Highly contested Garmin sonars
On December 1, 2015, the ITC (International Trade Commission) ruled that Garmin's Down Vü sonars infringed Navico's patent on its DownScan imaging technology. This was the second adverse judgment in a month for Garmin, convicted of violating a Humminbird patent on his sonars. If a license agreement has resolved the dispute between Garmin and Humminbird, the disagreement with Navico is in no way resolved almost a year later and the import of Garmin sonars is prohibited.
Suspension denied
While Garmin has appealed the judgment, the company has requested the suspension of the ban on entry of Down Vü sonars into the United States, pending final judgment by a federal court. The ITC requested that the suspension be denied.
Attempt to import in spare parts
Garmin has since sought to circumvent the ban by importing unassembled components separately, and then selling them together, in a single package, into the United States. If Navico disputes the method, Garmin considers it consistent with the judgment. Each company claims that the ITC agrees with them.
Date of judgment unknown
A federal court will have to decide the case definitively. No date has yet been set.
