Quectel sues Telit IoT Solutions, alleging an IoT module disinformation campaign and cybersquatting on quectel.us

What was filed

The complaint is Document 1 in Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd. v. Telit IoT Solutions Inc., No. 9:26-cv-81475 (S.D. Fla.), entered on the docket October 30, 2026. It runs 75 pages and demands a jury trial. A clerk's notice on the docket assigns the case to Judge Aileen M. Cannon. Quectel describes itself as a company headquartered in Shanghai, China, and traded on the Shanghai stock exchange, which conducts product research and development in the United States and manufactures there indirectly through licensees. The complaint describes Telit IoT Solutions Inc., formerly Telit Wireless Solutions, Inc., as a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business and global headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida, that operates as Telit Cinterion.

What the complaint alleges

The complaint alleges that Telit orchestrated a disinformation campaign to exploit geopolitical concerns about Chinese technology by making, funding, promoting, adopting, and amplifying false and misleading claims that Quectel's cellular IoT modules contain features that allow manipulation by the Chinese government, unauthorized access to modules and end-user devices, surveillance of end-user applications and data, sending or receiving data to or from the modules, firmware-over-the-air updates, or disruption of connected devices. Quectel alleges those claims are false and that, as Telit knows, Quectel cannot remotely control its U.S.-sold IoT modules, send or receive data to or from them, or remotely deploy firmware-over-the-air updates to them. The complaint alleges that Telit presented itself as a safer "Western" alternative, made false statements about its own products' ties to China, and did not respond to Quectel's January 3, 2026 cease-and-desist letter.

The complaint alleges that Telit's current senior marketing and sales director bought the registration for www.quectel.us, redirected the domain to an online encyclopedia page titled Concerns over Chinese involvement in 5G wireless networks, and has renewed the registration and redirect every year, most recently on or around July 30, 2026, after Quectel's cease-and-desist letter. It alleges, on information and belief, that Telit knew about and controlled, authorized, endorsed, sponsored, or funded that conduct. The complaint says the domain is identical or confusingly similar to the QUECTEL mark, which it says Quectel has used in the United States since at least 2014 and has registered as Reg. No. 7,002,777. USPTO TSDR lists Reg. No. 7,002,777, QUECTEL in stylized form, as registered on March 21, 2023 and owned by Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd.

Claims and relief

Count I alleges direct and contributory false advertising and commercial disparagement under Lanham Act section 43(a), 15 U.S.C. 1125(a). Count II alleges cybersquatting under Lanham Act section 43(d), 15 U.S.C. 1125(d). Count III alleges false advertising under Fla. Stat. 817.41. Count IV alleges unfair competition under Florida law. Count V alleges violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Fla. Stat. 501.201 et seq. The prayer asks for judgments on each claim; damages; alternatively, the maximum statutory damages of $100,000 under 15 U.S.C. 1117(d) on the cybersquatting claim; preliminary and permanent injunctions against further false or misleading statements about Quectel's or Telit's products and against registering or using domain names identical or confusingly similar to Quectel's marks or domain names; retraction and corrective advertising; forfeiture, cancellation, or transfer of www.quectel.us under 15 U.S.C. 1125(d)(1)(C); costs and attorneys' fees; interest; and other relief.