Source: Yicai
(Yicai Global) May 5 -- Chinese companies being sued by robot producer iRobot Corp. [NASDAQ:IRBT] for alleged patent violations said they will actively respond to the suit.
The Bedford-based firm filed lawsuits accusing 11 of its competitors, including China’s ILIFE Technology Co., Suzhou Realpower Electric Appliance Co., and Shenzhen Silver Star Intelligent Technology Co., of violating six technology patents on April 18. The United States International Trade Commission will carry out an ITC 337 patent investigation around May 17.
ILIFE operates its own cleaning robot brand in the US. The other two Chinese brands are original equipment manufacturers for some of the other accused companies.
The three Chinese groups have responded to the suit and hired attorneys who may try to argue that the patents are invalid.
“The ITC 337 investigation generally involves two or three patents, while this case involves six, which indicates iRobot is well prepared for this suit,” said Zhou Nan, the secretary general of the Household Appliance Chamber of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.
Ecovacs and Samsung both produce cleaning robot, but were not targeted in the lawsuit.
The cleaning robot market has grown rapidly in recent years. The US and China are the two largest markets worldwide. The US market penetration rate is less than 10 percent, despite respectable sales, indicating there is room for growth.
iRobot’s suit aims to prevent companies from lowering the price of cleaning robots, Zhou said.
The US government opened more than 50 ITC 337 investigations last year. Over 20 of them were directed at Chinese firms. Chinese exports’ technology has improved, but trade protectionism is getting worse, and the US plans to watch its market, Zhou said
Typically, when the US starts a 337 investigation, it will file a case 30 days later, and a preliminary decision will be made 45 days after the case is filed.
“We will organize enterprises to actively respond to the suit, and will not give up, for once they lose, they will be unable to access the US market. This market is not only a ten-trillion-dollar one, but also a market with significant potential for further growth,” said Zhou.