Vizio Clears Customs

U.S. Customs has certified that current Vizio televisions don't infringe on Funai patents, so they can be imported into the United States and sold to consumers.

Low-cost television maker Vizio has scored a victory in its long-running patent dispute with Funai: U.S. Customs has certified that current Vizio television models do not infringe on Funai’s controversial patent 6,115,074, which clears the way for Vizio to import the televisions into the United States and offer them for sale to consumers.

The finding could be the last gasp in the companies’ long-running patent battle: Funai had won a ruling from the U.S. International Trade Commission, which issued an order blocking Vizio from importing TVs that infringed on the patent into the United States. However, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a final rejection of the very patent at the heart of the matter. Now, regardless of whether Funai’s patent is found to hold water, Vizio will be able to continue importing televisions into the United States.

Thanks to low prices and distribution deals through major discount retailers, Vizio recently found itself the top seller of HDTVs in the United States.

"We are pleased that Funai’s ill-advised tactics continue to falter and are being rejected by the U.S. authorities; we are determined and remain unshaken by merit-less claims from foreign competitors," said Vizio co-founder and VP of marketing Laynie Newsome, in a statement.

Vizio has also sued Funai for patent infringement, claiming Funai has worked "in concert with others" to infringe on several HDTV patents held by Vizio.