OTTAWA, March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - On March 7, 2014, the United StatesPatent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued an initial Office Action as part of an Ex Parte re-examination proceeding involving Standard Innovation's We-Vibe patent (U.S. Patent No. 7,931,605). This proceeding was initiated by Lelo, Inc. (Lelo) as yet another attempt to circumvent the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling last year that found Lelo infringed the We-Vibe patent.
Despite Lelo's recent misleading statements, the following facts remain. Standard Innovation's We-Vibe patent remains valid and in force. After a complete and thorough investigation, the International Trade Commission concluded that the We-Vibe patent is valid. The ITC banned the import and sale of all infringing products in the US, including the Lelo Tiani, Tiani 2, Noa and Intimina Kalia. The ban remains in place.
The USPTO re-examination proceeding is a multi-step process that is at a very early stage. Over the coming months, Standard Innovation will present its evidence to support the validity of its patent.
During the ITC hearings, Lelo attempted to present the same prior art and arguments without success. There is no reason to believe that the USPTO will come to a different conclusion than the ITC. Standard Innovation has full confidence in the validity of the We-Vibe patent and in the USPTO patent re-examination process.
About We-Vibe®
We-Vibe is a world leader in designing and manufacturing high-quality,
body-safe, eco-friendly intimate products. The original and signature
couples' product, We-Vibe, quickly became the fastest-selling sexual
wellness product of its type in history. We-Vibe also offers a line of
solo-use products including Touch by We-Vibe™ and Tango by We-Vibe™.
We-Vibe products are available in thousands of retail locations in over
50 countries. We-Vibe is from Standard Innovation®, a Canadian company dedicated to shaping the future of sexual health
and wellness.
SOURCE Standard Innovation Corporation
