Court Expands Whirlpool Corporation Patent Win Against LG Electronics

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) today announced that the United States District Court of Delaware ruled in favor of Whirlpool, affirming and expanding a jury's unanimous March 2010 decision that certain LG refrigerators infringe Whirlpool Corporation's patented technology.

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In today's decision, the Court affirmed the ruling from March 2010 that LG side-by-side refrigerators infringe Whirlpool Corporation's patented In-Door-Ice® refrigerator technology.  The Court also expanded its ruling in favor of Whirlpool by finding that LG French door models infringe Whirlpool Corporation's patented In-Door-Ice® refrigerator technology.  Additionally, the Court ruled that certain LG refrigerators infringe a second Whirlpool patent on strengthened refrigerator cabinets.  The court ordered that there will be a new trial to assess monetary damages against LG related to today's expanded infringement findings and issues related to enforceability of the patents.

After the March 2010 trial, LG modified its refrigerators with In-Door-Ice® technology in an attempt to skirt Whirlpool Corporation's patent.  A separate lawsuit is pending in the United States District Court of Delaware in which Whirlpool asserts that the modified LG refrigerators, which remain on the market, infringe Whirlpool Corporation's patents. A trial date has not yet been scheduled in that case.

"We are very pleased with today's decision," said Marc Bitzer, president of Whirlpool North America Region.  "Whirlpool has been providing consumers with innovative solutions for 100 years, and our In-Door-Ice® technology is a perfect example of our technology leadership.  Today's decision helps protect fair competition by ensuring that competitors do not unlawfully copy our winning consumer solutions."  

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $18 billion in 2010, 71,000 employees, and 66 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world.  The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world.  Additional information about the company can be found at www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation