Cree has filed complaints against Feit Electric Company and Unity Opto Technology; its Asian supplier to restrain from breaching on Cree’s patented technologies.
The complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
In addition, Cree also pleads to address the false advertising claims by Feit that its certain products meet ENERGY STAR specifications.
The suits allege infringement of 10 patents related to LED lighting.
“Cree fully supports competition, but it should be fair competition,” said Chuck Swoboda, chairman, CEO, Cree.
Cree owns around 4,000 issued patents achieved after investing around $1 billion in R&D over the past 10 years.
Cree has requested the ITC to issue an order to exclude infringing advertised articles from entering the United States, and issue an order to cease selling falsely advertised LED bulbs in the U.S.
It was found that certain of Feit’s bulbs that carry the ENERGY STAR label do not perform up to the mark, but consumers are purchasing them trusting the ENERGY STAR label.
Cree was the first to develop sophisticated technology to achieve omni-directionality of light, introducing the first sub $10 LED light bulb in U.S.
Cree has achieved patents for its innovations since the company’s founding in 1987 and its licensing program includes over 20 licensing partners.
North Carolina-based Cree employs nearly 3,900 people across the United States.
Sabeena Wahid
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