, filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington, is aimed at protecting a key market for Whirlpool, the Benton Harbor, Michigan-based company. Whirlpool claims South Korean rivals Samsung and LG, along with Chinese companies Midea and Haier, infringed on five of its patents for “low-profile combination microwave and hood products,” or LP-MHC.
In its complaint, Whirlpool says it pioneered the technology for microwave ovens that cook and provide ventilation. Whirlpool filed additional complaints against the companies in federal courts in Texas and New Jersey on Tuesday, seeking monetary damages, according to documents filed with the courts and a Whirlpool spokesman.
Spokesmen for Samsung, LG, GE Appliances (owned by Haier) and Midea did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the complaint filed with the ITC. Whirlpool said in a statement that it “will not hesitate to defend its innovation and intellectual property when a competitor steals a patent-protected design.”
“Whirlpool created the LP-MHC product class and, until the named defendants began to engage in unlawful conduct, Whirlpool was the only supplier of LP-MHCs in the United States,” the complaint states.
Microwave oven, illustrative image. PHOTO: © Maksym Prykhodnyuk | Dreamstime.com
