Englewood Cliffs, N.J. – March 16 – LG Electronics, the appliance manufacturer based here, has released a statement that denies allegations made by Whirlpool that said a line of LG clothes washers sold in the United States infringes on two patents secured by Whirlpool in 1988 and 2001. Whirlpool filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan in February, requesting that LG remove the infringing products from its U.S. product supply chain and pay an unspecified amount of money for damages.
LG said its washers “do not infringe any rights and that Whirlpool has no legal right to remove LG’s washers from the U.S. market or receive any damages or other recovery from LG or any person purchasing or using LG’s washers.”
LG is seeking a judgment that the asserted patent claims are invalid and not infringed. LG is also seeking an award of its attorney’s fees in defending itself.
“We believe healthy competition among competitors benefits consumers by inspiring technological improvements for better, more efficient and less expensive products,” said Daniel Lee, director, marketing communications for LG. “LG has grown rapidly due to product innovation, and we believe our competition should engage in fair play through innovation. Investing in research and development as a form of competition, rather than in lawsuits, is what is in the best interest of consumers.”
From Home Channel News