Port Washington, NY– WAC filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) requesting that the federal agency institute an investigation into patent infringement by Minka Lighting (Minka) and Visual Comfort & Co. (VCC) of 30 claims of three of WAC’s patents directed to smart fan technology.
WAC asserted United States Patent Nos. 10,488,897, 11,028,854, and 11,598,345 in the complaint.
WAC expects the ITC investigation to be instituted soon and the scope of the investigation to encompass Minka’s and VCC’s entire smart fan businesses, including fans offered under Minka’s minkaAire brand and VCC’s Monte Carlo, Chapman & Myers, Sean Lavin, Generation Lighting, and Barbara Barry brands.
The ITC has the authority to prohibit the importation of infringing products into the United States and prohibit sales of inventory that is already in the country. If WAC prevails, Minka and VCC will be ordered to stop selling or importing smart fans in the United States.
“Buyers beware,” says WAC’s CEO, Dirk Wald, “Minka and Visual Comfort do not have a license to WAC’s smart fan patents. You buy and resell them at your own risk.”
WAC offers a great variety of smart fans under its WAC Lighting and Modern Forms brands.
About WAC and Affiliated Brands
A second-generation, owner-operated company founded nearly 40 years ago, WAC designs and builds a wide range of intelligent and integrated LED luminaires and ceiling fans across renowned brands such as MODERN FORMS, WAC Lighting, SCHONBEK, dweLED, LIMITED, WAC Landscape, and AiSPIRE. The company’s strengths in original design, emerging technologies, solution-oriented innovations, and vertical manufacturing infrastructures have catapulted it to a position of leadership in the lighting and ceiling fan industry. The award-winning product portfolio reflects the company’s commitment to ecologically sensitive manufacturing while delivering elevated design and cutting-edge technology. For more information, please visit its websites. www.waclighting.com. www.modernforms.com. www.schonbek.com.