VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, MI — Yesterday it was announced that organizers for this year’s Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) were extremely successful in their efforts to crack down on counterfeiters and other intellectual property violators at the recent trade show held in Las Vegas Nov. 2-5. Among the companies that requested action at this year’s show was Visteon, which reported an infringement on a patented design used in its aftermarket products.
In a press release issued this week, Visteon explained the steps it took with show officials to successfully stop the problem.
Visteon worked with trade show officials prior to the show, advising them that several exhibitors had previously showcased products incorporating patent-protected design features of a Visteon aftermarket climate control product. At the show, Visteon identified an exhibitor that was again displaying and offering to sell products that incorporated the proprietary design.
As a result, AAPEX show management took the following actions ordered removal of the infringing products from the show as well as the removal of any reference to the product from exhibitors’ commercial literature. The exhibitors were directed not to distribute or offer to sell the offending product and when they did not comply, show officials closed the exhibitor’s booth for the remainder of the event.
Gyllstrom applauded AAPEX show management for working with Visteon before the show to agree upon actions that would be taken if offending products were displayed. “This is a problem that is costing automotive suppliers millions of dollars a year,” he said. “As a corporation, we are actively involved with government and trade associations to diligently monitor competing products that may include technology protected by our large patent portfolio.”
“Visteon is continuously developing cutting-edge technologies for our original equipment and independent aftermarket products and, as a result, has intellectual property rights in these technologies,” said Greg Gyllstrom, vice president and general manager of Visteon’s North America and Asia Pacific aftermarket organization. “Violations of these rights require us to take swift and aggressive action to protect the value and integrity of our brand assets.”
The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) has taken an aggressive stance against violations of intellectual property and counterfeiting. MEMA Vice President Paul Foley applauded Visteon’s proactive approach.
_______________________________________
Click here to view the rest of today’s headlines.
