Lutron, a company specialised in lighting control and shades, was sued by GeigTech for patent infringement and has been sentenced by a US federal court to pay a massive fine of $53 million. Despite rejecting an earlier settlement offer of $5.8 million, Lutron must now bear the consequences after a two-week trial. The lawsuit, ongoing for six years, revolved around multiple patents, notably the '717 Patent for a 'bracket with concealed wiring'. This was reported by Channel News.
GeigTech, a part of J. Geiger Shading, accused Lutron of unlawfully appropriating their designs. After the trial, the jury ruled that all six claims of GeigTech were valid and awarded them damages of $34.6 million. The jury also determined that Lutron's infringement was intentional, potentially allowing for the damages to be tripled. This case underscores the legal complexity surrounding patent infringement and the significant penalties companies may face for violations of intellectual property.
Source: Channel News