Vivint Sues ADT For Patent Infringement
Vivint has sued ADT for patent infringement, embroiling North America's 2 largest home security competitors in a crossfire of lawsuits.
In this report, IPVM examines Vivint's claims against ADT, as well as ADT's ongoing lawsuit against Vivint and possible outcomes for both companies.
Complaint *****
** ******** **, ****, ****** ***** a**-**** **************** *** ** ****:
Complaint ********
*** ********* ******* *** ** ********** 6 ** ******'* ******* ******* ***** of *** *****, *******, *** **** home ******** *******.
******'* ******* *** ** ****** ***** and *********** ***** ** ***** ************ home ******** (*.*. ****** *********, *********** with ***** ***** **** **********, ***.). The ******** ******* ******** *******:
- ** ********,***,***: * ********-*********** ****** *** ****** detection (*.*. ****** ***********, ******* *********, people *********). ***** */**/****, ************ ** patents ***** */*/**** *** **/*/****, ***** on **/*/**** *********** ***********.
- ** ********,***,***: * ****-******* ********** ***** *** housing ***** **** *******. ***** **/**/****.
- ** *******,***,***: * ****** *** ****** *** guiding ********* ********* ** * ******** where ** ***** *** **** *********. Filed */**/****, ***** ** */**/**** *********** application.
- ** *******,***,***: * ********** *** ***** ****** presence ******* (*.*. * ****** ******** informing *** **** ******* ** ** their ***** ****). ***** */**/****, ************ of ****** ***** */**/****.
- ** *******,***,***: * ****** *** ****** *** implementing ** ********** *********** ****** (*.*. a ****** **** ** ********* *******, smart ******, *****, *******, ****** *******, thermostats, ***.). ***** */**/****, ************ ** patents ***** */*/**** *** */*/****, ***** on *********** ************ ***** */*/**** *** 9/28/2000.
- ** *******,***,***: **** ** ****** '***, ** patent '*** ** * ************ ** '552.
****** ** ****** *** ******* ********* its "**** *******" *** ******** "********** royalty *** ***'* **** ** *************" with ********:
*******, ****** ******** *** ***** ******** damages ** ** ** *** ****** found ******* "***’* ************ ** *** Asserted ******* *** **** *******, ***********, and *******."
3 ** * ****** ******* ******** **** ******
***** ****** *** *** ******** ********* for ******* '***, '***, *** '***, the ***** * ******* *** *** originally ****** ** ******. *******, ****** acquired *** ***** * ******* ** 2014 **** ************ ********, * ******* equity ******* ******* ** **-********* **********, which *** ********** * "****** *****"** *** **** ********. ******'************* ******** ** *********, *** *******'******'*********** *********, * ******** ******** ******** *******. Typically, ********* ******* ******* ** * defense ********* ** ******* ***** **** by ******. *******, ** ***** ****** has ****** *** **** ***** ******* to ******** ****** ****** *** ****** infringement.
No ***** ****** ****** ** *** *******
******'* ********* ******* **** **** *** no ***** ****** ** **** ***:
** *********** *** ******, *** *** had ********* ** *** ******** ******* since ** ***** *** **** ** the ****** ** **** *********
** ****** *** ******** ********* *** prior ** *****, ** ***** **** expected **** ** **** * **** prior ** **** *******'* ******.
** ****'* ********** ******** ******** ****** lawsuits, ********** *** ****** ****** **** reach *** ** *** ***** **** believe ** ********** ** ******* *********** an ********* ***** ** ****** * suit.
Press ******* **** ****** - *******
**** **** *******,****** ****** * ***** ************ **** ****** ************ ******* ******* ADT. **** ****** ************ ***** *** litigated ** ******** ******* ********* *********, but ******'* ***** ******* ***** ** wants *** ****** ** **** **** it ** ******** ******** ***.
******'* ********* *** ***** ******* **** both ****** ** ******** **, ****, which ********* *******'* ** **** ******** ************.
'Defrauding' - ******* *** *. ****** *******
*** *** **** ****** ***** *** "deceptive *****" *** '********** [***] *********'. In ***** ****, ******* ****** *** *** "********* ***** practices,"****** **** ****** ***** ****** ***** mislead *** ********* ** ****** **** to ****** ******* ** ********** ** be *** ******. ******** ****** ******* with *** ***$** ********* ******* **** **** **** *********, ADT ************ **************** ****** ** ****** **, ****, alleging ******'* ********* ********* **** ***** stopped, ******* *** ******** **********.
** ****, *******, ** ********** ** financial *********** *** **** ********** ** stop ****** **** ********** ********* ********** the ****** ******.
**** ******* *********** ** ** ***** ** ******** 2022.
Lawsuit ******** ***** ** *********** *******
*** ************** *** ***** ******* ** employ ** ** ********** ******'* *******, similar ** **** ******** **** *******/******** ****** **********. **** ***** ** ************ ***** as ******'* *******, ** **** ****, are *** **** ****** *********** ************ and **** ***** ********** ********. ** ADT *** ***** ***** ***, **** then **** * *********** ** ************ Vivint's ******* ********. *** *******, ****** '159 ** *** "****** *********," *** plenty ** **** ** ****** ********* existed ****** *** ****** *** *** provisional ************ **** ***** ** ****. However, ******* ** *** ***** **** are ********** ** **** ****** ** for *** ****** ** ******.
ADT ******** ** ******
** ******* *** ** ******** ** settle *** ****** ****** ******** ****:
- *** *** **** ******* *** ********* is **** ** ***** ** *** saying ****** ******** *** ********* *** Vivint ********** * ***** ******* *** this **********.
- ** *** ******** ****** ********* **** Vivint, ** ***** ****** **** ** issue ******* ******* ** ****** ** what ******** *** ****, *********** *********** that ****** **** ** *** **** to *****.
- ***, ** * ***** ***********, *** the ***** *** ********* ** ******** fight ******* ******, ** ** *** continuously **** ***** ** ***** ****** for *** "********* *****" *********.
**** **** ******** ** ******* *** status ** **** **** *** ****** accordingly.
Poll / ****
****** *** ***** *** ***** ******, see:****** ***** ***** ***. ** *** $3.2 ******* ** ******* *********** ** False ********** ** ********* ******* **** | *** | ********** ** *******
** **** ** *** **********, ****** is *********** ** ** ************* ** its *********:
****** ****** ** ********* ***** *** truthfully **** *** ****** ******’ ************* relating ** *** ******* ******* ** individuals *** ******** *** ******** ** this *********. **** ********** ******, ****** shall *********, *** ****** *** ** impair, *** *********** ** *** *********, officers, *** *********, *** ***** *** its **** ******* ** **** *********, and *********, *** *********** ** ****** directors, ********, *** ********* *** ********** and ********* ******** ** *** ******* Conduct, ********** **** *** ****** *** privileges ** **** ***********.
** **, *****..*** **** "***********" ***** on *** *****...***** * ******'* **** seeing **** **** ** **** ** done **** ***** ****** ********** *** leadership... ********* *** ** ******* ** all ** ** **** ** **** to **** ***** ***** *** ***** questionable ******** **** "*****" ****** ********...
**, *** ** ** *** ***** where ** **** ** ******* ** re-lever *** ***** *** *** **** off *** ******?
*** *** ****** **..... *** *******
****** *** * ******** *******. ******* 1999 ** *** ******. *********** **** 4000 ****** *** ********** ****** ***** years ******. ********* **** ** ****** (aka ****** *** ******). ********* *** 2020 ** **********. *** * ******.
*** ********* ** ******'* ********* **** a**-**** ******** ***** **, ****:
***** *** ******** ** ********* *********** (i.e. "*** ****** *** *********** ** Paragraph *), ***** *** * *** things ** ****, ************ **** (*) Vivint's ****** ** **** ****** *** invalid ***/** ************* *** (*) *** claims ** *** ** ********* "** the ******** *******".
Vivint's ******* *******/*************?
*** ********* **** *********** ******** ******* that *** "****** ** **** ** the ******** ******* *** *******" ***, specifically, ****** '*** ** ************* *** to *** ********* ** ***** ***.
****, *** ****** *** ****** '*** as "*************" *** ** *** ********* of ***** ***:
*** ****** *** *********** ** ********* 46. *** ****** **** *** ***-***** is ***** *** ** *** ’*** Patent ******* ** *** ** ****** use, ** **** ** ********* ********* to *** ****** ****** *** ******** claimed ******** **** ** *** ’*** Patent.
******-******* * ********** ******** ** *****.***. ADT **** **** ********** *** ******* been ** *** ****** ****** ****** patent '***'* ******** ******** ****:
*** ***-***** ********** ***in ****** ***, **** ** ********* ********* ** *** ****** ****** *** ’*** ******’* ******** ******* ******** **** of December 30, 2014. Specifically, the ADC-T2000 was sold in September and October of 2014 by Building 36 Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of Alarm.com Incorporated (“Alarm.com”).
*******, ******'* ********* ********** **** ***** ADC-T2000, ********* ** ***'* ********:
** ******** **, ****, ******’* ********* was **** ***** ** *** ***-***** during * ******* **** *****.*** **********.
** ******* ****, *****.*** **** ******** an ***-***** ** ****** ***** **** a ************* *****.
***'* ********* **** ****** ****** **** known **** *** ********** *** ***** art *** ****** **** ********* **** information ** *** ***** **** ****** for ****** '***, ***** ***** **** resulted ** '*** *** ***** ******:
******’* *********** **** ********* **** “*** for” ******’* ******* ******* ** ******** the ********* ** **** ***** ***, the’151 ****** ***** *** **** ******. [emphasis added]
*** **** ***** **** ** *** case, ****** '*** ** *************:
******* ****** ********* ********* *** ********* of ******** ***** *** **** *** Patent ******,the ’*** ****** ** *************. [emphasis added]
*** **** ****** **** **** ******** patent's ****** *** ******** ******* ******* they ** *** **** *** ************ for ****************** ** ***** **. ***'* ******** ** *** ****** was *** ********, *** ***** ** Sections ***, ***, ***, *** *** (cited ** ***) *** ******* ******** that ** *** ***** ******* *** obvious ********** *** ***-***** **********. ** we ***** ******, ******'* *******, ** this ****, *** *** ***** *** fundamental ***** ** ********/***** ************, **** as ****** *********.
Knowledge ** *******
*** ****** ** *** ** ********* of *** ******** *******. ***** ******'* claim ****:
** *********** *** ******, *** *** had ********* ** *** ******** ******* since ** ***** *** **** ** the ****** ** **** *********.
*******, *** ********* ** */**:
*** ****** *** *********** ** ********* 26, ****** **** ****** ***** *** initial ********* ** **** ****** ** February **, ****.
**** ***** ** ********** ********* ** the ******* ******* ** *** **** if ****** ****. ******* ** ****** infringement *** ** ******* ** ** 3x *** ******* ***"******* ***/** ******" ************.
******, ****** ** ******* **** ** is ******** *** ****** *******:
*** ***** *** ******** *** ******* under ** *.*.*. § ***up ** ***** ***** the amount found or assessed, and Vivint is entitled ** **** ** *********** because ADT’s infringement of the Asserted Patents has been willful, intentional, and knowing since at least the filing of this Complaint. [emphasis added]
******** **** ******'* ********* **** ******* that **** *** *** ******* *** to *** ***** ** ****** * suit. **** ** ******** ** ****'* review ** ****** ********** *****, ** companies ******* *** ** ***** *** beforehand *** * ******** ********** ****** using ********* ** * ***** ******.
* ******** ******* ** **** **** is **** ******'* ******* *** ***********. However, ****'* ** ** *** ****** to ******. ** **** ******** ** monitor **** **** *** **** *******.
*** *** *** **** ****** *** patent ************ ********** ******** **** "********** ******* ***** *** **** *** complaint ** * *********** ***********".
** **** **, ****,*** *** ********** * ******* *** investigation, ***** *** ***** ******* ******. ADT's ******* ******* **** **** **** in *** ***** ******* ******** ***** has **** ****** ** *** *** investigation *********.
*** ************** ****** ** ** ********* schedule (~** ******) *** *** ************* is********* ** ** ********* ** ******** 5, ****. **** **** ******** ** ***** the ***/****** ****** ********** *** ****** on *** *********** *******.
******** ***** ** “******” * *** patent ****** :)
** ***** *, ****, ****** ******* ******* *** *********** **** ****, **** *** *********** in *** *** ********* ********** *** patent *********** ** ******'* ******* ******** in **** ****.
*** *** *********** ********** ****** *********** are ******** ** ******** ** ***'* allegations **** *** *** **** **** that ******'* ******* *** *******/************* ******* they ******* ** ****** "********" *****.
ADT ******* ****** ******* ********, ********* *************
** *** ****, *** *** ********** the ******** ** ******'* *******, ** IPVM ********* ** * ******* *****.
** **** ****, ******** * ****** *** ******** ** the ************* ******** ******* ********* ***'* ****** invalidity ********, ******** **** * ** 6 ** *** ****** ******* ** hand ******* ******** ***** *** ********* are ************ ** * ****** ** law:
******’* ****** ** ** **** ** the *** ******* ******** ** **** action—U.S. ****** ***. *,***,***, *,***,***, *,***,***, 9,349,262 *** **,***,*** (*** “*******”)—****** ** dismissed. **** ** *** ******* ** directed ** ** ******** **** ********* the **********, ********** *** ************* ** data. ***** ******* ***** *** ******* Circuit *********, ***** ****** **** ******** outside *** ****** ** ****** *********** under ** *.*.*. § ***. *** claims ** ***** ******* *** ********* unpatentable ** * ****** ** ***.
Patent '*** ******* **** *******
****** **,***,*** *** **** *** ** ADT's **** **** ****** *** *** been ******* **** ******'* ******* *** complaint ** ****. ******* *** *** Vivint ********* *** **** ******* **** out ****** '***. *******, ****** '*** is *** * "******** ********** *****," which ** ** ******, ******** ***** of ******** ******** ** *** ***** 5 ******* ******** (*.*. "****** *********" and ******* *** "*******", "*******", *** "services").
35 *.*.*. § *** ********
** *.*.*. § *********** * ********** ** ********** **** are *********** *** ****** ***********:
******* ******* ** ********* *** *** and ******process, *******, ***********, ** *********** ** ******, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefore, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title. [emphasis added]
*********, "******** *****, **** ** ******, and ******* **********" *** *** ****** eligible,********* ** *** *****:
******* ******** *****, **** ** ******, and ******* ********** "*** *** ***** tools ** ********** *** ************* ****", the ******* ***** *** ********* ******* that ************ ***** ***** ** ******** patent ****** *** ****** ********** ****** than ******* **.
*******, ********** **** ** ** ********* that ******** ** ******** ****, **** of ******, ** ******* ********** **** may ** ****** ******** ** *** so *****,********* ** *** *****:
*******, *** ***** *** **** ********** that ** ********* ** *** ********** to ** ********** *** ********* ****** because ** ******** * ******** *********.
***********, *** ***** *** **** **** integration ** ** ******** ****, *** of ****** ** ******* ********** **** a ********* *********** *** ** ******** for ****** **********.
"Abstract *****" ********
**** **** **** * "*******"***** ****** ******** ***** ** *.*.*. § ***, *** * "*******" ** something **** ** *** ********, *** therefore, ********. **, *** ***** ****** abstract ******* ** ************* ****** ****** ineligible.
*** ******** ***** **** *** ***** and ******* ****** **** ****** ********** are ****** **************** ********, ********** ** ** ********** ***** grid, *** *** ******* ** "********** advertisements ** ****** ******* ** * video ************ *******,"********* ** *** ****** *** ******** website, ****** ****.
Vivint ******** ** "********" **********
****** ************* ****** **** *** ** its ******* ** *** ***** "****** an ******** ****" *** "******** * tangible, ****-**** ******** ** * ********, real-world *******.":
*** ******** ******* ********* ********** ******** in *** ***** ** ***** **** and ******** ****** ************. **** ******** and ***** ******** ******** **** ****** problems ** *** ***** *** *** introduced ********** ******** **** **** *** well **********, *******, ** ************ ** the ******** ****. ********, *** ******** Patents ******* ********, ******** ********** *** unique ***** **** ******** ******* *** functioning ** ******** ********** ******* ** new *** ************** ****. **** *** not ******** *****; **** **** ****-***** impact.
****** ****** **** *** ******* ******* "tangible, ******** **********." *** *******, ****** says ** ****** '*** (******* *** ****** *** ******* ********* personnel ** * ******** ***** ** alarm *** **** *********) *** ****** has * ******** **********: * ******, a ******* ****, *** ** *********:
*** ********** *** *** ******** ******* and *** ******* **** *** ********** to ******* **** ****-***** ******. ********* they *** *** ******** *****.
*********** * ******** ******* ** *** 2nd ******* *********, ***** ***** *** ********* *** edits **** ** *** ******** *********.
ADT ******** ** ******* *********
** ***** **, ****, ************ ** ******'* *** ******* *********. *** ******** ** ***********, ******* the *********** **** ****** *** *** forth ***** *** ******** ** *** Vivint ******* *** ***** ***'* ******* infringement ** *** *******.
*** ******** * *********** ******** **** were **** ******** ** ***'* ******** to ******'* ******** *********. *** ******* itself ** ****** **** ****** *** failed ** ***** * *****, **** ADT **** *** ******** ***** *******, and **** *** ******* *** *******.
*** *** **** *** ***** ************* against ******, ********** ****** *** ***** for * "*********** ******** ** **********" for *** * ****** ******* ******** in **** ****.
**** **** *** **** ****** *** now:
*** *********** ****** ******** ******* *** have *** ********* ** ********** *******.
*********** *******. ** **** ** *** to ***** *** ** ***** ***. The ****** ** **** *********** ** ADT **** ** ** *******, ******** battles *** ********** ** ****** ** their '****** ********' *********/*********** ******* ****** access ** ******** ******* ******. *** will **** * *** ** *** plate. * ***** *** **** **** if **** ***** ** ***** ******** or ****** **** ****, ******** **** do **** ********* ********* ********* ** them ** ***** *** **** ***** (s)....