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Beijing Court Affirms IPR Challenge; Awards 9.1 Million RMB in Damages
February 1, 2010
Strix Ltd., the world’s leading manufacturer of electric kettle controls, has won landmark patent infringement suits against two kettle control manufacturers in China, Zhejiang Jiatai Electrical Appliance Manufacture Co., Ltd and Leqing FaDa Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd. The two companies were convicted by the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court in December 2009 of patent infringement after the court ruled that Strix’s patent (ZL95194418.5) on its electric kettle control remains valid and that the companies were found to have produced, offered to sell and sold controls based on Strix’s technology.
The ruling by the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court is a landmark decision as the size of the damages is unprecedented, despite attempts by other plaintiffs to seek larger compensations in the past. The Court fined Zhejiang Jiatai Electrical Appliance Manufacture Co., Ltd 7.1 million RMB and Leqing FaDa Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd 2 million RMB and ordered the two companies to stop producing and selling the controls.
While the majority of the damages were imposed on the control manufacturers, the court also ordered two kettle manufacturers, Zhongshan WeiLing Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd and Zhongshan Shunlong Century Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd, who were also involved in the case, to pay substantial damages and to stop the production and sale of two models of electric kettles containing those controls.
“The ruling of the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court is a victory for intellectual property protection in Mainland China and highlights the importance the Chinese judiciary places on protecting the intellectual property rights of companies no matter where they are based. This is important for China as it continues to establish its position in the global trading system,” Paul Hussey, CEO of Strix Ltd. said.
He added that, “This ruling is also a positive trend for innovators based in China as more technology is created and patented here. Higher standards of intellectual property protection will encourage new innovation and support China’s bid to further enhance its position as a global design centre, not just a manufacturing hub. It is equally important for other countries to respect the intellectual property rights of Chinese companies so that Chinese innovators are also protected when their technologies are exported and introduced in other parts of the world.”
One Billion Controls Celebration
July 2009
A celebration of the manufacture of Strix’s one billionth control as held at The Nunnery in Douglas, Isle of Man on 1st July, and the event brought together past and present directors, employees, customers and suppliers from around the world; a suitably international event for a company with a global presence in more than 100 countries worldwide.
The guests at the event included the Lieutenant Governor Sir Paul Haddacks and Lady Haddacks, IOM Chief Minister Tony Brown MHK and Education Minister Anne Craine MHK.
Congratulating Strix on its milestone achievement Chief Minister Tony Brown said he was proud of the company’s Manx foundations and its expansion across the globe to gain 70 per cent of the world kettle control unit market.
Mr Brown praised the company’s ‘innovation, enthusiasm and commitment to its employees’ and was a key part of the Island’s manufacturing sector and a demonstration of the Island’s diverse economy.
Paul Hussey, Strix’s CEO highlighted the company’s ‘global footprint’ as the world’s largest manufacturer of kettle control units, with a presence in the Isle of Man, United Kingdom, Belgium, Russia, China and Hong Kong, and a workforce of some 750 people worldwide.
Mr Hussey went on to attribute much of the success of Strix to its people and the company’s ‘relentless pursuit of innovation’ embedded in its culture, a combination that would see the wider application of the company’s skills leading to Strix being defined as ‘a global consumer technology solutions provider’.
‘Innovation is our lifeblood’, he said. ‘We’re not resting on our laurels. At Strix there is a constant flow of innovation and we’re always new seeking opportunities and global partners.’
Strix CEO Excellence Awards
July 2009
At the 1 billionth control celebration on July 1st, CEO Paul Hussey said he been ‘so impressed by the calibre of talent’ across the business that he was inspired to introduce the Strix CEO Awards for Excellence, ‘for those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty’.
The first three recipients to receive their awards from the IOM Chief Minister, Tony Brown were Vince Garvey, a Strix veteran of over 20 years and responsible for patenting 10 inventions; Ann Long, ‘a cornerstone’ of the Isle of Man manufacturing operation in Ramsey and Joe Szeto, based in Hong Kong, universally held in high regard for his commitment to customer service.
From the Isle of Man to the Sea of Tranquillity?
June 2009
Strix’s P72 and P76 cordless connection systems are being evaluated by engineers in NASA’s Robotic Hardware Systems in California and could be used in the US space programme. NASA are examining recharging solutions for use in their ATHLETE lunar rover prototypes, so in the near future Strix controls could be operating in zero gravity!
New HK Office
May 2009
Strix have announced the opening of a new sales office in Hong Kong. Located in the northwest of Hong Kong Island (in between Central and Sai Ying Pun), Sheung Wan or “Gateway District” is a historic area and the location where the British first entered and settled in Hong Kong.
The prestigious new office is positioned to be easily accessible to Strix customers and suppliers on Connaught Road West and is close to Sheung Wan MTR station and The Western Market stop of Hong Kong Tramways, as well as The Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in the Shun Tak Centre.
STRIX (H.K.) LIMITED,7/F, China Merchants Commercial Building, 15-16 Connaught Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.
Hot Cup launch is a great success
March 2009
The Breville Hot Cup, a fast heating single cup hot water dispenser is proving to be very popular with UK consumers. The combination of Strix’s innovative technology and Breville’s eye-catching modern design has made it one of the fastest growing appliances in the British Small Domestic Appliance market and more and more people are finding it the perfect way to make a quick cuppa. Listed by leading retailers, including Argos and Amazon, find out more about the product at www.breville.co.uk
New Chief Executive for Strix
November 2008
Paul Hussey was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Strix Limited, on November 1st, 2008. Paul splits his time between Hong Kong and the Isle of Man managing the global business that Strix engages in. Prior to Strix, he was Vice President Asia from 2005 to 2008, for Danaher Motion Control, a division of Danaher Corporation. He started his career in Tokyo as a Banker, working for the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, Limited, from 1989-2004. He then had various management roles working for AlliedSignal in the US, moving to Hong Kong in 1998, and was working at Vice President of Corporate Development for the merged entity of AlliedSignal – Honeywell up to his appointment to Danaher.
Paul received his primary degree, B.Sc. (Hons), from Trinity College Dublin, and his MBA, Cum Laude, from Thunderbird – the American Graduate School of International Management in the US
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