Sunless Inc.® Files Suit Against Heartland Tanning, Inc. For Patent Infringement Of The VersaSpa® Sunless Tanning Booth

MACEDONIA, Ohio, Oct. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunless Inc., maker of the well-known VersaSpa brand of sunless tanning booths, recently filed a lawsuit against Heartland Tanning, Inc., makers of the Pura sunless system in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, asserting claims of willful patent infringement.  The suit involves VersaSpa's patented and proprietary booth design, which features automated HVLP nozzles delivering multiple spray formulations. The complaint asks for an injunction, as well as compensatory and punitive damages and attorney's fees based upon Heartland's attempt to replicate VersaSpa's extremely popular and innovative booth – a booth which has helped drive a substantial increase year after year in the professional sunless tanning industry since its introduction in 2006.

The suit asserts that Heartland  "knowingly copied the design of several patented elements of the VersaSpa, including the nozzles, extraction fan, solution container, and container connector, and incorporated these features in the Pura Booth."  The suit further asserts that doing so without any approval or authorization from Sunless, shows intentional and willful infringement of the VersaSpa patented technology.

"As a company, Sunless Inc. is fully invested and committed to developing world class products that provide consumers with amazing tans along with the best possible experience," explains Scott Thomason, founder of VersaSpa and inventor of its technology.  "Critical to our mission is the ability to continue bringing new and innovative technologies to market, which requires a significant investment of time and resources.  This intellectual property must be protected with patents on core technology breakthroughs. Our firm defense of these patents is crucial, as it enables us to keep investing in the research and development that leads to future advancements in products and services, ever better consumer results and additional business building opportunities for our salon partners, growing the industry as a whole."

The VersaSpa sunless tanning booth patent was originally filed in January 2006. It was allowed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in January 2012 and published in June 2012. The VersaSpa sunless tanning booth is the recipient of numerous industry and consumer awards, including, most recently the American Spa 2011 Professionals Choice Award and the 2011 Industry Choice Award. The booth and its revolutionary design have been an integral part of the sunless tanning industry's growth over the last six years.

ABOUT SUNLESS INC.

Today's Sunless is only the beginning of how you will experience professional Sunless Tanning in the future; and Sunless, Inc. is on the forefront of these breakthrough changes. Sunless, Inc.'s most recent advances have vastly improved the overall sunless experience with enhanced tanning formulations and best-in-class application methods, ensuring more widespread market acceptance and growing consumer demand.

Sunless, Inc.'s track record of innovation provides benefits for both business owners and consumers, and spans each of our category leading brands, which include Mystic Tan®, VersaSpa®, and Evolv.®.

SOURCE Sunless Inc.