October 2, 2024
ELCO Accuses Nora Lighting of Infringing LED Module Patent
Dispute over Pearl LED Retrofit series sparks legal action after failed negotiations
ELCO Lighting, operating under AMP Plus, Inc., has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Nora Lighting, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The dispute revolves around U.S. Patent No. 11,092,326, titled "Integrated Lighting Module," which covers ELCO's innovative lighting technology. The filing, dated October 1, 2024, follows over three years of attempted negotiations between the two companies, with ELCO alleging that Nora Lighting’s Pearl LED Retrofit Series infringes on this patent.
The patent in question, held by ELCO, focuses on an integrated lighting module, comprising key features such as a driver housing, a heat sink module for thermal management, and an LED element for efficient light emission. Nora Lighting’s Pearl LED Retrofit Series, specifically models like NPR-4RC, NPR-4RG, and NPR-4SNB, among others, allegedly incorporate these features, infringing on at least claim 1 of the patent. ELCO asserts that the Pearl series directly mirrors the specifications laid out in the ’326 patent, particularly in the design of the lighting module and its heat dissipation mechanism.
According to the complaint, Nora Lighting has been aware of these allegations since September 2021, when ELCO first issued a cease-and-desist letter. Despite these notifications, ELCO claims that Nora continued to market and sell the infringing products without any substantive changes, prompting the lawsuit.
Legal Communications
ELCO’s complaint includes claims of both direct and indirect patent infringement. The filing outlines that Nora’s customers, through the purchase and use of the Pearl LED Retrofit Series, also contribute to the infringement, with Nora allegedly inducing these activities. The complaint seeks not only damages for the alleged infringement but also a permanent injunction to prevent Nora from continuing to manufacture and sell the infringing products.
In response to initial demands, Nora requested further clarification through a claim chart in September 2021 but continued to dispute the validity of the claims. Nora also hinted at pursuing post-grant review (PGR) to challenge the patent but reportedly did not follow through within the statutory period.
ELCO maintains that Nora’s ongoing infringement is willful, pointing to the extended period during which Nora has been aware of the claims yet has not ceased its activities.
Another ongoing LED module case involves ELCO Lighting:
ELCO Lighting is well-acquainted with patent litigation, having both initiated claims against and defended against claims from competing downlight manufacturers. Notably, a 2018 lawsuit filed by DMF, Inc. against ELCO Lighting is nearing resolution after six years. DMF alleged that ELCO's LED products infringed on U.S. Patent No. 9,964,266, which covers a unified driver and light source module.
The court ruled that ELCO Lighting had infringed on several claims of the patent, including Claims 1, 2, 4-8, and 13-15, awarding DMF $15,941 in damages. However, the court dismissed allegations of willful infringement, trademark violations, and unfair competition, while leaving the door open for potential actions regarding a permanent injunction. DMF was ultimately declared the prevailing party.
Despite this technical "win," the modest $15,941 award hardly compensates DMF for the six years of litigation and the resources expended to pursue the case.
Moving forward ELCO vs. Nora Lighting
Court filings indicate that Nora Lighting has not yet been served with the lawsuit. Once served, the company will have 21 days to file a response.