Mark Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We take protecting our innovative technology and superior products very seriously, ensuring that customers can continue to trust and rely on products using Strix technology. We continually monitor appliances in the market to prevent the sale of products that do not meet international standards or that infringe our IP. We will continue to take further action, as appropriate, reinforcing our market leading brand and ensuring that consumers can benefit from safe, high quality products.”
Strix Group Plc (LON:KETL), the AIM listed global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of kettle safety controls and other complementary water temperature management components, is pleased to provide an update on its patent protection strategy.
Strix has a portfolio of intellectual property protecting a variety of product features across its product range. The portfolio includes over 150 patents and Strix relies on these and, where they have expired, other IP and unfair competition law to take legal action, both to defend the Company’s commercial position and ensure consumer safety. Examples of action taken in the last six months in China and Europe include:
-- As detailed in the recent Preliminary Results
announcement, the China domestic market
has seen an increase in electronic multi-cooker
appliances and Strix will launch a revised
control in H2 2018 to secure a share of
this growth opportunity whilst continuing
to defend its existing patented technology.
Against this background, Strix brought
patent infringement claims against 19 appliances
sold by Bears Electric Appliances Co.,
Ltd to the Shanghai IP Court which was
successfully settled as set out below.
-- In an example highlighting the different
ways the Company can protect its position
concerning its older products, Strix brought
a claim based on copyright law against
Adriaanse Import & Export B.V. and Edco
Eindhoven B.V. who had imported kettles
into the Netherlands which, according to
Strix, incorporated copies of its controls
and connectors. The parties subsequently
settled matters as set out below.
-- Strix continues to monitor growing internet
product sales and takes action where appropriate.
The Company recently brought complaints
of electronic kettle patent infringement
to the attention of Amazon which swiftly
resulted in five webpages being removed
from their platforms across Europe. One
vendor, Kinden, settled with Strix as set
out below, agreed to replace the alleged
infringing electronic kettle control with
a Strix product and has since been re-listed.
