Feds Crack Down on Fake Pre-Stretched Synthetic Braiding Hair Sellers
Published Date: 1/22/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. International Trade Commission is cracking down on companies like Vivace that are selling certain pre-stretched synthetic braiding hair and packaging without permission. This formal enforcement action follows earlier orders from September 2025 and aims to stop these patent violations. Affected businesses should act fast or face legal and financial consequences.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Formal enforcement proceeding against Vivace
The U.S. International Trade Commission has started a formal enforcement proceeding against Vivace, Inc. after a complaint filed December 18, 2025 alleging continued importation or sale of infringing products. The Commission voted to institute the enforcement proceeding on January 20, 2026 and delegated the case to an administrative law judge to decide whether violations occurred and what enforcement measures, if any, are appropriate.
Existing remedial orders bar infringing imports
On September 29, 2025, the Commission issued a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders against defaulting respondents (including Vivace) covering certain pre-stretched synthetic braiding hair and packaging that allegedly infringe U.S. Patent Nos. 10,786,026; 10,945,478; and 10,980,301. Those remedial orders are intended to stop importation into and sale within the United States of the covered infringing products.
Some respondents exited via consent orders
Several named companies (for example, Kum Kang Trading USA, Mink Hair, Oradell, I & I Hair, and others) were terminated from the investigation after entering consent order stipulations and consent orders in October–December 2024. The Commission recorded those terminations in late 2024 and early 2025.
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