ITC Blocks Infringing Imports of Electric Fireplaces from Two Chinese Companies

The International Trade Commission issued limited exclusion orders barring imports of certain electric fireplaces from Shenzhen Reliap Industrial, and Yue Qiu Sheng, both of Shenzhen, China. The fireplaces were found to have violated Section 337 by infringing copyrights and trade secrets held by Twin-Star International and TS Investment Holding. The consolidated Section 337 investigation on electric fireplaces (337-TA-791/826) began in January 2012 (see 12011707). The other respondent, Whalen Manufacturing, settled with Twin-Star in July.