Jury Awards Dimplex $8.2 Million in Patent Damages

Furniture World Magazine

Dimplex North America Limited announced the results from the trial of its patent infringement suit against CFM Corporation. A unanimous jury verdict rendered in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in Chicago, on Tuesday, March 8th found that CFM had willfully infringed Dimplex's U.S. Patent No. 5,642,580 (the ‘580 Patent) by manufacturing and selling electric fireplaces and stoves that use Dimplex’s patented technology. The jury also unanimously rejected CFM's challenge to the validity of the ‘580 Patent, and awarded Dimplex damages in excess of US $8.2 million. Martyn Champ, President of Dimplex North America Limited, said, "Dimplex prides itself in being a creative and inventive company. We are pleased that the jury agreed that the ‘580 Patent is valid and that CFM wrongfully used our technology in its products. Protection of Dimplex’s intellectual property rights is important to us, and we intend to continue enforcing those rights against other infringing products and manufacturers. While this judgment is important, however, it will in no way diminish our aggressive product development program. We plan to further enhance and expand what is already the broadest product line in the industry.” Dimplex also has a separate lawsuit for infringement of the ‘580 Patent pending against Twin-Star International, Inc. That action, which was filed in May 2004, is also pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Both the CFM and Twin-Star lawsuits relate to technology used in Dimplex’s four branded fireplace lines: electraflame®, Optiflame®, Dimplex® and Symphony®. About Dimplex: Dimplex North America Limited is a division of the Glen Dimplex Group of Ireland. For more than 30 years, the Glen Dimplex Group has been committed to outstanding innovation, quality and customer service that has enabled it to become the world’s leading manufacturer of electric heating products. Dimplex North America, headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario is North America’s leading manufacturer/marketer of electric fireplaces.