Amazon Ring Violates ONVIF
Amazon's Ring is violating ONVIF's terms, with an ongoing marketing campaign using ONVIF, despite neither being ONVIF conformant nor being an ONVIF member.
IPVM recently concluded a test (Research Service) report on this integration: Ring + ONVIF Cameras Tested.
Ring avoided answering our question about ONVIF while ONVIF confirmed that Amazon/Ring are not members nor conformant.
UPDATE 4/28/2022: Ring contacted us after this was published and explained their position is that they do not violate ONVIF's rules since their claim is that they support "ONVIF-compatible cameras" and not that they are ONVIF compatible themselves.
By contrast, ONVIF's own 2022 brand standards declare the opposite of Ring's contention, to quote:
ONVIF shall not be used in a way that could lead the public to believe, or create a direct or indirect inference, that a non-conformant product has met the ONVIF conformance requirements or interoperates with other ONVIF conformant products.
Indeed, Ring is a non-conformant product and it is telling the public that it interoperates with ONVIF conformant products. ONVIF goes further emphasizing that companies cannot substitute words like compatible that Ring uses:
For more than 2 months, Ring has benefited from marketing ONVIF, e.g., as shown in the screenshot below from Ring's ONVIF support page:
This is good for Ring but bad for ONVIF and those that depend on ONVIF working because Ring is violating ONVIF's rules and expectations of how ONVIF products work.
Ring ******* **** *****
*** ********* ******* **** *** **** ONVIF ** **** ***** ******** *** following:
** ***** *** **** ******* ** be ***** **********, *** **** ** an ***** ****** *** *** ******* must ******* ** ***** ******** *******.
************, ****'* ************** ** * ******** subset ** ** ***** ******* (*** our ************ + ***** ******* ******). **** ** ************* **** ****** to ****** *****'* ***** (*** ** do *** **** ****'* ********** ***** they ***** *** ***), **** ***** not **** *** ******* **** ** is *********** *****.
History ** ********
****** / **** ***** * ****** of *********, ************* *** ********* *** ******** "*****" support*** *** *** ******** ******* ***** in ******* ********. *** *******, *** Milestone ***** ****** *** *** ******** support ***** *** * ****** ** ONVIF. *** **** ****** ******* *** a ******* ********. ** ********, ***** two ********* ***** ******* ***** ********* with, *.*. ********* ******** *** **** ONVIF **** *** *******.
Ring **********?
******* **** **** ******* **** ** unclear. *** ****** ***, ***** **** us **** "** **** ******* *** company ***** *** *** **** ** make ******* ** ******* *** ******." This ****, ***** ********* **** ** still *** ** ***** ****** ***, by ********** ** ***** ******* **********. ONVIF ***** *** ********* *******.
*************, ***** *** * ******* ** poor ***********, *.*., ****:"***** *** ****** *** ** ******* Their *********."
**** ************ ********** ***** ***** ** good *** ****** ** ** ***** them **** ****** ** ******* ***** on-site ************ ******* ** *** ***** but **** ***** ** **** *** is ****** ** **** ** **** frustration *** ****** *** ********** **** are ******** ***** ***** *** *******.
**** ***** *** **** **** ***'* have **** ******* **** ***** ******* they ***'* ***** ******** **** *** Ring ********** *** ***** **********. **** very ************ *** '***** **********' ****
** *** **** ** ***** **** an ******** ** ******** ****'* *********?
**** **** *** ******* * **** made **:
** ******, *** *** **** * difference ** ******* ** *** *********. You *** **** **** *****.
**** ******* **** **** "**** ******** we *** *** ****** *** *****. Indeed, ****** **** ** ***** **** that ****** ***** *** *** ***** for ******* ** *** *********. *** could **** ***** ** ********* ****, e.g., **** *** ********** *** **** working ** *** ********* ** ***** going ********* ****."
***** ** * ********* ** ***** and ***** *** *** ***** ** enforce *** ** ** **** ** commercial *****, ***** **** **** ** doing **** ******* **.
** *** ***, "***** *****" ** Facebook **** ** **** *******. ** you *** ********* *** * ******* selling * ******* *** *** "*** my ******* ***** ** ******** ***** cameras", ****'* * ********** *** **** ONVIF ****** **** *** ***** ** regulate.
** *** *** ********* *** * company ******* * ******* *** *** "Use ** ******* ***** ** ******** ***** *******", that's a commercial use that ONVIF should have the right to regulate.
* ***** **** ************ **** ** effort ******** **** ****** **** - ** avoid *** ********** *** *****.
*******, **** *** ****** (***) "** product *** ********** *** **** ********* **** ***** conformant ******* ** - *** ******* of **** - **** ***** ********** cameras********* **** ** ******* ***"
**'* ** * ********* **** *** marketing ****** ** ********** ***, **** approach ** **** ****** *** *** anyone ****'* ********* ** ***** ********* as **** ** **** ***** *** they *** **, ***** ** ******** at ****.
****** *** ******** *** ****'* **** print. ***** **** ***'* *** **** it's ********* **, ** *** ********* was **** ***** **** ***** ***** it **********, * ***** ** *********.
**** *** ******* ******** *** ***:
**** *** ********** ** ********** *********** is ********* ** ******* ** ** from ***** *********, *** *********** ****** be ********* ******* *** ************* ** that ********* *** ******** ****** *** understand **. *fine-print ********** ** *** ****** ** * ***** **, a disclaimer buried in a body of text unrelated to the claim being qualified, a brief video superscript in a television ad, or a disclaimer **** ** ****** ****** ** * ******* *** *** ****** ** ** *********. Nor *** *********** *** **** ***** ** ********** other statements in an ad or to clear up misimpressions that the ad would leave otherwise.
*** *******, ****'* ******** ***:
*** ******** ** ****, *** *** your *****-********** *******.
**** ***** **** ****:
*** ******* ** ****, *** *** select *****-***** *******.
**** ***** ** *** ******* ****'* trademark ** * ********** *********** *** commercial *******, *.*., ***** *** ***** of *****'* ******** ***** *** *********** rather **** **** *********** ****** *****-***** cameras.
* ** **** **** **** ** researching **** *****.
*'* **** ***** ** *** *** all ***** **** ******* * ******* it *** ** ***** * ******** if *** * ********* *** **** to ** ******** ** ***** ******** when *** ***'* ** ******** **** their ********* ***** **'* ** *********** it ******* ** ** * *** of ***** ******** *** ***** **** want *** ** *** ***** ************** but ** *** **** *** ** be **** ** ********* ****** **** your **************.
****** */**/****: **** ********* ** ***** this *** ********* *** ********* ***** position ** **** **** ** *** violate *****'* ***** ***** ***** ***** is **** **** ******* "*****-********** *******" and *** **** **** *** ***** compatible **********.
** ********,*****'* *** **** ***** **************** *** ******** ** ****'* **********, to *****:
***** ***** *** ** **** ** a *** **** ***** **** *** public ** *******, ** ****** * direct ** ******** *********, **** * non-conformant ******* *** *** *** ***** conformance ************ ** ************* **** ***** ONVIF ********** ********.
******, **** ** * ***-********** ******* and ** ** ******* *** ****** that ** ************* **** ***** ********** products. ***** **** ******* *********** **** companies ****** ********** ***** **** ********** that **** ****:
*****'* ***** ********* *** ***% **********. Brand ********* *** ******** ** ***** who *** ******* ** *** ************ - *** ******, *** ****.
** ***** ******, ****** ** *** depicting ********** ** ***** *********, ** ONVIF **********. **** *** ****** * reference ** ***** ********* *******, ***** is * ****** ********** **** ** those ****** *** ********.
** ** ****** / ********** ** use ******* *****'* ********* ** ***********, as **** ** **'* ********, *** doesn't **** ** ********** ** ******** or ***********. "***** **** ***** ********* Devices*" ******* ** **** ****** **********. They ****'* * ******. **** ****'* claiming ** ** * ******.
***** *** ***** ****** ** **** non-members *********** ** ***** ***** *********. As * ****** ******* **** **** others **********: **** *** *******. **** can ******* [*** ************] ***** ********* all **** ****, ******* **'* *****, reference ******, ***. ****'** ******** ***** product ***** **** * ***** *******. Fram ***'* ********* ********** ** ** original ***** *********. ****'** *********** ******* brand.
**** *** *******. **** *** ******* [Car ************] ***** ********* *** **** want, ******* **'* *****, ********* ******, etc. ****'** ******** ***** ******* ***** with * ***** *******. **** ***'* depicting ********** ** ** ******** ***** component. ****'** *********** ******* *****.
*** ***** *** *** ********** *** can ********* *** *** ** ****** use ***** ********** ** *****'* *********. Likewise, ******* * **** **** **** (let's **** *** **** ***) *** I ******* * ********* ******** ***** I **** "**** *** ********** ** IPVM." ***, ** **** ***, **** the ***** ***** ** ****** ** to ****.
********* ** **** *** *****, ***** could **** ****, **** ** ******** you **** **** *****'* *********, *** there ** ** ******** ** **** and ***** ** *****'* ********* ** us **** "** **** ******* *** ******* [****] again *** *** **** ** **** changes ** ******* *** ******."
*** ***** *** *** ********** *** can ********* *** *** ** ****** use ***** ********** ** ***** *********.
***?
***** *** *** *** **** **** to **** ****** ***** ***** **** on ****, *** ***** ** ** legal *****. ******* ***** ******* *** same, *** ** *** ********** *** truthful, *** *** *************** [****] ** a *******, ********* **, ******** ** that ******* - *****'* ******* ** legally ****** *** ************ ** ****** anything.
***** *** *** *** **** **** for **** ** ****** ** ***** brand *********. ************* ** *** ** the ***** ***** *** **** ** do. *** *****, ** ** ************, their ***** **** ** *** ********* in * **** ********-****** ****** **** ever ******.
*** ** ******* ****** *** *****? You *** *** *** ************* ** random *** ******* ****** **** ***** they "**** **** ****** *** *******" all *** **** - *** *** statement ** ********, *** **********, *** not *******. *****'* ********* ******* *****. Reddit ***** ***** **** ******* */***************** with * *** *** **** **** says "******* ** ****!" - *****, compelling **** ** ****** ******** ******* it's **********, ********, ** ********** **** as *** ************.
** *** ***** ****...
"**** *** ********** ** ****." ***, as **** ***, **** *** ***** right ** ****** ** ** ****.
***** *** **** / ******** ** another ****** ** * ***** ********* legal *****. ** **** ********, ***'** depicting ***** **** **** **** **** has **** * ******** ************, *** addresses ** ********** - *** * public ***** ****. ** ** *******, but ***** ** ********* ** ** invasion ** *******.
...*** ****, **'* ********** "*****" *** "Doe"
***** *** * ********* ** *** word **** "*****", *.*.:
**** ****** **** ****** ** *** their ***** ** ********** *** ****, corporations (** **** ********* ********* *******) have ****** ***** *** ***** ********** are ****.
****'**********'* ******** ** ********* ************ *******:
****** ******** ******* ******* ** ***** to ********* ******* * ********* *** infringed.[*]
- ******* *** ********* *** * ***** trademark. * ********* *** ** ***** because ** ** ********** **********, ** because ** *** * ***** ***** common ***.
- ******* *** ********* ** ***** **** by *** *********.
- ******* *** *********'* *** ** *** mark ** "** ********."
- ******* **** *** ** ********* ** the ****, *****, ************, ** *********** of * *******.
- ******* *** *********'* *** ** *** trademark ** ****** ** ******* *********.
**** **** ******, ******** *********, ** the **** ***** ** ****** ** most *****.
***** **** **** * ***** *********.
**** ** ***** *** ********* "*****".
****'* *** ** "** ********" ** it ** * ********* ********.
**** ** *********** *** ******** ** conjunction **** *****.
***** ** ******* ** *** ****** about *** ********* **** * "***-********** *******" [*.*. ****] ******** ** "interoperate **** ***** ***** ********** ********".
** ********, *** ************** *** ***** above ***** *********** ********* ********* ********** and ***** ********* *******' ******* ** only **** ********** ****** (*.*., "** the ********** *** ********, *** *** misrepresenting [****] ** * *******, ********* by, ******** ** **** ******* - there's ******* ** ******* ******")
** ********, *** ************** *** ***** above ***** *********** ********* ********* **********
**, ********* ** ********* *** ********* product ********* ***** *****. "********** ** confusion" **** *** ******* ** ******* is ****** **** * ********* ******, is ** *** **** ******* ******, etc ***. [** **** ***** ****** launch ****.*** ***** ******* ****, ****, colors ***.]
**** ** **** * **** ** Trademark *** ********* * **** ******* on ***** *****...
******* *** ***** *** ********* ****-**** by **** ** ***** **************, **** using ***** ****, ***** ***** **** explicitly ****** *****. ****** **** ****** on *** ********* "***** *********". ******* alert: ***** **** *******. ** *** think ****-**** ****** ***** ***** ** these ********* ***********?
**'* *** ** ***** *****. **'* referencing * *****.
*** **** ****** *****'************* ***** ** ** * ********** person ***** ***** **** * ********* of "[*] ***** **** [* ******* Z]" ****** ******** ******* **** ******** that [*] ** * ******* ** [Y]
*** **** **** ** ***** *** round. *** ********, "****** **** ******** ONVIF" ** *** ***** **** - is **********. ******** **** *************:
Amazon **** ******** ***** ********* ** ***** **** **** ** *********** ** ******* **.
******* *** ***** *** ********* ****-**** by **** ** ***** **************, **** using ***** ****, ***** ***** **** explicitly ****** *****. ****** **** ****** on *** ********* "***** *********". ******* alert: ***** **** *******. ** *** think ****-**** ****** ***** ***** ** these ********* ***********?
****'* ****** "*********** ***********", ** ********* ** *** ********* that ** ** ******** ** ***** confusion, *** ** ************* ********* **** what **** ** ***** ****.
******* **** ********* *** *********:
*** **** ** ****** **** *****
**** ** *********** ***********. ********* *** unlikely ** ** ******** ***** ******* Ring ***** **** ***** ******* **** is ********** ****** ** ** ****** than *** ***** *****.
** **** ****, ******, **** **** announced ***:
*** ******** ** ****, *** *** your *****-********** *******.
**** ****** ********* ***** * ******* tenet ** *****'* ***** *** *********** in *** ******. *****'* **** ***** proposition ** **** ** ********* **** companies *** ******** ******* ** *** rules *** *** ***** ** ********** devices **** ** ** *******.
** **** ****, **** ** ******** that *** ******** *** ******* **** ONVIF-compatible *******, **** ****** **** ** not ** ***** ****** *** *** products *** *** *****-**********. ** ****, unlike *** **** ***** **** ************** said ** *** ****** **** ***** (comparative ***********) ** **** **** **** is ***** *****'* ***** *** ********** for ********** ****** ************ ** ******* the ****** **** ******** **** **** is ** *********.
** ******, ***** ** ****** **** issue *** ***** ** **** ****** out *** ***** **** ***’* ****** the *********.
"...*** **** ***** ** **** *** is ****** ** **** ** **** frustration *** ****** *** ********** **** are ******** ***** ***** *** *******."
*** ** ****** ***************** **** ***** ******* **?!
** ***** *********** **** ****'* **** tested ** ** *******'* *********** ** a ******* *******, **** *** ***** camera ******** *** ***/*** ******** *******/********/****** pack ** ***** **** ** ** than * *** ** *** ****.
**** ***** *** **** *******'***** **** ******* **** ***** ******* they ***'* ***** ******** **** *** Ring ****************** **********.
**** **** ************ *** '***** **********' only ** ** ********* **** ****** to ******* **** *********** ** **** ** ******* ** your **** *** - *** ** describe *** ** ***** *** **********.
**** *** ******* ***** * ****** of *** ******* ***** ********** ******** to ******* **** ** **** *** - *** **** **** **** *********** in ***** **** ************ ***** ****not *** ***** ********** ******* **** **** **** **** ***...
**********, **** ***** ** ** ********** that **** ********** *********** ********** - *** ** **** were, ******'********* ********** ******* ** **** ** connect ** *** **** ***?