SAN JOSE, Calif.—LELO, the Swedish brand designer, has responded to letters sent to retailers and distributors worldwide from Standard Innovation’s CEO Danny Oscada regarding the newly launched couples massagers.
In the letters, Standard Innovation claims LELO did not seek approval form the U.S. International Trade Commission to market the Ida or the Tara. The letter further states that if Ida and Tara are found to fall within the ITC’s recent ruling in favor of Standard Innovation over LELO then “anyone who attempts to carry LELO’s new couples’ massagers would do so at its peril and in violation of ITC Orders. This could result in penalties from the U.S. government of up to $100,000/day of sale, as well as the potential of other legal actions.”
LELO and Standard Innovation have been involved in a series of legal disputes, recently resulting in an ITC decision to prohibit LELO’s Tiani 2 product from being imported into the U.S. The ITC also ruled, however, that LELO’s PicoBong Mahana couples’ massager did not infringe SIC’s patent due to its round shape. The ITC ruled The Mahana couples’ massagers were deemed outside of the scope of the ITC order and exempt from Standard Innovation’s patent.
LELO claims the “threats are born out of SIC’s concerns regarding the limited improvements it will provide with its new We-Vibe 4 couples’ massager.”
It’s believed the We-Vibe 4 will launch in mid-November, while the Ida will ship on Wednesday.
“LELO is pleased to confirm that it has all relevant certifications to launch their ground-breaking new couples’ massagers Ida and Tara in the U.S. and worldwide, with the company promising the biggest global holiday promotion campaign and retailer support in their 10-year history,” the manufacturer said in a statement.
The new LELO products Ida and Tara combine vibration with rotations within, something LELO said is entirely unique in the industry at this time.
LELO has also described them as exactly what the industry has been waiting for, and is reporting record orders already due to the new dimension in pleasure they offer.
“The couples’ massager has been on the market since before LELO even began
10 years ago, but only in 2009 did our design team really focus on making this category better,” said U.S. Sales and Marketing Director Donna Faro. “With increasing demand and limited options, the product offering was in need of a genuine shake-up. The new sensations offered by Ida and Tara for both partners, not just the woman, ensure it’s going to be an exciting build-up to Christmas!”
LELO officials said despite the letters from Standard Innovation, the ITC decision is “related to a previous case regarding the Tiani 2and Noa couples’s massagers for the U.S. market alone. LELO fully respects the ITC decision and is abiding fully while launching its appeal in the U.S. However, LELO continues to defend its right to offer genuine innovation to customers with a completely new product design.
For more information, visit LELO.com.
