Authorizes new wholesale channel with Wetherill Associates Inc.
ANDERSON, Ind., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Remy International, Inc., and
Unipoint Electric Manufacturing Company Limited have settled a patent
infringement lawsuit in which Remy asserted violations of various patents
related to Remy's automotive alternator and starter technologies. Pursuant to
the settlement, Unipoint has agreed not to produce products that infringe Remy
patents; the validity of Remy's patents was not challenged. This settlement
stems from legal action initiated against Unipoint by Remy last November.
Remy also delivered cease and desist notifications to more than 30 other
manufacturers and distributors who have been involved in similar practices.
These companies make little or no investment in technology and subsist by
copying the intellectual property of legitimate automotive manufacturers.
Remy will continue to gather samples sold in the marketplace to monitor for
infringement on their patents. Additional legal action will be initiated if
these companies continue to violate Remy's proprietary intellectual and
technological advantages on starters and alternators.
Major national distributors and/or retailers, who may have unsuspectingly
purchased patent-infringing parts from the companies named in the complaint,
have also been advised of Remy's actions.
To ensure dual supply channels for Remy's high-volume alternators, the
company officially licensed a wholesale supplier for North America, Wetherill
Associates Inc. (WAI), headquartered in Royersford, Pennsylvania. Together,
Remy and WAI will serve as the authorized sources for CS-130 and CS-130D
alternators, alternator assemblies and kits. This new arrangement will
provide parallel supply systems to ensure product availability and superior
customer responsiveness.
Richard L. Stanley, President of Remy Inc., stated, "Our strong patent
position has been confirmed by the terms of this settlement. Counterfeit and
patent-infringing automotive replacement parts have become a major problem for
the industry. The copied products may resemble our patented designs, but
typically do not meet performance specifications in terms of functionality,
quality and durability. Customers may incorrectly assume that a new knock-off
part is a better choice than a remanufactured original equipment part. We are
very proud of our engineering capabilities and the performance of our
products. We will aggressively defend our patents against infringement."
The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) estimates that
counterfeit and patent-infringing replacement automotive parts cost the global
automotive industry approximately $12 billion annually. As an active member
of the MEMA Brand Protection Council, which focuses on combating
counterfeiting and preserving intellectual property, Remy joins a growing list
of major manufacturers taking a proactive position to ensure consumer
confidence.
Wetherill Associates is one of North America's leading manufacturers and
distributors for automotive electric aftermarket components with operations
and customers throughout the United States and Canada as well as in Europe,
Latin America and China
Remy International, Inc., headquartered in Anderson, Indiana, is a leading
designer, manufacturer, remanufacturer and distributor of electrical
components and hybrid power systems. The company also provides a worldwide
core exchange service for automobiles, light trucks, medium- and heavy-duty
trucks and other heavy-duty off-road and industrial applications. Remy was
formed in 1994 as a partial divestiture by General Motors Corporation of the
former Delco Remy Division, which traces its roots to Remy Electric, founded
in 1896. More information is available at the company's website:
http://www.remyinc.com
SOURCE Remy International, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.remyinc.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/111635.html
CONTACT:
John Pyzik of Remy International, Inc.,
+1-765-778-6607
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