Sylvania Files Lawsuit to Protect Patents

Osram Sylvania, Danvers, Mass., has filed a lawsuit against lighting distributor Green Energy Management, LLC, Westmoreland, N.H., for allegedly selling induction lamps that infringe U.S. Patent No. 5,834,905. The action was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire on June 18. Osram Sylvania is represented in the case by the Holland & Knight law firm.

"I was stunned by this action," said Cort Cary, owner of Green Energy Management. "I was told by the factory that there was nothing to worry about. I guess they figure they will go after the smallest guy, who could not possibly hold off big-money lawyers. The products stipulated were less than 1 percent of my sales. I immediately took all references to this product off www.greenenergymgmt.com and will no longer sell or market the two stipulated models by LVD of China. This is an insignificant loss to me and I hope it's enough to get Osram to leave a guy alone trying to pay his mortgage selling energy-saving, green products. I will never sell these products until the Osram patent expires next year."

"This is the first action in the United States in our campaign to enforce Osram Sylvania patents for the ICETRON induction lighting system," said Peter Lawler, head of Osram Sylvania's Low Pressure Discharge business unit. "Osram Sylvania is committed to enforcing its intellectual property rights in the United States and throughout the world. Osram Sylvania will not tolerate infringement of its intellectual property rights."