International Trade Commission Rules in Favor of We-Vibe in Vibrator Patent Case

OTTAWA, June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Innovation, manufacturer of the We-Vibe^® brand of sexual wellness products, is pleased to announce the final determination of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in Investigation No. 337-TA-823. The ITC has ruled in favor of Standard Innovation on all accounts. The Commission has issued a general exclusion and cease and desist order against all infringing Lelo Inc. products.

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The ITC ruling bans the import, sale, marketing, advertising, distribution, offer for sale, transfer (except for exportation), and solicitation of U.S. agents or distributors in the United States for all infringing Lelo products, including Tiani, Tiani 2 and PicoBong Mahana, and any other infringing products, including those not named in the investigation.

"Seeing We-Vibe officially acknowledged as truly innovative and having its patent legally upheld is the best news I can imagine," said Bruce Murison, inventor of We-Vibe. "More than a decade of my life went into creating this product, and today my family and I can celebrate knowing its uniqueness has been recognized."

"The We-Vibe team is extremely pleased by the Commission's ruling," said Danny Osadca, CEO, Standard Innovation. "We can now get back to what We-Vibe does best, inventing and bringing to market premium, body-safe sexual health products. Thank you to our loyal partners. We greatly appreciate the support you have given us throughout this case. We are also sincerely grateful to the ITC for allowing us to engage in this process."

The ITC, a U.S. government agency, issued the order following its final determination that Standard Innovation's U.S. Patent No. 7,931,605 is valid, that certain Lelo Inc. products, including Tiani, Tiani 2 and PicoBong Mahana, infringe more than 65 claims of that patent, and that the ITC domestic industry requirement is satisfied. The ruling affirms Standard Innovation's valuable intellectual property rights covering the We-Vibe® line of products. The ITC has not yet released its detailed opinion; however, Standard Innovation will comment further upon receipt. The order is subject to a 60-day Presidential review process; however, the President rarely disapproves ITC orders.

The general exclusion order applies to all infringing products, beyond those named above, to protect the health and safety of U.S. citizens from products that are not manufactured according to Standard Innovation's high standards.

Standard Innovation will continue to vigorously pursue legal actions against those parties who attempt to market and sell products that infringe its intellectual property rights. Legal actions for patent infringement remain ongoing in Canadian Federal Court and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, where Standard Innovation will seek damages, a remedy not available in the ITC proceeding.

We-Vibe distributors and retailers with any questions or concerns should contact Standard Innovation at [email protected].

Standard Innovation was represented by Osha Liang LLP and Mayer Brown LLP before the ITC, and Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP as world-wide coordinating litigation and intellectual property counsel.

About Standard Innovation^®
Standard Innovation Corporation is a world leader in designing and manufacturing high-quality, body-safe, eco-friendly intimate products. Its original and signature couples product, We-Vibe, quickly became the fastest selling sexual wellness product of its type in history. Dedicated to shaping the future of sexual health and well-being, Standard Innovation expanded its product family to include a solo line of products including Thrill by We-Vibe™, Tango by We-Vibe™ and Touch by We-Vibe™. The full line of We-Vibe^® products is currently available at thousands of retail locations in over 50 countries around the world.

Media contacts:

Amy Driscoll (for U.S. media)
(212) 884-4018
[email protected]

Denny Alexander (for Canadian media)
(613) 804-6678
[email protected]

SOURCE Standard Innovation Corporation