Judge Whacks Eight Chinese Importers

LAS VEGAS (CN) - Eight Chinese companies violated trademark on construction levels and must destroy all their infringing products, a federal judge ruled in granting U.S.-based Empire Level Manufacturing default judgment.

Empire Level sued eight Chinese companies in May 2014, in the middle of a 3-day trade show in Las Vegas. It claimed all of them were pushing knockoffs of Empire's torpedo levels.

It's not the first time Chinese companies have been nailed in court for showing knockoffs at Las Vegas trade shows.

Empire sued Toolrich Imp. & Exp. Co., Zhejiang Yongkang Shiya Wanxing Tools Factory, Wuxi Just Int'l Trading Co., Pro-Starter Tools Co., Zhejiang Boda Measure Tools Co., Jinhua Shunchi Tools Factory aka Jinhua Chunyi Tools Co. aka Jinhua City Shunchi Tools Factory, Cixi Ocean Trade Co., and Shaoxing Sunway Tools & Hardware Export & Import Co.

U.S. District Chief Judge Gloria Navarro on June 3 granted Empire's request for default judgment, ordered the defendants to deliver their products for destruction, including ads and "literature" about their levels, and told U.S. Customs to refuse entry and seize items that violate Empire's trademark or trade dress.

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