Whirlpool Files ITC Complaint Against Korean Appliance Makers Over Microwave Patent Infringement

Whirlpool, the American home appliance manufacturer, has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that its South Korean and Chinese competitors copied its microwave oven patent technology, Reuters reported on the 18th (local time).

Whirlpool submitted a petition to the ITC requesting that imports and sales of related products from South Korea's Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, as well as China's Midea and Haier, be blocked.

Whirlpool logo. Reuters Yonhap News

In the complaint, Whirlpool claimed that these four companies infringed on five of its patents related to its "low-profile microwave hood combination (LP-MHC)" products. The company stated, "We pioneered microwave technology that combines both cooking and ventilation functions," and asserted that until these companies began their alleged illegal activities, "Whirlpool was the sole supplier of LP-MHC products in the United States."

According to court documents and a Whirlpool spokesperson, the company also filed lawsuits for monetary damages against these companies in U.S. federal courts in Texas and New Jersey on the same day.

In a statement, Whirlpool said, "We will not hesitate to defend our innovation and intellectual property rights when competitors misappropriate designs protected by patents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.