CAMPBELL, Calif., Oct. 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westinghouse Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:WEST), a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems, today announced that it has filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission accusing Zep Solar and Canadian Solar of infringing two Westinghouse Solar patents – U.S. Patent Numbers 7,406,800 and 7,987,641. In the Complaint, Westinghouse Solar seeks relief that includes, among other things, the institution of an investigation of Zep Solar and Canadian Solar, a permanent exclusion order barring certain Zep Solar and Canadian Solar products from being imported into the United States, as well as a cease and desist order prohibiting the importation, sale, or advertising of these products.
Westinghouse Solar pioneered the concept of solar panels in which the racking, grounding and wiring is integrated into the solar panel itself. The result is a solar panel that is much easier to install, as well as safer and more reliable. Starting in 2004, U.S. and international patents were applied for covering these inventions. The first "Andalay" solar panels were introduced into the U.S. market at Solar Power 2007. Currently, Westinghouse Solar panels are protected by four U.S. patents, four international patents, and over 20 more patents that have been applied for but not yet issued. As solar panels themselves get less expensive, the importance of reducing installation labor increases – and Westinghouse Solar's technology has received widespread industry recognition for making solar panels easier and cheaper to install.
Westinghouse Solar contends that Zep Solar and Canadian Solar make and import certain products that infringe the '800 Patent and the '641 Patent. Westinghouse's ITC filing is a means of addressing the alleged infringement by seeking an order permanently barring Zep Solar and its licensees such as Canadian Solar from importing products into the United States that infringe Westinghouse Solar's '800 and '641 Patents.
"Over the past few years we have worked successfully with several Chinese and Japanese companies who have licensed our technology," said Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Westinghouse Solar. "We have active, ongoing discussions with companies to license our technology in an effort to bring installation costs down on a more widespread basis throughout the solar industry. Unfortunately, we believe that Zep Solar, Canadian Solar and others, have not appropriately recognized Westinghouse Solar's intellectual property rights by incorporating a system – the Zep System – that we contend infringes certain of our patents. As a consequence, we have turned to the ITC to address this issue."
Westinghouse Solar anticipates that the International Trade Commission will initiate a formal investigation on behalf of the U.S. Government within the next 30 days.
Counsel for Westinghouse Solar handling this ITC complaint is Snell and Wilmer L.L.P., in Costa Mesa, California.
About Westinghouse Solar (Nasdaq:WEST)
Westinghouse Solar is a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems. In 2007, Westinghouse Solar pioneered the concept of integrating the racking, wiring and grounding directly into the solar panel. This revolutionary solar panel, originally branded "Andalay", quickly won industry acclaim. In 2009, the company again broke new ground with the first integrated AC solar panel, reducing the number of components for a rooftop solar installation by approximately 80 percent and lowering labor costs by approximately 50 percent. This first AC panel, which won the 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award, has become the industry's most widely installed AC solar panel. Award-winning Westinghouse Solar Power Systems provide the best combination of safety, performance and reliability, while backed by the proven quality of the Westinghouse name. For more information on Westinghouse Solar, visit www.westinghousesolar.com.
The Westinghouse Solar logo is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7801
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Statements made in this release that are not historical in nature, including those related to future revenue, revenue growth, operating expense rates, transition expenses, achievement of cashflow and EBITDAS breakeven and profitability, and product introductions and cost reductions in future periods, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "projects," "plans," "will," "may," "anticipates," believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified, and our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with the inherent uncertainty of future financial results, additional capital financing requirements, development of new products by us or our competitors, uncertainties in the timing of availability of new products from a new supplier, the effectiveness, profitability, and marketability of our new products, our ability to protect and defend proprietary rights and information, the impact of current, pending, or future legislation, regulation and incentive programs on the solar power industry, the impact of competitive products or pricing, technological changes, our ability to identify and successfully acquire and grow distribution customers, and the effect of general economic and business conditions. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date of this press release, and Westinghouse Solar, Inc. assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
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