Jiaxing Super Lighting Electric Appliance(“Super Lighting”), together with its affiliate Obert, the North American division of Super Lighting, filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against MaxLite. Super Lighting and Obert accused MaxLite of infringing Super Lighting’s patents, including U.S. Patent Nos. 9,689,536; 9,841,174; 9,723,662; 10,208,897; 9,807,826; and 9,897,265, with its LED tube products. 

Super Lighting and Obert share a parent company called Zhejiang Super Lighting Electric Appliance (these three companies are collectively referred to as “Super Lighting Group”). Super Lighting Group is a manufacturer of commercial and industrial indoor lighting products and offers a full range of energy efficient lighting products from fluorescent lamps to LED lighting tubes. Since its establishment in 1993, Super Lighting Group has been dedicated to the R&D of its patented lighting technologies, including fluorescent and LED tube lamp products. The company also has an established patent portfolio of more than 600 patents worldwide. These patents cover the technologies widely used in Double Ended Type B tube LED (Ballast Bypass), Type A tube LED (Direct Replacement) and mixed mode tube LED (Type A + Type B). Super Lighting Group’s mission is to help create a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable society and is willing to work with all partners or players in the lighting industry.

MaxLite, a New Jersey corporation, provides lighting products to the commercial building, residential, and OEM markets.

In its complaint, Super Lighting and Obert assert that MaxLite sells double ended Type B tube LED (Ballast Bypass), program start Type A tube LED (Direct Replacement), and mixed mode tube LED (Type A + Type B) products that infringe on six U.S. patents covering various LED tube lighting technologies such as, for example the safe installation of LED tube lamps, efficient heat dissipation, compatibility and power modules for LED tube lamps. Super Lighting and Obert asked the Court to render a decision stopping these infringing activities and awarding them damages.

‘While Super Lighting is pleased to see market growth for LED products, it is important that such growth is accompanied by fair competition, including respect of intellectual property rights. Super Lighting actively monitors the market and opposes the distribution of LED products in the marketplace that infringe its established patents. We will take all necessary legal action to remedy the problems pertaining to companies distributing or selling infringing products. If left unchecked these continuing infringement activities will damage our U.S. customers.’ said Simon Lu, Obert’s IP Counsel.

Super Lighting has engaged Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan for the case.