Chinese Knockoff ITC Complaint Names Littleton Company

LITTLETON, CO – A Littleton-based company selling adjustable stand-up desk furniture is named in a complaint filed with the International Trade Commission for patent infringement.

Coppell, Texas-based Varidesk, a privately owned office furniture company, filed a complaint against 35 companies, many from China, that sell height-adjustable desk platforms alleging theft of the company's patents in violation of rules passed by the Tariff Act of 1930.

Smugdesk, registered with the Colorado Secretary of State at 8601 W Cross Dr. F5 #189 is one of the companies listed. The company sells adjustable "standing desks" on its website for between $179.95 and $275. The company has switched owners a couple of times since incorporating in 2017 in Colorado, but is currently registered to Yifing Luo, with an address listed in City of Industry, California.

Filed by Washington DC-based Venable, LLP law firm, Varidesk's complaint alleges that the Chinese companies created knockoffs of Varidesk's patented products, the originals of which sell for between $175-$500. The complaint asks the ITC to issue a cease-and-desist order to stop the companies from importing the look-alike desks. The complaint asks the ITC to exclude from import into the U.S. "all height-adjustable desk platforms and components thereof," that violate the company's patents.

Two Colorado companies, Nite Ize and PopSockets have recently won similar cases, but as intellectual property holders. Last year both companies receiving rulings from the ITC to stop imports of knockoff products from China and Hong Kong.

Phone calls and emails to Smugdesk and Varidesk by Patch were not immediately returned.

Image: A man works at a standup desk. Mike Focus/Shutterstock