A fridge war between Whirlpool and LG Electronics has broken out with both Companies claiming alleged refrigerator patent infringements in a US Court.
According to TWICE In the latest round of legal wrangling, Whirlpool has added four more patent violations to an existing suit in which it is seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages. The four patents involve proprietary technologies associated with product reliability, performance and quality
The move came one week after LG filed its own patent infringement suit against Whirlpool over three refrigerator technologies, charging Whirlpool with “willful and deliberate infringement” for employing its inventions in 11 models.
The patents cover water-dispenser, food-compartment and door-gasket designs. LG is demanding a jury trial and is seeking trebled damages.
LG’s suit followed a similar complaint filed by Whirlpool in January with the International Trade Commission (ITC), charging LG with using its proprietary technologies in French door and side-by-side refrigerators. Whirlpool asked the commission to issue an order preventing LG from importing and selling infringing products in the United States, which it said represent the majority of LG’s refrigeration sales here. The matter is currently under investigation by the ITC.
For more on this story go to TWICE.