Un autre procès exemplaire
ANAHEIM, Calif.--(
)--American Induction Technologies, Inc. ("AITI") recently won a major legal battle against Osram Sylvania Inc. ("OSRAM") in a patent infringement lawsuit pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. AITI sought judgment that OSRAM’s patent is invalid. On February 7, 2011 and March 21, 2011, Judge Manuel Real in Los Angeles invalidated all independent claims of U.S. Patent No. 5,834,905, paving the way for what is anticipated to be a brief trial on the remaining, dependent claims of the patent. AITI strongly believes in the evidence and that the patent will be completely struck down. AITI is represented in this matter by Art Hasan, Esq. of the law firm of Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP, with offices in Pasadena and Irvine, California.“We believe this lawsuit should never have been filed”
In the litigation, OSRAM alleged that AITI's 120W Cobra Head lamp infringed OSRAM's patent. OSRAM even asked the court to rule that the patent was valid. The court on February 7, 2011 refused to do that, instead invalidating one of five independent claims in the patent. The remaining four independent claims fell a few weeks later. OSRAM also asked the court to clear it of inequitable conduct in the prosecution of its patent, but the court refused to do so. Based on the evidence, AITI believes that it should prevail in its counterclaim against OSRAM regarding inequitable conduct.
This litigation has been monitored closely by the lighting industry worldwide, because at the heart of this litigation is a well-known, century-old induction lighting technology. OSRAM has attempted to assert foreign counterparts to the '905 patent in a number of countries, including Europe, Canada, China and South Korea.
"We believe this lawsuit should never have been filed," said Polo Rosas, AITI’s president. He further commented, “This was a fierce and costly legal battle with OSRAM, who had much greater resources, but we believed it was the right thing to do. We could not permit the whole industry, as well as the public, to be held hostage by a billion-dollar company and its invalid patent. We will continue to offer and support our entire line of successful products, including the 120 Watt Cobra Head model which we believe will soon be freed from this meritless lawsuit."
AITI is contemplating bringing together affected parties to join it in a suit seeking damages from OSI for unfair competition and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.
About American Induction Technologies, Inc.:
AITI is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality induction lighting fixtures. AITI’s induction fixtures with IC based lamp and generator systems have a rated life of 100,000 hours. AITI induction systems reduce energy consumption by half and also dramatically improve the quality of light. With considerable experience in both design engineering and manufacturing, AITI offers a wide range of light fixtures, including cobra heads, acorn fixtures, wall packs, garage lights, shoe boxes, high bay lights, gas station fixtures and billboard lights. AITI is also ARRA (Section 1605) compliant with the U.S. Department of Energy.
Osram Sylvania Inc. is a part of the Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) family of companies.