iRobot Confirms Patent Infringement Investigation by U.S. International Trade Commission into Robots Sold by Bissell, Hoover, Black & Decker and Others

BEDFORD, Mass., May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in consumer robots and maker of the Roomba® vacuuming robot, today announced that the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to institute an investigation into patent infringement by multiple entities including Bissell Homecare, Inc., Hoover Inc., Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co. Inc. d/b/a TTI Floor Care North America, Inc., bObsweep, Inc., bObsweep USA, The Black & Decker Corporation, Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., Shenzhen ZhiYi Technology Co., Ltd. d/b/a iLife, Matsutek Enterprises Co., Ltd., Suzhou Real Power Electric Appliance Co., Ltd., and Shenzhen Silver Star Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (collectively, the "Respondents").

The investigation is based on a previously announced complaint filed by iRobot at the ITC against the Respondents on April 18, 2017, alleging infringement of six U.S. patents.

The ITC's investigation will examine whether the Respondents have infringed the asserted patents. If the ITC's investigation determines that Respondents have engaged in patent infringement, the ITC may issue an exclusion order to halt the importation of the infringing products, as well as a cease-and-desist order to stop the sale and marketing of the infringing products into the United States. ITC investigations proceed on an expedited basis, commonly progressing to trial within a year.

"iRobot is pleased with the ITC's decision to investigate the alleged infringement by these respondents and looks forward to a prompt and expeditious decision from the ITC," said Glen Weinstein, executive vice president and chief legal officer of iRobot. "iRobot is committed to protecting its valuable intellectual property as it continues to drive innovation in consumer robotics worldwide."

Also related to the previously announced complaint, iRobot filed patent infringement complaints against the Respondents at the United States District of Massachusetts on April 17, 2017. Those cases are currently pending before the Honorable Judge Sorokin. 

The U.S. ITC Notice of Institution of Investigation can be found here: https://www.usitc.gov/secretary/fed_reg_notices/337/337_1057_notice_05172017sgl.pdf.

About iRobot Corp.
iRobot, the leading global consumer robot company, designs and builds robots that empower people to do more both inside and outside of the home. iRobot created the home robot cleaning category with the introduction of its Roomba® Vacuuming Robot in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold more than 15 million robots worldwide. iRobot's product line, including the Roomba and the Braava® family of mopping robots, feature proprietary technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning, mapping and navigation. iRobot's engineers are building an ecosystem of robots and data to enable the smart home. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com. 

For iRobot Investors
Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to iRobot Corporation's expectations concerning the litigation. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. iRobot undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iRobot, see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

SOURCE iRobot Corp.