Article Number: 9191
U.S. Customs Seizes Patent Infringing Laminate Flooring Products
Dallas, March 24, 2015 – United States Customs officials continue to seize and destroy containers of laminate flooring that are using Unilin’s patented click technology without authorization. Very recently, multiple containers of laminate flooring manufactured by the company Changzhou Century Wind were seized and destroyed.
In 2007, Unilin obtained a General Exclusion Order from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) by which products utilizing Unilin’s click patent portfolio without authorization would be blocked from entry into the U.S., and in certain circumstances seized and destroyed.
In 2012, Unilin introduced the holographic L2C label program which facilitated the distinction between licensed and non-licensed products. Unilin also recorded its L2C trademark with U.S. Customs by which U.S. Customs would be able to seize products bearing a counterfeit holographic L2C label.
In March 2014, Unilin filed several patent litigation actions in Los Angeles against importers that imported unlicensed products, despite several warning from Unilin’s legal department that such imports were illegal. A lot of the companies that were sued in these actions have already dissolved, but Unilin is continuing the cases against the individuals who were the driving forces behind such companies.
Unilin’s IP business team is present at Domotex Shanghai and welcoming all manufacturers, importers and retailers of click flooring planks, who have questions regarding the legal and patent implications of their business, to stop by the Unilin/Flooring Industries booth to discuss (Hall E5, Stand C20). After Domotex, any questions concerning this announcement should be addressed to Unilin’s legal IP department: Uniclic.legal@unilin.com or phone # 00-352-2700-4183.
About Unilin
Unilin is a leading manufacturer of laminate floors, engineered and solid hardwood flooring, luxury vinyl flooring, melamine boards, MDF boards, chipboards, and roofing systems. The company operates 21 production sites across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Unilin is part of Mohawk Industries which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.unilin.com.
In 2007, Unilin obtained a General Exclusion Order from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) by which products utilizing Unilin’s click patent portfolio without authorization would be blocked from entry into the U.S., and in certain circumstances seized and destroyed.
In 2012, Unilin introduced the holographic L2C label program which facilitated the distinction between licensed and non-licensed products. Unilin also recorded its L2C trademark with U.S. Customs by which U.S. Customs would be able to seize products bearing a counterfeit holographic L2C label.
In March 2014, Unilin filed several patent litigation actions in Los Angeles against importers that imported unlicensed products, despite several warning from Unilin’s legal department that such imports were illegal. A lot of the companies that were sued in these actions have already dissolved, but Unilin is continuing the cases against the individuals who were the driving forces behind such companies.
Unilin’s IP business team is present at Domotex Shanghai and welcoming all manufacturers, importers and retailers of click flooring planks, who have questions regarding the legal and patent implications of their business, to stop by the Unilin/Flooring Industries booth to discuss (Hall E5, Stand C20). After Domotex, any questions concerning this announcement should be addressed to Unilin’s legal IP department: Uniclic.legal@unilin.com or phone # 00-352-2700-4183.
About Unilin
Unilin is a leading manufacturer of laminate floors, engineered and solid hardwood flooring, luxury vinyl flooring, melamine boards, MDF boards, chipboards, and roofing systems. The company operates 21 production sites across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Unilin is part of Mohawk Industries which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.unilin.com.
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