Whirlpool : Legal Action Stops Distribution of Deceptive and Illegal Imported Water Filters
August 28, 2020 at 01:34 pm EDT
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Whirlpool Corporation and Busers Imports LLC have resolved litigation relating to the role of Busers Imports as a warehouse and logistics provider for an overseas company that manufactured and sold deceptively advertised and patent-infringing refrigerator water filters.
'Our brands convey our promise to consumers to provide high quality products,' said Doug Searles, General Manager of the Consumer Products Group at Whirlpool Corporation. 'We are committed to ensuring consumers can trust that water filters bearing our name will provide the contaminant removal and quality that they expect for their families.'
We are committed to ensuring consumers can trust that water filters bearing our name will provide the contaminant removal and quality that they expect for their families.'
Busers Imports ceased providing services to this overseas company shortly after the lawsuit was filed. As part of the settlement agreement, Busers Imports has agreed to pay Whirlpool an undisclosed monetary amount while acknowledging the validity and enforceability of Whirlpool's patents. In addition, Busers Imports has committed to instituting new business practices to ensure that manufacturers of intellectual property-infringing water filters cannot use its services.
'We greatly respect the intellectual property rights of others and feel this settlement is proof of that,' said Barry Buser of Busers Imports.
'We invest heavily in ensuring that consumers have a fair online shopping experience where they can confidently purchase Whirlpool products.' Searles said. 'We appreciate Busers Imports' commitment to taking these actions to protect consumers from the deceptive tactics of certain water filter manufacturers.'
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Whirlpool Corporation published this content on 28 August 2020 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 28 August 2020 17:34:05 UTC
Whirlpool Corporation is the world leader of the manufacturing and the marketing of large domestic equipments. The group's products are marketed mainly under the Whirlpool, Maytag, JennAir, KitchenAid, InSinkErator, Yummly, Amana, Bauknecht, Indesit, Hotpoint, Ignis Consul, Brastemp and Acros brands. Net sales break down by family of products as follows:
- refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners (31.7%);
- home laundry appliances (26%): washing machine and dryer;
- cooking appliances (25.6%): oven, microwave ovens, hoods, cooktops;
- dishwasher (9.2%);
- other (2.8%): mixers, toasters, culinary robots, etc.
The remaining net sales (4.7%) are from spare parts sales and after-sales services.
At the end of 2022, the group has 35 production sites worldwide.
Net sales break down geographically as follows: North America (58.2%), Europe/Middle East/Africa (20.4%), Latin America (15.9%) and Asia (5.5%).