Garmin Loses Patent Suit

[Lee Borgersen]

            Garmin Loses Patent Suit

The International Trade Commission (ITC) has ruled that DownVu scanning sonar products produced and sold by Garmin Ltd. violate DownScan Imaging patents held by Navico, the parent company to Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and GoFree.

The ruling prohibits Garmin from importing, selling, advertising, and aiding or assisting distributors or retailers in selling its DownVu products, including the echo, echoMAP and GPSMAP products with their respective transducers. Specifically, the Commission has issued a Cease and Desist Order barring Garmin and its distributors from selling, or aiding others in the sale of these products and has also issued an Exclusion Order directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reject their importation.

Because its decisions generally take up to 60 days to take effect, the ITC further ruled that Garmin must post a bond equal to 100 percent of the value of infringing products, when they sell from inventory or import any of these products into the U.S. during the 60-day review period.

“We are extremely pleased that the ITC has ruled in our favor,” said Leif Ottosson, Navico CEO. “Our innovative DownScan Imaging provides real benefits to fishermen, and we have invested considerable time, effort and resources to develop and bring it to market. Our patents are designed to protect that investment.”

Based in Washington, DC, the International Trade Commission is an independent governmental agency responsible for addressing patent infringement disputes relating to goods that are manufactured abroad and imported into the United States. Garmin’s DownVu Products are manufactured and imported from Taiwan.