Trouvé Enterprises Files Infringement Suit Against Snap Saver LLC

1995 Letter from alleged infringer, Kate Adams, construed as evidence of wilful intent to infringe. Trouvé Enterprises ready to go to necessary lengths to protect their intellectual property.

(PRWEB) April 1, 2005 -- Trouvé Enterprises v. Snapsaver LLC in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:04-cv-4538.

Trouvé Enterprises (troovay) makes a plastic food storage container that solves the age-old problem of lost lids and cluttered drawers. The lids attach to the bottom of each container while not in use, and they nest that way. Snap Saver, also a manufacturer of food storage, attempts to address similar problems, allegedly with unauthorized use of patented technology.

According to Josie Celio co-owner of Trouvé Enterprises, Snap Saver infringes on two patents, both exclusively licensed to Trouvé. In fact, Brian Tenney, owner of one of the patents saved a letter from 1995 in which Kate Adams, creator of Snap Saver, admits to having come across his idea. The letter, which Tenney saved, reads:

Dear Brian & Kerry,
No, you dont know me from Adam- but I was in the process of doing a patent search on a food storage container when I came across your idea. I would be most grateful for an opportunity to discuss this with you. I am hoping you will call me collect at (phone number) days or (phone number) /nights. I look forward to hearing from you at your soonest convenience.
Thank you,
Kate Adams

No deal was struck between the two parties, but that didnt stop Adams from manufacturing the product and claiming to be the inventor. In reality, the two Trouvé patents existed almost 8 years prior to Adams product.

As Adams will point out, she has a patent, but the problem is that it includes whats called prior art. Any IP attorney will tell you that just because you have a patent doesnt mean you can produce a product without infringing." Says Celio. Specifically, you cannot make a product that uses prior art protected by existing patents.

According to Allison Ford, also co/owner of Trouvé, Snap Saver ignored their attempts to contact them for an amicable resolution, forcing them to file suit, which they did about 6 months ago.

Then an ironic twist brought the two parties together at the training class for a major television-shopping channel. Adams and Celio found themselves facing each other through the entire class. After a somewhat awkward but cordial encounter, Adams attorney contacted Trouves attorney requesting a licensing agreement. Unfortunately, it appears that it was just a stalling ploy, because they never responded to the submitted offer and violated the terms by airing with the television retailer.

Both Allison and Myself are working moms and we took out second mortgages to fund this project. Its difficult as it is to develop and take a product to market, without companies blatantly ignoring intellectual property laws." Says Celio.

Ford agrees, Based on the correspondence, we can only assume that they (Snap Saver) knew about our patents and are willfully infringing. Ill just be relieved when all of this is settled."

Trouvé Food Storage Containers are protected by U.S. patent numbers 5,184,745 and 4,951,832 and can be seen at www.savethelids.com
Josie Celio and Allison Ford reside in Northern California and can be reached at josafeen@starband.net, or (530)363-0391.

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