January 31, 2024
Product Dispute at Lightovation Leads to Quick Resolution
Photo: Dallas Market Center Showroom, image from Elegant Lighting home page
WAC spots "knockoff" products, Elegant Lighting quickly withdraws line
In the wake of the Lightovation event that concluded just over two weeks ago in Dallas, Texas, a significant development has emerged involving two exhibitors, WAC and Elegant Lighting. Lightovation, known as the leading residential lighting trade show in North America, is held semiannually at the Dallas Market Center and attracts leading residential lighting manufacturers and buyers from across North America.
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| Glissando Sconce |
WAC Lighting, a leading maker of residential lighting, has taken decisive action following the discovery of products exhibited by Elegant Lighting that closely resembled their Schonbek brand's Glissando family of light fixtures. WAC Lighting, which acquired the Schonbek brand from Swarovski in 2021, including all its intellectual property, noticed these resemblances during the January event of Lightovation.
According to a statement from WAC Lighting, Elegant Lighting introduced several light fixtures at the event that were identified as "knockoffs" of Schonbek’s Glissando collection. In response to this, Elegant Lighting has agreed to cease the offering of all products infringing on Schonbek's designs immediately. The allegedly infringing products have already been removed from Elegant's website, and any existing inventory is slated for destruction.
The Glissando family is safeguarded by multiple patents, notably U.S. Patent Nos. D864,465 and D864,462. In light of the alleged infringement, Elegant Lighting, led by CEO Bin Mai, has entered into an agreement with Schonbek, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or importation of any lighting fixtures that mirror or closely resemble any of Schonbek’s designs, this according to WAC Lighting.
Dirk Wald, CEO of WAC and Schonbek, emphasized the unified stance of WAC in safeguarding its intellectual property, stating, "Schonbek is an extension of WAC. Our commitment to vigorously protecting our intellectual property fully applies to Schonbek." He further highlighted the considerable investment in developing and protecting Schonbek's intellectual property since its acquisition.
