Cleveland,OH-based The Lincoln Electric Co. and Lincoln Global, Inc., two subsidiaries of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., have filed a lawsuit against Lisco, Inc., a Los Angeles-based company doing business as Rhino Welders and Phoenix Welding Supply Co., for patent, trademark, copyright and trade dress infringement and unfair competition. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Rhino Welders recently imported and started selling a family of Chinese-manufactured MIG welders through its distributor, Phoenix Welding Supply. Lincoln Electric alleges that the machines are copies of Lincoln’s POWER MIG(R) line of welders and infringe Lincoln’s intellectual property rights.

In the complaint, Lincoln charges Rhino Welders and Phoenix Welding Supply with infringing Lincoln’s patents, Lincoln’s federally-registered trademarks, Lincoln’s copyrighted materials, and Lincoln’s distinctive POWER MIG(R) trade dress, as well as engaging in unfair business practices. The company is seeking an injunction against Rhino Welders and Phoenix Welding Supply, and compensation for damages.

Lincoln Electric and Lincoln Global are wholly owned subsidiaries of Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. Lincoln Electric is manufacturer of  arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. Lincoln has 38 manufacturing locations, including operations, manufacturing alliances and joint ventures in 20 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices in more than 160 countries.