Cambria Seeks Patent-Infringement Import Ban
WASHINGTON – Nine prominent quartz-surface U.S. manufacturers and distributors are now under investigation by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in a patent-infringement filing.
The complaint, by Cambria Company LLC, could result in an import ban on certain products using manufacturing techniques the LeSueur, Minn.-based company patented between 2014-2016.
The producers/distributors named in the complaint, originally filed in December with amendments in January, are:
- Architectural Surfaces Group;Arizona Tile;
- Caesarstone;
- Dal-Tile;
- Mohawk Surfaces;
- LX Hausys:
- M S International;
- OHM International Inc.; and
- Surface Warehouse, dga U S Surfaces and Vadara.
The USITC made the filing (known as a Section 337 complaint) public on Jan. 23 and ordered an investigation.
The filing claims the companies infringed on five Cambria patents involving the use of molds to create different areas of veining composition with quartz surfaces. The patents, all from the 2010s, involved slabs made with quartz or “other particulate material.”
The complaint asks for a general exclusion order for surfaces found to be infringing on Cambria patents. The USITC could also order limited exclusions or cease-and-desist orders.
The USITC will assign the complaint to one of its administrative law judges and will set a time limit for inquiries by March 8. Any action by the USITC becomes effective immediately and will be final within 60 days, unless there’s disapproval by the U.S Trade Representative.