Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
Representative: Tomonori Hayashi, President and CEO
(Code No.: 6839 First Section of TSE/OSE)
US President Approves ITC Final Determination on Funai Digital TV Patent
－Ruling Bars Eleven Companies from Selling Digital Television Products in US－
OSAKA – Funai today marked a major achievement in its quest to end patent infringement by VIZIO and other television manufacturers. Today was the last day of a 60-day period in which US President Barack Obama could overrule the US International Trade Commission’s (ITC) determination that VIZIO and other companies infringe on Funai’s digital television patent.
“Allowing this comment period to expire without change signals that President Obama is in accord with the US patent process and Funai’s achievement at the ITC,” stated Tomonori Hayashi, President and CEO of Funai Electric. “Funai remains committed to respecting the intellectual property rights of others and will continue vigorously protecting its own intellectual property rights against infringers.”
On April 10, 2009, the ITC issued a final determination and remedy order finding that VIZIO and other respondents infringe Funai’s digital television patent (US Patent No. 6,115,074). Under the Section 337 statute, President Barack Obama had 60 days in which to review and revise the ITC’s orders.
The 60-day time period has elapsed without any objection from President Obama, signaling his approval of the ITC’s exclusion order. As of tomorrow, the ITC’s exclusion order is final and the following companies are barred from importing or selling infringing Digital television products in the U.S.
Vizio, Inc., formerly known as V. Inc. (US)
AmTRAN Technology Co., Ltd (Taiwan)
Proview International Holdings, Ltd. (Hong Kong)
Proview Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (China)
Proview Technology, Inc. (US)
TPV Technology, Ltd. (Hong Kong)
TPV International (USA), Inc. (US)
Top Victory Electronics (Taiwan) Co., Ltd (Taiwan)
Envision Peripherals, Inc. (US)
Syntax-Brillian Corporation (US)
Taiwan Kolin Co., Ltd (Taiwan)
The digital televisions that are now subject to the ITC’s remedy orders are sold under the following brands: VIZIO, Proview, AOC, Ölevia, and Envision, among others.
Information in this press release is current on the date of the press announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.
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Naoyuki Takanaka
Investor / Public Relations Department
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US President Approves ITC Final Determination on Funai Digital TV Patent [PDF:38KB]
