Whirlpool Says Microwave-Hood Imports Infringe Its Patents (1)

Whirlpool Corp. is seeking to bar imports of combination microwave-kitchen hood products that it says infringe five of its patents, including those sold by competitors Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc.

Whirlpool said it “invented the LP-MHC product category"—using an abbreviation for low-profile microwave-hood combination—and that its microwaves earned a 2019 design award and numerous patents but also attracted copycats, according to the complaint filed Tuesday at the US International Trade Commission.

Samsung began cutting into Whirlpool’s business with an allegedly infringing product manufactured in Malaysia and LG shipped infringing products to the US from China, Whirlpool said ...