2012年6月4日,設立於美國佛羅里達州、研發製造並販售可結合女性胸罩、達到隱胸效果之遮胸衣產品(其註冊商標為CleavaR)的Branovations, Inc.公司,向中佛羅里達州聯邦地院提起專利侵權告訴,控告依據紐澤西州法所設立、以行銷販售創意生活產品為主要業務之Ontel Products, Corporation公司(下稱Ontel),其所推出、並在其自身經營之通路網站與其他通路行銷販售的遮胸衣產品(商標為Cami SecretTM),侵犯Branovations擁有專屬授權之遮胸衣產品專利。
本案系爭專利為美國專利編號US 8,152,591(在訴狀中被誤植為8,142,591),名稱為「服裝與女性胸罩之配件(Garment and brassiere accessory)」,發明人與權利人為Branovations的總裁Michelle E. De Sousa與副總裁Jose De Jesus De Sousa,該專利於2012年4月10日核發。而Michelle E. De Sousa亦為另一項美國專利編號US 8,062,093之發明人與權利人,其名稱為「適用於女性胸罩之隱蔽乳溝的配件(Cleavage accessory for a brassiere)」,亦為與遮胸衣產品有關之專利。
原告Branovations在其訴狀中指出,Ontel之員工曾向在原告之網路商店www.cleava.com上訂購遮胸衣產品,而Branovations副總裁亦曾在2010年7月發函給Ontel探詢業務合作意願並告知相關專利申請中之訊息。之後Branovations之總裁與副總裁於Walmart超市購買到Cami SecretTM產品,確認其產品之相似性後,方才採取法律行動。 (542字;表2)
表一、請求項解析
US 8,152,591 請求項1 |
1. A brassiere (Fig.3 - 13) garment accessory comprising:
一項女性胸罩服裝配件,包括 |
a body having a front surface (Fig.3 - 2), a rear surface (Fig.2 - 3), an upper edge (Fig.3 - 4), at least two side edges, and at least two upper corners at distal ends of the upper edge and at least one lower corner (Fig.2 - 7);
具備正面、反面、上邊、至少兩側邊、而上邊的兩端有至少兩個上邊角、以及至少一個下邊角的本體 |
at least one attachment strap (Fig.3 - 8) extending from each of the at least two upper corners, the at least one attachment strap having a proximal portion coupled to the body and a distal portion extending away from the body along the upper edge;
至少一條附著帶從個別上邊角延伸出來,該附著帶具備一個依附於本體的近端部分,以及一個遠端沿著上邊延展出去的遠端部分 |
and at least one fastener (Fig.2 - 9) located on the distal portion of the at least one attachment strap that facilitates coupling of the at least one fastener located on the distal portion of the at least one attachment strap to at least one fastener (Fig.2 -10) located on at least one of the proximal portion of the at least one attachment strap and the body of the brassiere garment accessory.
以及一個裝在附著帶遠端部分的扣件,其可以扣合裝在附著帶近端部分與胸罩服裝配件本體上之扣件 |
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Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理,2012/06
表二、專利訴訟案件基本資料:Branovations, Inc.控告Ontel Products, Corporation
訴訟名稱 |
Branovations, Inc. v. Ontel Products, Corporation |
提告日期 |
2012年6月4日 |
原告 |
Branovations, Inc. |
被告 |
Ontel Products, Corporation |
案號 |
2:12-cv-00306-JES-SPC |
訴訟法院 |
the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida |
系爭專利 |
US 8,152,591 |
訴狀下載 |
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Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理,2012/06
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