Amazon Ring Violates ONVIF

By John Honovich, Published Apr 28, 2022, 12:00pm EDT (Info+)

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.

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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:

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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:

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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 ******** ***** ***** *** *******.

Comments (18)

Undisclosed #1

04/28/22 02:40pm

*** ********* ******* **** *** **** ONVIF ** **** ***** ******** *** following:

** ***** *** **** ******* ** be ***** **********, *** **** ** an ***** ****** *** *** ******* must ******* ** ***** ******** *******.

**** ***** *** **** *******'***** **** ******* **** ***** ******* they ***'* ***** ******** **** *** Ring ****************** **********.

**** **** ************ *** '***** **********' only ** ** ********* **** ****** to ******* **** *********** ** **** ** ******* ** your **** *** - *** ** describe *** ** ***** *** **********.

**** *** ******* ***** * ****** of *** ******* ***** ********** ******** to ******* **** ** **** *** - *** **** **** **** *********** in ***** **** ************ ***** ****not *** ***** ********** ******* **** **** **** **** ***...

**********, **** ***** ** ** ********** that **** ********** *********** ********** - *** ** **** were, ******'********* ********** ******* ** **** ** connect ** *** **** ***?

Agree
Disagree: 1
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny: 1

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 04/28/22 02:49pm

**** ***** *** **** **** ***'* 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.

Agree: 10
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Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 04/28/22 03:46pm

** *** *** ********* *** * company ******* * ******* *** *** "Use ** ******* ***** ** ******** ***** *******", that's a commercial use that ONVIF should have the right to regulate.

* ***** **** ************ **** ** effort ******** **** ****** **** - ** avoid *** ********** *** *****.

*******, **** *** ****** (***) "** product *** ********** *** **** ********* **** ***** conformant ******* ** - *** ******* of **** - **** ***** ********** cameras********* **** ** ******* ***"

Agree: 1
Disagree: 1
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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 04/28/22 03:56pm

**'* ** * ********* **** *** marketing ****** ** ********** ***, **** approach ** **** ****** *** *** anyone ****'* ********* ** ***** ********* as **** ** **** ***** *** they *** **, ***** ** ******** at ****.

Agree: 3
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Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 04/28/22 04:08pm

** ** *****, **'* *** ** approach, ** ** ****'*.

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****** ** **** ****:

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Agree
Disagree: 1
Informative: 1
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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 04/29/22 11:20am

****** *** ******** *** ****'* **** 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.

Agree: 3
Disagree
Informative: 3
Unhelpful
Funny

Undisclosed Integrator #2

04/28/22 03:06pm

* ** **** **** **** ** researching **** *****.

Agree: 6
Disagree
Informative: 1
Unhelpful
Funny: 2

Justin Franck

04/28/22 03:11pm

*'* **** ***** ** *** *** all ***** **** ******* * ******* it *** ** ***** * ******** if *** * ********* *** **** to ** ******** ** ***** ******** when *** ***'* ** ******** **** their ********* ***** **'* ** *********** it ******* ** ** * *** of ***** ******** *** ***** **** want *** ** *** ***** ************** but ** *** **** *** ** be **** ** ********* ****** **** your **************.

Agree: 5
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John Honovich

IPVM | 04/29/22 10:26pm

****** */**/****: **** ********* ** ***** this *** ********* *** ********* ***** position ** **** **** ** *** violate *****'* ***** ***** ***** ***** is **** **** ******* "*****-********** *******" and *** **** **** *** ***** compatible **********.

** ********,*****'* *** **** ***** **************** *** ******** ** ****'* **********, to *****:

***** ***** *** ** **** ** a *** **** ***** **** *** public ** *******, ** ****** * direct ** ******** *********, **** * non-conformant ******* *** *** *** ***** conformance ************ ** ************* **** ***** ONVIF ********** ********.

******, **** ** * ***-********** ******* and ** ** ******* *** ****** that ** ************* **** ***** ********** products. ***** **** ******* *********** **** companies ****** ********** ***** **** ********** that **** ****:

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Agree: 1
Disagree
Informative: 3
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Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to John Honovich | 04/29/22 11:01pm

*****'* ***** ********* *** ***% **********. Brand ********* *** ******** ** ***** who *** ******* ** *** ************ - *** ******, *** ****.

Agree
Disagree: 2
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Unhelpful
Funny: 1

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to John Honovich | 04/29/22 11:02pm

** ***** ******, ****** ** *** depicting ********** ** ***** *********, ** ONVIF **********. **** *** ****** * reference ** ***** ********* *******, ***** is * ****** ********** **** ** those ****** *** ********.

** ** ****** / ********** ** use ******* *****'* ********* ** ***********, as **** ** **'* ********, *** doesn't **** ** ********** ** ******** or ***********. "***** **** ***** ********* Devices*" ******* ** **** ****** **********. They ****'* * ******. **** ****'* claiming ** ** * ******.

***** *** ***** ****** ** **** non-members *********** ** ***** ***** *********. As * ****** ******* **** **** others **********: **** *** *******. **** can ******* [*** ************] ***** ********* all **** ****, ******* **'* *****, reference ******, ***. ****'** ******** ***** product ***** **** * ***** *******. Fram ***'* ********* ********** ** ** original ***** *********. ****'** *********** ******* brand.

Agree: 1
Disagree: 1
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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 04/29/22 11:16pm

**** *** *******. **** *** ******* [Car ************] ***** ********* *** **** want, ******* **'* *****, ********* ******, etc. ****'** ******** ***** ******* ***** with * ***** *******. **** ***'* depicting ********** ** ** ******** ***** component. ****'** *********** ******* *****.

*** ***** *** *** ********** *** can ********* *** *** ** ****** use ***** ********** ** *****'* *********. Likewise, ******* * **** **** **** (let's **** *** **** ***) *** I ******* * ********* ******** ***** I **** "**** *** ********** ** IPVM." ***, ** **** ***, **** the ***** ***** ** ****** ** to ****.

********* ** **** *** *****, ***** could **** ****, **** ** ******** you **** **** *****'* *********, *** there ** ** ******** ** **** and ***** ** *****'* ********* ** us **** "** **** ******* *** ******* [****] again *** *** **** ** **** changes ** ******* *** ******."

Agree: 1
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Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to John Honovich | 04/30/22 12:10am

*** ***** *** *** ********** *** 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"

Agree
Disagree
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny: 1

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 04/30/22 12:40am

***** *** * ********* ** *** word **** "*****", *.*.:

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**** ****** **** ****** ** *** 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 ******* ** ******* ******")

Agree: 2
Disagree
Informative: 1
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Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to John Honovich | 04/30/22 01:41am

** ********, *** ************** *** ***** 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 **** ******** ***** ********* ** ***** **** **** ** *********** ** ******* **.

Agree
Disagree: 1
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny: 1

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 04/30/22 11:47am

******* *** ***** *** ********* ****-**** 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 ** *********.

Agree
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Funny

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to John Honovich | 04/30/22 04:01pm

** ******, ***** ** ****** **** issue *** ***** ** **** ****** out *** ***** **** ***’* ****** the *********.

****** ********* ****** - *** *** It ******?

Agree
Disagree
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny

Undisclosed Manufacturer #5

05/03/22 09:20pm

"...*** **** ***** ** **** *** is ****** ** **** ** **** frustration *** ****** *** ********** **** are ******** ***** ***** *** *******."

*** ** ****** ***************** **** ***** ******* **?!

** ***** *********** **** ****'* **** tested ** ** *******'* *********** ** a ******* *******, **** *** ***** camera ******** *** ***/*** ******** *******/********/****** pack ** ***** **** ** ** than * *** ** *** ****.

Agree
Disagree
Informative
Unhelpful: 1
Funny
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