An Orange camera store has been named in a federal lawsuit for selling photographic lighting equipment that allegedly infringes another company's patents.
Infocus Camera & Imaging LLC, located on 16th Street in Orange, is named as a co-defendant with Dot Line Corp. in an infringement suit filed by Litepanels Ltd. of the United Kingdom and Litepanels Inc. of California.
The suit was filed Dec. 10 in the Tyler Division of the Eastern District of Texas.
According to the complaint, Litepanels Ltd. is the owner by assignment of two U.S. patents, with Litepanels Inc. as the exclusive licensee.
U.S. Patent No. 6,948,823 was issued Sept. 27, 2005, for a Wide Area Lighting Apparatus and Effects System.
U.S. Patent No. 7,604,361 was issued Oct. 20 for a Versatile Lighting Apparatus and Associated Kit.
The lawsuit states that Dot Line Corp., located in Chatsworth, Calif., makes and sells video production lighting equipment and peripheral products in competition with Litepanels products, including the DLC DV60 LED Light.
Infocus Camera is a Texas distributor for Dot Line, and sells lighting products including the DLC DV60 Video & DSLR LED Light.
According to the Dot Line product Web site, the DV60 is flash unit with an LED light source which can be mounted on most DSLRs and camcorders using the built-in accessory shoe.
Litepanels claims it has been damaged as a result of the infringing activities of Dot Line and Infocus, and is seeking an injunction to stop the defendants from further infringement.
The plaintiff also alleges that Dot Line and Infocus knew of Litepanels' rights to the '823 and '361 Patents, yet continued to market the infringing products.
Litepanels is demanding a trial by jury and is seeking compensation for the infringement, attorneys' fees, costs and other relief to which it may be entitled.
The defendants have not yet filed a response to the allegations.
S. Calvin Capshaw, Elizabeth DeRieux and Jeffrey Rambin of Capshaw DeRieux LLP in Longview are representing the plaintiff. Attorneys from Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey & Tippens PC in Tulsa, Okla., are of counsel.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.
Case No. 6:09-cv-554-LED