VIZIO TVs Clear Customs
The United States
Customs and Border Protection agency has issued a ruling in favor of VIZIO,
stating that all current models of VIZIO televisions do not infringe upon a
patent held by Funai Electric Company. This ruling means that VIZIO can
continue importing the fastest selling line of televisions in America without interruption.
"Today's Customs ruling is yet another major step forward for VIZIO, our supply partners, our retail customers, and most importantly the American consumers who have shown they prefer VIZIO HDTVs over other brands," said Laynie Newsome, Co-Founder & Vice President of Sales and Marketing Communications. "We are pleased that Funai's ill-advised tactics continue to falter and are being rejected by the U.S. authorities; we are determined and remain unshaken by merit-less claims from foreign competitors."
Funai, who sells TVs under the brands Emerson, Sylvania, and Symphonic, has been buying TV patents and using them to get money out of its competitors. In April, Funai won a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission to stop VIZIO from importing digital TVs to sell in the U.S. VIZIO won a stay last month while the Trade Commission decides whether or not to ban imports that infringe on the Funai patent. Earlier in March, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a final rejection of the Funai patent and said VIZIO didn’t infringe.
VIZIO is currently the number one selling brand of flat panel HDTVs in the U.S. The company distributes TVs through many major retailers.
"Today's Customs ruling is yet another major step forward for VIZIO, our supply partners, our retail customers, and most importantly the American consumers who have shown they prefer VIZIO HDTVs over other brands," said Laynie Newsome, Co-Founder & Vice President of Sales and Marketing Communications. "We are pleased that Funai's ill-advised tactics continue to falter and are being rejected by the U.S. authorities; we are determined and remain unshaken by merit-less claims from foreign competitors."
Funai, who sells TVs under the brands Emerson, Sylvania, and Symphonic, has been buying TV patents and using them to get money out of its competitors. In April, Funai won a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission to stop VIZIO from importing digital TVs to sell in the U.S. VIZIO won a stay last month while the Trade Commission decides whether or not to ban imports that infringe on the Funai patent. Earlier in March, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a final rejection of the Funai patent and said VIZIO didn’t infringe.
VIZIO is currently the number one selling brand of flat panel HDTVs in the U.S. The company distributes TVs through many major retailers.
