Epson America, Inc., has announced that it has amended a lawsuit against Curtis International Ltd. for false projector lumen ratings produced by RCA brand projectors to now include Technicolor SA.
As part of the expanded lawsuit, Epson America also alleges the use of misleading images of projectors placed in well-lit, ambient room environments, and descriptions of the projectors as “Super Bright.”
“When manufacturers use blatantly misleading specification claims—it hurts the entire industry—from consumers, schools and businesses, to retailers, dealers and suppliers,” states Mike Isgrig, vice president, consumer sales and marketing, Epson America, Inc.
“Epson ensures its performance claims are based on projector industry standards, and takes it seriously when competitors misstate specs that mislead consumers. This practice makes it impossible for consumers to make informed purchase decisions and is damaging to the credibility of the industry and those who support it.”
RCA Branded Products in Question
Epson says the RCA projectors in question are currently widely available online through many retailers in the U.S. and Canada.
The company also claims that in addition to the RCA branded products, Curtis produces projectors under other brand names that also include false lumen ratings.
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According to Epson, independent testing conducted using current standards confirm these projectors typically emit as little as 1 percent of the claimed lumens rating.
Here are the claimed vs. actual lumens measurements provided by Epson for the RCA branded products in question:
- RCA RPJ116-B-PLUS claimed brightness is 2,000 lumens and the measured lumens according to Epson is 18
- RCA RPJ104 claimed brightness is 2,000 lumens and the measured lumens according to Epson is 21
- RCA RPJ119 claimed brightness is 2,000 lumens and the measured lumens according to Epson is 32
- RCA RPJ-116+ claimed brightness is 2,000 lumens and the measured lumens according to Epson is 30
- RCA RPJ116 claimed brightness is 2,000 lumens and the measured lumens according to Epson is 32
- RCA RPJ136 claimed brightness is 2,200 lumens and the measured lumens according to Epson is 38
- RCA RPJ129 claimed brightness is 3,100 lumens and the measured lumens according to Epson is 190
Additionally, Epson says it recently attained a permanent injunction and damage award for $5 million after successful litigation against iRulu for making similar claims.
In a press statement, Epson states the goal for the current litigation against Curtis International and Technicolor SA is to protect consumers from purchasing projectors that can not meet the performance requirements specified in these false claims.
