Judge Issues Preliminary Ruling in Litter Box Patent Case
Two manufacturers infringed on at least one patented feature of the LitterMaid self-cleaning litter box, according to an initial determination in December by a judge for the U.S. States International Trade Commission (Washington). The full commission is expected to issue a final ruling in March.
The administrative law judge ruled that ScoopFree by Lucky Litter L.L.C. (Chicago) infringed on one of four patent claims in a case brought by Applica Consumer Products Inc., a subsidiary of Salton Inc. (Miramar, Fla.), which makes the LitterMaid product, and that SmartScoop by OurPet’s Inc. (Fairport Harbor, Ohio) infringed on one of eight claims.
Lucky Litter said it will request a full commission review.
OurPet’s Inc. said it plans to appeal the ruling, although it has “implemented a design change that avoids infringement,” according to a news release.
Salton won a previous U.S. International Trade Commission action against Doskocil Manufacturing Co. (Arlington, Texas) and its Purrforma products. [February 2009 PET AGE]
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