ARM Asks for Import Ban on Reusable Coffee and Tea Brewing Capsules

Adrian Rivera and his company ARM Enterprises filed on Aug. 4 a complaint at the International Trade Commission requesting a Section 337 investigation into patent infringement by imports of beverage brewing capsules. Rivera says several companies are manufacturing and importing from China products that infringe patents he holds on reusable capsules used for brewing coffee or tea using single-serve brewing machines like the Keurig K-Cup. The complaint singles out Solofill’s K3 and K2, manufactured by DonGuan Hai Rui Precision Mould in China; Eko Brands’ Elite and Eko Brew capsules, manufactured and imported by Ever Much in China; Melitta’s E-Filter, manufactured by LBP Packaging in China; and Spark’s Café Cup, manufactured and imported by B. Marlboros International of Hong Kong. Rivera also includes Amazon in the complaint. Rivera is requesting limited exclusion orders and cease and desist orders banning importation and sale of infringing beverage brewing capsules by each respondent. Comments on public interest factors raised by the complaint are due Aug. 18 (here).