ITC orders Customs office to seize laminate flooring infringing on Unilin patents

[Dallas] Seizure and Forfeiture Orders were issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) against multiple companies attempting to import containers of laminate flooring that infringe upon Unilin’s pioneering glueless locking patents, the company announced.

The offending companies, according to Unilin, were first warned of the company’s General Exclusion Order prohibiting the import of infringing laminate flooring. Because many chose to ignore those warnings, the ITC issued Seizure and Forfeiture Orders empowering the U.S. Customs Office to seize all infringing products imported into the United States.
 
Further, in March 2014, Unilin filed several patent infringement suits in federal district court in California against multiple companies and individuals that are active in the importation and distribution of unlicensed glueless laminate plank flooring. The suits were filed to collect money owed to Unilin for past infringement.

Some years ago, Unilin put in place its “L2C” holographic label program to support its licensees. The L2C program requires Chinese licensees of Unilin and Välinge to attach a unique holographic label to each box of licensed product.

According to Unilin, companies have tried to avoid the ITC General Exclusion Order by using counterfeit labels. Products using counterfeit L2C labels, however, will also be seized and destroyed by Customs.

Christine Walmsley-Scott, legal counsel of Unilin’s IP division, said, “Products with counterfeit labels not only infringe on Unilin’s glueless locking patents, but also infringe on Unilin’s trademarks and copyrights. We are closely working with U.S. Customs Officials and with our attorneys to have such counterfeit products seized. We are therefore advising all buyers and retailers of Chinese glueless locking flooring products to get guarantees from their suppliers that the holographic L2C labels applied to their products are genuine as provided to them by Unilin representatives.”

Questions concerning this announcement can be addressed to Unilin’s legal IP department at Uniclic.legal@unilin.com or by phone at 00-352-2700-4183.

​