BIC Files Lawsuit to Stop Importation and Sale of Unlawful, Imitation Pocket Lighters

BIC's lawsuit aims to protect the safety of its customers and consumers and the integrity of its iconic pocket lighter, trusted for its consistent high-quality and safety standards for more than 45 years

News provided by

BIC Corporation

Dec 06, 2018, 11:48 ET

SHELTON, Conn., Dec. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BIC, a recognized world leader in manufacturing safe, high-quality stationery, lighters and shavers, announced today that it has filed lawsuits before the International Trade Commission ("ITC") and the United States Federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York to stop the importation and/or sale in the United States of low-quality, Chinese-made knock-off pocket lighters that imitate the iconic design of BIC's lighters. This infringement of BIC's registered trademarks not only negatively impacts the brand equity and reputation that the Company has earned in connection with its pocket lighter over the past 45 years, but more importantly has allowed the defendants to introduce products into the marketplace likely to confuse and mislead the American consumer.

The ITC complaint, which was officially filed on December 6, 2018, also alleges that the defendants have engaged in unlawful acts, including the unlicensed importation into the United States, sale for importation into the United States, and/or sale after importation into the United States of certain pocket lighters. The defendants named in the ITC complaint include Arrow Lighter, Inc. doing business as (d/b/a) MK Lighter, Inc. and MK Lighter Company, Zhuoye Lighter Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Wellpine Company Limited, Benxi Fenghe Lighter Co., Ltd., Excel Wholesale Distributors Inc. and Milan Import Export Company, LLC. The imitation pocket lighters are sold under the brand names MK, TuTu and Star.

"For more than 40 years, BIC's pocket lighter, with its iconic look, has become famous in the minds of consumers and trusted for its consistent high-quality and unyielding commitment to safety," said Steve Burkhart, Vice President and General Counsel at BIC. "The companies importing and selling these imitation lighters are attempting to free ride on BIC's success by appropriating BIC's distinctive registered trademarks and confusing American consumers into believing that they are buying a BIC product, which is trusted for its high-quality and safety. The confusion is real, and so are the consequences. As the industry-leader, BIC is adamant about defending our consumers, customers' employees, and our brand, and that includes using every resource afforded under the law to remove these low-quality imitation products from the marketplace."

BIC tested the MK lighters and found that they do not conform to the same stringent safety and quality standards as BIC's. MK merely imitates BIC's iconic appearance, selling consumers an inferior, unsafe product hoping to take advantage of BIC's immense consumer goodwill.

BIC urges consumers and customers to always confirm they are purchasing a safe, high-quality BIC lighter, buying only from reputable retailers.

The defendants' attempts to free ride on BIC's goodwill includes copying BIC's Material Safety Data Sheet, which provides essential safety, transportation and storage information. This again misleads consumers and customers into believing the imitation lighters are of the same quality and specifications as genuine BIC lighters.

Safety is a cornerstone of BIC's business and is the number one priority for BIC Lighters. BIC is committed to producing the safest and highest quality products, which begins with the manufacturing process and continues through the delivery and use of each pocket lighter. BIC manufactures nearly a million pocket lighters in the United States daily. All BIC® pocket lighters are fully compliant with all applicable safety standards in every country where BIC operates, and meet or exceed international safety standards. Additionally, the Company actively educates consumers, traditional retail customers, and e-commerce sellers directly about the importance of choosing BIC lighters, the lighter they can trust everywhere, every time.

For more information about this lawsuit, or about BIC's unparalleled commitment to safety, please visit: us.bicworld.com.

ABOUT BIC

BIC is a world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers. For more than 70 years, BIC has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide for identifying BIC products.

The BIC Lighter is recognized worldwide for producing a safe, reliable flame for millions of consumers every day. Every BIC lighter undergoes more than 50 separate, automatic, quality checks during the manufacturing process. Each day, BIC produces more than 7 million lighters a day worldwide and, since 1973, has sold more than 30 billion lighters in more than 160 countries.

CONTACT

Gaffney Bennett Public Relations
Jake Malcynsky
[email protected]
(860) 378-4772

SOURCE BIC Corporation