The DesignLights Consortium™ program and trademarks are assets to the DLC, its members and stakeholders. The July 2015 issue of the DLC Industry Update states the following: "It has come to our attention that 49 manufacturers have misrepresented the nature of their products to the DLC during the application process and were able to obtain DLC qualification for products that employ screw bases. Under current requirements, the DLC specifically excludes products that employ screw bases from qualification.
"As a result, approximately 1,220 products are being removed from the following categories over the next few weeks: Retrofit Kits for Outdoor Pole/Arm Mounted Area and Roadway Luminaires, Retrofit Kits for Parking Garage Luminaires, and Retrofit Kits for Fuel Pump Canopy Luminaires."
The USA-made HiLumz® Diamonz® retrofit kits utilize a patent-pending, FlexMount™ clamp and bracket system for mounting and NOT the screw base that is excluded by the DLC. Resellers of competitor LED retrofit products with screw base mounts are contacting HiLumz USA in increasing numbers. They have expressed serious concerns about pending and future sales that require DLC QPL recognition in order to obtain rebate money after installation. HiLumz USA assures them and its own customers that the FlexMount system is DLC compliant.
It has also come to the attention of HiLumz USA that at least one competitor, Green Inova Technology (Shenzhen) Limited, has begun distribution of a notice telling its clients to stop claiming that its screw base products are DLC approved. In the notice, Green Inova is also promoting the use of a 'clamp yoke bracket' system. Green Inova's clamp yoke bracket system is nearly identical to HiLumz USA's patent-pending bracket system. The patent attorneys for HiLumz USA, Culhane Meadows Haughian & Walsh PLLC, are preparing to send a formal written notice to Green Inova about HiLumz USA's patent-pending bracket system. HiLumz USA and its attorneys will send a notice to anyone who makes, uses, sells, offers to sell, or imports into the U.S. a bracket system that is the same as or similar to HiLumz USA's patent-pending bracket system. Those interested in obtaining a license to the patent-pending system should contact HiLumz USA for more information.
"Given the importance of rebates to the expansion of LED adoption in the lighting market, it is vital that resellers and buyers have confidence that the LED retrofits being installed are valid QPL products," says Chuck Rigby, COO of HiLumz USA. Mr. Rigby continues, "Not only must manufacturers comply with DLC requirements, but they must also not infringe upon the intellectual property of HiLumz."
HiLumz USA prides itself on being ethical in all dealings with its customers, vendors and business associates. To this end, we support and applaud the DLC in its effort to uphold the integrity of its programs.
