TOYO Tire Holdings of Americas Inc and its affiliates has filed a formal complaint before the US International Trade Commission (ITC) versus 22 manufacturers, importers, and sellers of passenger and light truck tyres.
In the complaint against the respondents, Toyo alleges the former have engaged in unfair trade practices by importing into and/or selling within the US, tires that infringe eight US design patents held by Toyo. The firm markets and sells tyres under the Toyo Tires and Nitto brands.
Toyo says that it is taking this step to protect the company, its customers and associates from unfair competition by enforcing its intellectual property rights.
The company also petitions the ITC to issue exclusion orders that would prevent imported tyres by the respondents from entering the US; as well as cease and desist orders that will prohibit ensuing related activities, including the domestic sale of infringing products that have already been imported.
Meanwhile, The ITC has set an August 28 deadline for interested parties to file comments on a patent infringement petition by Toyo.