Hexbugs Mfr. Sues U.K. Chain

GDA Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 8/3/2011 2:39:34 PM

Warrington, U.K. - Innovation First International (UK) Limited and Innovation First Inc., maker of the Hexbug robotic toys, filed a patent lawsuit last week against Clinton Cards plc, a greeting cards and gifts retail chain with over 800 stores in the U.K. The suit also named one of Clinton Cards' suppliers, Only 4 U Limited, and the supplier's managing director, Mr. Kishorilal Devchand Gosar Shah, asserting claims of intellectual property infringement with regard to the HEXBUG Nano.
The products which Innovation First claims were illegal imitations were sold and marketed under the names "Micro-Insect" and "Jitterbugz". Innovation First is asking the court to discontinue the distribution and sale of the products and to grant the company compensation, which may include any profits the defendants have made, or may make, from the sale of the allegedly infringing products.
The move comes soon after Clinton Cards' Chairman and CEO announced that he'll step down to become life president, according to the U.K.'s Financial TImes. Darcy Willson-Rymer, managing director of coffee chain Starbucks' U.K. operation, will become chief executive in October. Lewin's son Clinton Lewin will remain in his role of managing director. The company also extended the refinancing of its revolving credit facility to the end of September; it had previously hoped to close the deal by the end of July.