July 17, 2025
RAB Lighting Sued Over Wattage Selectable Tech
Patent infringement case pits major lighting manufacturer against lesser-known firm
In a federal lawsuit filed July 15 in the Southern District of New York, Invictus Lighting, a small North Carolina-based LED company, has accused industry heavyweight RAB Lighting Inc. of infringing its patented technology for “wattage selectable” LED fixtures.
At issue is U.S. Patent No. 9,801,245, a 2017 patent covering a lighting system that allows installers — not end users — to set maximum wattage output during installation. The patent, invented by Invictus co-founder and CEO Erik McMillan, describes a hybrid architecture in which an internal selector works in tandem with 0–10V dimming controls. The result, the company says, is cost-effective, field-adjustable lighting that meets modern energy codes without the need for multiple SKUs.
According to the complaint, RAB Lighting is selling several product lines that embody the patented architecture, including the WPLEDFC/WS wall packs, ALED5T/WS area lights, and FFLED39/WS floodlights. All of these feature internal wattage selector switches, 0–10V dimming compatibility, and integrated LED drivers — elements Invictus argues are hallmarks of its patented system.
A Known Player vs. a Quiet Competitor
Founded in 2015 and based in Hickory, North Carolina, Invictus is far from a household name in lighting. Yet it claims that its wattage-selectable innovation has not gone unnoticed: asserting that the DesignLights Consortium created a new “Field Adjustable Lighting” category that recognizes the technology’s impact. Invictus claims its system is not only novel but essential to modern, flexible lighting design.
RAB, by contrast, is one of the industry’s most recognizable names. Headquartered in Northvale, New Jersey, the company has built a reputation for robust product lines and rapid product releases. Invictus alleges RAB has known about the ’245 Patent since its issuance and continued selling infringing products anyway.
RAB was last sued for patent infringement in 2023 by Swirlate IP LLC — a non-practicing entity (NPE), a company that owns patents but doesn’t make related products. That case settled quietly in four months. Invictus, however, is not an NPE. It manufactures and sells products that embody the ’245 Patent, and asserts it has been “harmed” by RAB’s actions.
What’s at Stake
The complaint seeks damages, injunctive relief, and enhanced penalties for willful infringement. It paints RAB’s wattage-selectable offerings as not only competitive but also copycat — a claim that, if proven, could have ripple effects for any lighting manufacturer integrating selectable drivers and dimming inputs in a single fixture housing.
How RAB responds could determine whether this becomes another fast-settling footnote — or a more drawn-out test of how the lighting industry defines and protects innovation.
