In a bold legal move, a patent holder has taken action against several foreign e-commerce entities accused of selling counterfeit products that infringe on a patented design. On October 19, 2024, Yu Chen filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against numerous partnerships and unincorporated associations identified in Schedule A. These defendants are allegedly based in China and other countries and are accused of violating U.S. patent laws by selling unauthorized replicas of Chen's patented product through online platforms like Amazon.
Yu Chen, the plaintiff, claims ownership of U.S. Patent No. D988,941 S, titled "Walker," which was issued on June 13, 2023. This patent covers a unique ornamental design that Chen has licensed to certain e-commerce stores on Amazon for sale within the United States and specifically in Illinois. The complaint alleges that the defendants have been offering for sale and selling counterfeit versions of this patented product without authorization, thereby infringing upon Chen's intellectual property rights.
The lawsuit highlights the extensive efforts made by the defendants to disguise their identities and operations. According to the complaint, these entities use multiple fictitious names and addresses to register their e-commerce stores and employ privacy services to conceal their true identities. Furthermore, they allegedly utilize sophisticated tactics such as search engine optimization (SEO) manipulation and social media spamming to mislead consumers into purchasing counterfeit products under the guise of authenticity.
Chen asserts that these actions have caused significant harm by confusing consumers and damaging his brand's reputation. The plaintiff emphasizes that his patented products are widely recognized for their distinctive design and high-quality standards, which are compromised by the defendants' inferior imitations. To combat this infringement, Chen seeks injunctive relief to prevent further sales of counterfeit products and demands monetary compensation for damages incurred due to lost sales and diminished goodwill.
The legal filing also outlines various forms of relief sought by Chen from the court. He requests an injunction prohibiting the defendants from using or reproducing his patented design in any manner related to marketing or selling products not authorized by him. Additionally, he seeks an order requiring online marketplaces like Amazon to disable the defendants' e-commerce stores involved in selling infringing products.
Representing Yu Chen is attorney Lance Liu from Southbury, Connecticut. The case has been assigned Case ID 1:24-cv-10813 but does not yet list specific judges presiding over it.