Universal Electronics Inc. (NASDAQ: UEIC), a global leader in wireless universal control solutions, has announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a previous ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). This ruling upheld a ban on the importation and sale of certain streaming products by Roku, Inc. that were found to infringe on Universal Electronics’ patent.
The court’s decision reinforces the ITC’s ban, preventing Roku from importing or selling the infringing products in the United States until the expiration of Universal Electronics’ key patent in 2032. Richard A. Firehammer, Jr., SVP & General Counsel at Universal Electronics, stated, “We are pleased that the Federal Circuit has validated our valuable intellectual property and confirmed Roku’s patent infringement.”
This development enables Universal Electronics to resume its U.S. District Court cases against Roku and its TV partners, which were temporarily on hold. The company can now pursue monetary damages for the alleged patent infringement activities.
The Federal Circuit opinion supported the ITC findings, affirming that Roku’s products infringe six different claims of Universal Electronics’ U.S. Patent No. 10,593,196. The court also recognized the validity of UEI’s patent issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and acknowledged UEI’s substantial domestic industry related to this patent.
Known for its QuickSet cloud, software, and solutions technology, Universal Electronics licenses its portfolio to leading consumer electronic brands and entertainment service operators worldwide. The QuickSet Cloud, based on UEI’s comprehensive device knowledge base, enables automated device discovery, setup, and control of home entertainment and smart home devices and services. Universal Electronics boasts a significant intellectual property portfolio, with more than 600 issued or pending U.S. patents.
