Telebrands defends use of APEX, critiques Chinese supplier’s standing in US case

By Melissa Ritti ( May 13, 2025, 15:30 GMT | Insight) -- A request by a China-based consumer products supplier for a temporary restraining order barring Telebrands Corp. from removing allegedly infringing products from Amazon.com should be denied, Telebrands told a Delaware federal judge yesterday. Telebrands argues that because Yangjiang Xinhe Houseware Co., Ltd. itself does not make or sell any expandable hose products in the US, it has no reasonable apprehension of being sued here for patent infringement. The dispute highlights the challenge for US companies of enforcing their intellectual property rights against infringing products on Amazon — a void the e-tailer’s APEX program was intended to fill, but which Telebrands now stands accused of abusing.In pushing back on a request for injunctive relief, Telebrands yesterday found itself alternately arguing China’s Yangjiang Xinhe Houseware Co. is at no imminent risk of facing patent infringement claims in the US — and that Xinhe’s customers are selling, on Amazon.com, Xinhe-supplied expandable hoses that infringe two patents covering Telebrands’ popular “Pocket Hose” product....