Twin-Star International’s Copyright Infringement Complaint Upheld by ITC

Furniture World News Desk on 5/19/2013

Twin-Star International announced that the U.S. International Trade Commission has issued a limited exclusion order barring the importation of all infringing products of Shenzhen Reliap Industrial Co. and Yue Qiu Sheng, both of Shenzhen, China. This comes after an investigation of copyright infringement.

The ITC’s initial investigation began January 19, 2012 based on a complaint filed by Twin-Star against California-based Whalen Furniture Manufacturing, Inc., which was then consolidated with a prior ITC investigation based on an earlier complaint filed by Twin-Star against Reliap and Yue. The complaints charge a violation of the Tariff Act of 1930 regarding the importation and sale in the U.S. of certain electric fireplaces and their components as well as processes of manufacturing by reason of infringement of U.S. Copyrights and misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, and tortious interference with contract. These copyrights cover the unique designs of Twin-Star’s electric fireplace inserts as well as content contained within their user manuals.

In July of last year, the Administrative Law Judge issued a consent order directing Whalen to cease importation and sale of the implicated Reliap fireplace products and any other related products that infringe on Twin-Star’s asserted copyrights or contain Twin-Star’s misappropriated trade secrets.

Earlier this month, the Commission issued a limited exclusion order prohibiting the importation of electric fireplaces and all related components, manuals, and products manufactured abroad and/or imported by or for Yue or Reliap, or any of their affiliates that use Twin-Star’s misappropriated trade secrets and/or that infringe upon one or more of Twin-Star’s asserted copyrights relating to the designs of their fireplaces and contents of their manuals.

The Commission’s findings have been well received by Twin-Star. “We are very happy with the Commission’s exclusion order, which underscores the value of our company’s innovative products and the work we have put into developing them,” said Robert Cohen, president and CEO of Twin-Star. “We reaffirm our commitment to using the avenues available through the ITC and the courts to enforce Twin-Star’s intellectual property and prevent the sale, importation or marketing of knockoffs.” Cohen added, “We will continue to protect our business and more importantly our customers businesses from having to compete against lower end imitations of our product and the companies that illegally produce or sell them. The Twin-Star International family of brands has always told the story of design, quality and service and its reflected in every product we manufacture.”

About Twin-Star International, Inc.:  Founded in 1996, Twin-Star International, Inc. of Delray Beach, Fl., is changing the way people entertain. Twin-Star, an award-winning home furnishings manufacturer of quality furniture, combines the latest trends with function and style to create unique pieces that enhance the lives of their customers. They use the finest hardwoods, wood veneers and finishes available, chosen specifically to match the character and need of each individual piece. Known for their ClassicFlame® Fireplaces, the finest furniture in the electric fireplace industry, their line-up also includes Duraflame®, Chimney-free® and Pro Electric Fireplaces, Tresanti® Media Consoles; Tresanti® Refrigerated Wine Cabinets; Tresanti® Kitchen Islands and Beverage Curios; Tresanti® Home Office Furniture; Black & Decker® and Luxe™ Bathroom furniture. Find out more at www.twinstarhome.com.