Roku Seeks ITC Import Ban on LG, Samsung TVs, Cable Operator Remotes

LG and Samsung TVs and remote controls from Universal Electronics and cable operators Altice, Charter and WideOpenWest infringe two Roku patents on the programming and management of all-in-one remotes, alleged a complaint (login required) Thursday in docket 337-3542 at the International Trade Commission. It seeks a Tariff Act Section 337 investigation and exclusion and cease-and-desist orders against the accused products. Roku filed similar allegations (in Pacer) against Universal and seven of its foreign subsidiaries Thursday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California. The patents at issue in both proceedings, 7,388,511 and 8,378,875, were granted in June 2008 and February 2013, respectively, and were originally assigned to Philips. The proposed respondents in the ITC probe “continue to harm Roku’s domestic industry and to violate Section 337 through unlawful and unauthorized sale for importation” into the U.S. of the accused products, which are “used ... without Roku’s authorization,” Roku told the commission. “The technologies embodied in the relevant infringed patents will continue to be available” if the ITC orders an import ban on the accused products, said Roku. “Any U.S. consumer with a desire for those technologies will have access to ample substitutes containing those features from Roku or Roku’s licensees or Roku’s authorized manufacturer partners.” The proposed respondents didn't answer our queries Friday.