Delta Faucet Company and Watermark Design, Ltd., Reached Settlement in Patent and Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

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Jan 07, 2011, 04:38 ET

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dec. 22, 2010 -- Delta Faucet Company and Watermark Design, Ltd., today reached a settlement in a patent and trademark infringement lawsuit filed in June 2010. In the lawsuit, Delta Faucet Company accused Watermark Design, Ltd., of Brooklyn, N.Y., of selling products covered by one of Delta Faucet's patents on sensing faucets. Delta's sensing faucets operate based on a user touching and/or being in close proximity to the faucet. Furthermore, Delta Faucet Company alleged trademark infringement for Watermark's use of the name "Touch27" which Delta Faucet company considered too similar to its registered trademark Touch2O. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

"We're pleased that we could come to an agreement and resolve the issue quickly," said Keith Allman, president of Delta Faucet Company. "Delta Faucet Company has a strong heritage of innovation and its Touch2O® Technology is well known in the market place. As such, we are highly protective of our inventions and patents."

Delta Faucet Company is a leading distributor of plumbing and plumbing-related products, including faucets and related accessories. In the United States, Delta Faucet Company advertises and sells electronic residential faucets through its Delta Faucet and Brizo brands using the Touch2O and SmartTouch® marks, respectively.

About Delta Faucet Company

Delta Faucet Company is the largest U.S. manufacturer of residential and commercial faucets. The company manufactures the Delta®, Brizo® and Peerless® faucet brands and holds the number one market share position in the United States.

The flagship Delta brand develops stylish and innovative products that add functionality and help consumers find a smarter way to work with water. Brizo, a premium, fashion faucet brand, meets the demand for aesthetics and performance with a collection of distinctively designed faucets that create a fashion statement in the home, while the Peerless brand offers affordable faucets with proven design in a range of styles and finishes for both consumers and trade professionals alike.

Delta Faucet Company places a high priority on products that address today's environmental concerns, such as accessibility to water, water conservation and water quality. To that end, Delta Faucet invests in internal processes and systems that provide innovative solutions and ensure exceptional customer satisfaction. As a manufacturer partner of WaterSense®, a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Delta Faucet Company is committed to working with the EPA to actively protect the future of our nation's water supply. The Company also practices improved manufacturing processes to reduce its ecological footprint.

A worldwide leader in faucets and related products, Delta Faucet sells products in more than 53 countries. For more information visit www.deltafaucet.com or call toll-free at 800-345-DELTA (3358).

Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of brand-name consumer products for the home and family, including Behr paint, Delta and Hansgrohe faucets, bath and shower fixtures, KraftMaid and Merillat cabinets, Milgard windows and doors and Verve lighting systems. Masco is also a leading provider of services that include the installation of insulation and other building products through Masco Contractor Services and Masco Home Services. Visit www.masco.com for more information on the Masco family of brands.