BEDFORD,
Mass., Oct. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iRobot Corp.
(NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in consumer robots and maker of the
Roomba® robot vacuum, today announced that Administrative Law Judge
Maryann McNamara issued an initial
determination in favor of iRobot in the company's patent
infringement action against SharkNinja Operating LLC and
its related entities ("SharkNinja") at the International Trade
Commission ("ITC"). The ruling recommended a limited exclusion
order in International Trade Commission Investigation
No.337-TA-1252 ("In the Matter of Certain Robotic Vacuum Floor
Cleaning Devices and Components Thereof"), finding that Shark has
infringed valid claims of multiple iRobot asserted patents.
The initial determination recommends that the ITC issue an order
barring the importation of various infringing SharkNinja robotic
cleaning products.
Judge McNamara's initial determination and recommended remedy is
now before the ITC Commissioners, with a final determination
expected by February 2023. If the
recommended remedy is approved by the ITC Commissioners, the
exclusion order as to the infringing products will go into effect
upon publication of the Commissioners' final determination,
regardless of further appeals.
"This determination validates the strength of iRobot's patent
portfolio and the hard work of our engineers over the better part
of the last two decades," said Colin
Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot. "We are glad to see the
ITC is holding SharkNinja accountable for its misappropriation of
iRobot intellectual property. iRobot thanks ALJ McNamara and the
ITC for their hard work in this case."
This is iRobot's second time securing an exclusion order against
respondents at the ITC, and second time asserting a lawsuit against
SharkNinja. A related district court case involving the patents in
this lawsuit will remain pending until the conclusion of the ITC
case.
About iRobot Corp.
iRobot is a global consumer robot
company that designs and builds thoughtful robots and intelligent
home innovations that make life better. iRobot introduced the first
Roomba robot vacuum in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise
that has sold millions of robots worldwide. iRobot's product
portfolio features technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning,
mapping and navigation. Working from this portfolio, iRobot
engineers are building robots and smart home devices to help
consumers make their homes easier to maintain and healthier places
to live. For more information about iRobot, please
visit www.irobot.com.
For iRobot Investors
Certain statements made in this
press release that are not based on historical information are
forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. This press release contains express or implied
forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, iRobot
Corporation's expectations concerning management's plans,
objectives and strategies, including strategies for defending the
Company's intellectual property. These statements are neither
promises nor guarantees but are subject to a variety of risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated
in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective
investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
iRobot undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information
contained in this press release, whether as a result of new
information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For
additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by
iRobot, see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation,
our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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SOURCE iRobot Corporation