Robots taken from trade show after iRobot obtains injunction

Earlier today at the IFA consumer electronics trade show in Berlin, robots were seized from Chinese companies Shenzhen Silver Star Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd. and Shenzhen Silver Star Intelligent Electronic Ltd. based on preliminary injunctions obtained by iRobot.

iRobot said the requests were granted by the District Court of Düsseldorf based on the German parts of four European patents. The court agreed that several Shenzhen Silver Star vacuum cleaner robots infringe on iRobot designs. Shenzhen Silver Star can appeal the court’s decision.

“iRobot has made significant investments to protect its intellectual property. The company has sold more than 10 million home robots worldwide and intends to protect its patent portfolio by the appropriate means available domestically and abroad,” Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot, said in a statement.

iRobot’s patent portfolio contains more than 200 U.S. patents and 195 non-U.S. patents, 37 of which cover the Roomba vacuum cleaning robot alone. Earlier this year, the company initiated legal action against four companies involved in selling the Solac Ecogenic AA3400 robotic vacuum cleaning robot based on five European patents held by iRobot. In 2011, iRobot achieved a successful settlement with New Majestic S.p.A. after enforcing several patents in Italy.

[ photo courtesy of iRobot ]

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