Vape Detection Legal Battle: Soter Sues IPVideo Corp [Updated]

By IPVM Team, Updated Nov 21, 2020, 10:50am EST

The crosstown vape detection rivals are now in a legal battle. While IPVideo Corp is far better known, Soter says they pioneered this space and are suing IPVideo Corp alleging unfair competition, product disparagement, trademark infringement, and cybersquatting.

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Inside this note, we examine the court documents, provide feedback from both companies, analyze the issues involved and their positions as the lawsuit continues.

Update November 2020: We now examine 2 court cases between the sides.

Update: ****** *******

***** ** * ****** lawsuit ***** ** ***** alleging ****** ************ ** IP ***** ****.*** *****'* *********.

***** *** ******* *** * "****** and ****** *** *********** vaping *** ********" (**********). *** ********** *** this ******, ** ******* in *** ********* **:

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*** ********** ****** *** awarded ** **** **, 2020.

** ***** **** ********* with *** ****** ** the *********, ******** **** **** had ******* ** ******* detector ***** ******, ** 2014, *.*.:

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********, ** ***** **** says **** ****** ** NDA **** *** ** 2016, ******* **** *********** with ****, ******* ***** Soter's ****** *** ***** Peterson *** ** *** employee:

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* **** ** *** IP ***** **** / IPS *** *** *********.

*****'* *** ***** *********'* LinkedIn ************ *** ** * VP ** **** ******** development *** ******** *********** at *** **** ** this ***:

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** ***** **** ** seeking ** ******* **** patent ****.***** ***** * ****** on ******* ** ******* against ****.

* ******* ********** ******** **, ****, with * ******** *** for *** **** *** months:

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Selling **** *********

IPVM Image***** ************ *************, * "****-**** **** and ***** ********* ********". ********** ******** ** ** 2017****** ***** ************** ** *** "************* ** ****** ****** that *** ******** ** detect ***** ********* ** schools" *** ********* ****** in ********* *** ********* incidents ** ********. *** product's ******* ******* ** "********.***", ********* ** *** claim. *** ******* ***** is $*** *** **** to ****** *********. **** say ****'** **** "****** to ***** *** ***** of *** ********® ****** device ** ** *** as $*** *** $***" to ******* **** *** defendants' **** ******.

******* **** ******** ******* ***** **** ********** ****, *** ***** after *** ******* ** FlySense. ** ** **** focused ** "***** *************" and ********* **** *****.IPVM Image**** ******** *** ****** pending, ******* *** ********.**** ********** ****** *** Halo *********** ********** **** ****** as ****** "******* ***** ... *** **** ********* (12' ***** ** *' ceilings)". ** ** ************* ** ****** *** priced ** $*,***. ******* **** *** been ********** **** ****** **** **** *** Product ** *** ****, *** *** ******** significant**** *********** *** **** ******.

Soter's ******

*****'* ********* ******* *** following ********** ******* ******* Corp:

  1. ****** ***********
  2. ********* ************
  3. **************
  4. ******* *************
  5. ***** ************* ******
  6. **** ***** / ***** erosion

******** ******* ************** ** **/**/** ******* the *********** ***** ****:

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Unfair ***********

*** ****** ****** ** a ***** ***** **** IPVideo **** *** **** Soter's *** "*********** **********", namely *** ***** *********** and ***** *********** ******* "blood, ***** *** *****", and *** **** "******" the **********.

** ************ *** * ********* restraining ********* ** *** ** effect, *****'* ******** ***************:

********® *** **** * four **** ********** **** Soter ***blood, ***** *** ***** ****, including an investment ** **** *** ******* *******. These efforts have made Soter the market leader and resulted in a significant competitive advantage for Soter. Defendants’ acts, to be described herein, are eroding the advantage conferred on Soter from Soter’s years of hard work. [emphasis added]

******** *********, ****** ** the *********** *****:

** ********* *** ********® brand **** ***** ******* and ******* * ****** that ****** ********®,Defendants **** **** **** ** ************ **** *** ******** ** *** *** ******* ****** ********** ***** ***** *** **** ********® and vape detection. [emphasis added]

Cybersquatting / ********* ************

***** ****** *** **********, IPVideo ****, **** *** domain *******.********.****** *** ****** ** 2019 *** **** ** a ******* **** "** advertise *** ***** *** sale ***** *** **** and ******** ********* ****** device".

**** *** *** "**********’ use ** *** ********** Domain **** ****** *** Period ** ********* ** advertise ***** ********* **** Device *** ** *** times ** *** ***** and **** *** ****** to **** ******** **** would ********* **** **** secured ** *****".

*** ********* ****** **** "when *** ******* *** Infringing ****** ****, **** were *********** ********** ** Defendants’ ******* ** ***** below."

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** * ********* ********** is ** ******,***.********.********** ** **** ******* page ** ** **/**/**:

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******* ****'* ********* ***** Antar ********* ** **** infringement *****, ******* ****:

***** ** ******** *** domain,********.***(*** .***) ****** **** even ******* *** ***** trademark, ** ****’* *** any ***** *** *********. Since ** ** *** something **** ****** ** be ** *** *****, we *** ** ******* with ****** **** *** redirect.

*********** ********* (************ **. 6,057,746)***** ***** *****, ************:

  • ****** ****, ** **** ***** applied, *** "******* *, 2019"
  • ************ ****, ** **** *** USPTO ******* *** ***********, was "*** **, ****"

**********, *** ********* ******* the *** ** *** competing ******* ***** ** September *, ****.

Product ************* / ***** ******

** *** *********** ***** section ****** "**********' ***** Statements" ***** ********* *** allegation:

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***** *** ******* ** an ******** **** **** where ***** ******* ** IPVideo **** ************** ********** FlySense ** * ****** district:

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******* **** ********* ***** Antar *********, ******:

**** ***** ** **** to **. ** ********, they ****** *** ********** as ** **** **** note ** *** ***** filings.

Falsely ***** ************* ** *******

***** **** ********** **** IPVideo **** ************* * compatibility ** ******** ******** with **** *******, "**** it ** ***":

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***** ***** * ******** example ***** **** **** a ****** **** ** IPVideo **** *** "**** $43,000":

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***"******* *" ******** ********** **** ** **** detectors **** ********** **** to ******* ****:

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*** ** *** *** requirements ** *** **** was ************* **** ******** software, ** *****:

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*****'* ***** ** **** IPVideo **** ******* ******* compatibility ****** ****** *******, saying ** *** ******* corp *** ****:

******* **** *** ********** purchased *** ******* **** Soter. **** *** ******** wanted ** ******** *** additional *******, ** *** required ** ** ******* a ****** ******* *******.One ** *** *** ************ *** ************* **** ********®. ** ***** *********** ********* * *** ******* ******** **** **** *** ******* ** ********’* *******, ******** *** ***** *** *** *** ****. [emphasis added]

******* ****'* ***** ***** referenced *** "**************" ****** provided ** *** *** that ****:

******** ** *** **** of *** ************, ******** documents, ** *******, ** material, **defined ** ********** * *********** *******, or by using the name of the manufacture or vendor, the term "or ******** ******** *****", if not inserted, will be implied. [emphasis added]

***** **** ********* ****** it *** * ****** won **** *** *** "or *****" ****** ***** that **** ** *** imply ************* **** ******** by ********** * ***:

******* ****** ******** *** a ****** *** **** was ********* ** ** two ** *** ******* and *****. *** ** our ******* *** ******* the *** ***** ** them ***** $**** ***** than ***** ********* ** the ******* ****** ********’* Tabulation ****. ** ** our ******* ** **** the ********* **** *** fully ********** ****** **** which *** ******** ** include ** “** *****” clause *** ** **** case ** *** ********:

** ***** *****, ** Mission **** ******* *** specs ** ********** * proprietary *******, ****** *** Soter *******, *** ******** is ** ** **** as "***** ** ******** approved *****."

** ********* ******* **** that **** ** ** "open ********" *** **** "have ***** **** * statement **** *** ****** is ********** **** ***** proprietary ********":

***** ********* **** * representative/dealer ******* **** *** Halo *** ***** ****** was ********** **** ***** platform. ******** ****will *** ** *** **** ******* ** *** ***** ** ********, we have never **** * ********* that our system is compatible with their proprietary software. Halo was designed as open ******** and integrates with over 40 different manufacturers. [emphasis added]

** ***** *****, *****'* claim ** ******** ************* was ********, ******* ******* Corp ******* **** ****** only ** "*****" ** similar ******** ****** ** be **********.

*** ****** ******** *** not ********* ** ********* of ***** ******* ** uses, *** ******* ************* is ** *****.

Falsely ******* ************

***** **** **** **** "approached ** ***** *****" after ******** ********* ******** to ** * ******** of *****'* *******:

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*** ***, *******, **** his **** ** *** pursue ******* **** ** any ********:

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***** ******* **** ***** turning **** ******* ****, Antar's ******** ** ******** their ****** ****, *** their *****, *** ****, have **** **** ** show **** * ************ exists **** ******* **** and *** ****** ******:

**********’ ******** ******* ** pointing *** ********** ****** Name ** ** ** Video *********** ******* ******* the **** ****** *** depicted *** ****** ** create *false ********** *** ******* *********, *** ****** *** *** ***** **** ********* **** ***** *** * **********, ***********, ***********, ** *********** ******* *********’* ********® *** **********’ **** ******—***** ***** *** ***. [emphasis added]

$1 ******* ** ***** *******

***** ****** "********* *** also ******** ****** ** about *** ******* ******* in ***** *******" *** explains:

********* *** **** ******** losses ** *****one ******* ******* ** ***** *******. To compete with Defendants’ HALO Device, Soter has been forced to lower the price of its FlySense® sensor device to as low as $650 and $600, and either significantly reduce or waive entirely charges for year 2 and following support of $150 per purchased sensor device.

$2 ******* ** ***** ****

***** **** ******* **** "have ****", *** "**** continue ** ****, *********** profits *** ****" ** Soter's *********. **** ******** over $* ******* ** sales ****, ********** *****:

  • *** "***** **********" (********* above) "*** ********* **lose ** ***** *** **** in 2019."
  • "*******, *** ** **********’ trademark ************, **************, ****** competition *** ***** ****, Soter *** ******** **** thantwo ******* ******* ** **** *****."
  • "*** *******, ********* ** news ***** *** **** Device *** **** ********* in **** **** ******* and ** ********* ****** at $*,***. ***** **** HALO ** ****** ****** in **** *** ***** and **** ********* ** a ******, * ************ estimate ** ***** **** Soter ***lost ** **** ** $*.** *******."
  • "********* *** **** ********loss ** ***** ** ********* *********** ******** purchasers buy when they purchase FlySense® such as published books, hashtag no vaping packages, white papers, posters, and bracelets."

Soter ***** *******

***** ********* *** ******* in * ***** *******:

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

** ********* *** ******* solvers, ** *** ********* to ********* *** ************ property, *******, ********** *** our **********.

** *** **** ** our ********* ******** **** and *** ******* *** rely ** ** ** protect **** *** **** them ***** ** ****.

**** *** ******* ****** a ****** ****** ****** and ******* ** **** the ****** **** ******* Corp ** * ******* competitor ** *** *******:

*** ******* ***** ******* and * ********* ********** to ******* ** *****, A+ *** *** **** makingfalse ********** ***** ********®, ** ******** ** **************, ************ ** *****’* ********® *********, ** ****** *********** ******* ***** [emphasis added]

IPVideo ****'* ********

************** *****'* ******** ** **** said **** *** ******* is "*********" *** ***** on * "*****************" ** a **************/****** ******** **** compatibility:

******* ******** *** ******* initiated ** ***** ************ is ********* *** ******* to ** ***** ** at ***** *** ***************** to *** ***** **** our ***** **** ** actively ********. *** ********* Restraining ***** (***) **** the ******* ****** ** and ***** *** ******** by *** ***** ******* to *** ** * domain **** *** ********* by ******* ***** ** Soter ****** *** ********* application *** ***** ********* that * **************/****** ******* that *** **** *** Smart ****** *** ********** with ***** ********.

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

*** ** ***** ***** reasons, *****’* ****** *** baseless.

Poll / ****

Comments (19)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

07/22/20 06:01pm

****** *** *** ******** narrative ** **** ****. Will ** *********** ** see ***** ** ****.

**'** *** * ****** of ******* ******* ** to **** ***********, **** yet *** ********.

Agree
Disagree
Informative: 2
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Joey Walter

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 07/22/20 06:35pm

*********** #*,

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

**** **** ********* ***** open ******** *** ************.

** *** ***** *** number ** ******* ********* has ** ** **** this, ** ******* ******** in *** ****** **** FlySense?

Agree
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Joey Walter | 07/22/20 07:07pm

* ***** *** *** market ***** *** **** recognition ***********.

* ****'* ***** ** flysense ***** **** ****, and * ***** ****** search ** "**** ********* for *******" ***** * significant ********* ** *** for ******* ****. ***** that ****** * *** though *** *** *** a *** ** ****, Avigilon *** ********** *********** pressers, ** **** ****** somewhat **** ******** *****.

Agree: 1
Disagree
Informative: 1
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Funny

Undisclosed Integrator #2

07/22/20 06:38pm

* *** *** ******** product ********** ** *** West ****** *** **** product *** **** ******** or ** *** ******. It ** **** ******* me ******** ***** * solution ** **** *** schools ***** ** ** a *** ** *-** work. **** ******** **** customers *** *** ***** feedback ** ** ****'* go ** *** ******* of *** ***** ** area ******** * ******* school ******** ******** *** Halo ***** ****** ** an ********* ********.

***** ******* **** ***** in *** ******** ******** as * ************ **** brought ** ****** * solution **** **** ******* to ********* **** *** start. ** ** ******* this *** ** *** reasons *** ***** ** a ******* ***** ***** and ******** ******** *********** it. ** ******** *** link ******* ** ***** Corp *** *+ ********** & ******** ************* **** IP ***** **** ******* integrator ********** ** *** region.

Agree
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Informative: 3
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Joey Walter

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 07/22/20 07:02pm

**** ** ***********, ******!

***** ****** ***** ********** tools *** "****** *** security" ** ******* *** there ** ** ******** their **** ********** *** been ********.

******* **** ** **** better ***** *** *** a ******** ** *** security ******** ** *** mentioned.

Agree
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Funny

Undisclosed #3

07/22/20 07:30pm

*** **** *** **** win **** *******.... *** IPVideo **** ****** *** flysense.com ****** (*** *********** to ***** *** ****) is * ******** ** douche **** - *** could ****** ***** ******* to ****** *** *******.

#*****

Agree: 15
Disagree: 1
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny: 2

Undisclosed #4

07/22/20 07:33pm

** * ********** *** Exhibit * **** *********, Soter *** * ****** sales ***** *** ***** at * ****** ***** than **** * ******** integrator ***** ******** **** the ******* **** ***?

*** ******** **** *** the ***** **** ** certainly *****, *** *** year * *** * support *** ***** ** more ********* *******.

Agree
Disagree
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny

Undisclosed Integrator #5

07/22/20 08:26pm

**** *** **** .. the ****** ** **** appreciated

* ******* *** ** Soter **** ** *** 2019 *** * ******* link ** ***** ******* and **** **** * voicemail **** **** ******* like ** ********* ******* (not ****). **********, * heard **** **** **** in **** ****, ******** for ** ******** *** also ******* ***** **** comparisons ******* ******** *** Halo. **** ******** **** likely ******* ********, *** the **** ********** ** the **** *** **** FlySense *** * ****** model, *** ** ****, had * **** ****** and ************ **** *********; wheras **** *** ***** something *** *** ** log **** ******** *** its ******** *******. *******, they *** *** ******* a ******* ** ****** service ***.

* *** ** **** is ** *** ******* changed ** **** **** is ****** *** **** an "*********" ** ********** front *** **** ****** the *** **** ** manage *** ******* **** Halo ***** *** * also ***** **** *** coming *** **** ** optional ****** **** ** well. **** **** **** Wifi ********** *** ***** was *** ********* **** was ********* *******.

** ***** **** ** the **** * ******* out ** ***** ** mid **** **** ***** produt *** ***** ********** refinement *** ******** *** the ******** * *** online ** *** **** end ***** **** ****** seemed ** ******** **** users ** *** ***** Soter ******** ***** **** showing **** ** ***** alarms *** *** **** was ***** *** ** to ***** *************. **** could ** ******* ***** weren't ** **** **** units *** ***** ** find ******** *****, *** it *** **** **** Soter ****'* *** ***** for ***** ****.

*'* **** * ******* day ********** ** *** functions *** ************ ** each *******'* ******* ***** look * *** ********* than *** *** * saw **** ***** * months ***. **** ******* has ***** * ********* market ******** *** ****, and **** ** **** more ******** ** *** security *** **** ********** market **** *****, ***** Soter ******* ** ** marketing ** **** ******** stake ******* ****** *** school/education ******.

**** ***** ***** ****** be ***********, *** ** usual, *** ******* **** make * *** ** dough ***** **** ***** is *******.

Agree: 1
Disagree
Informative: 3
Unhelpful
Funny

Undisclosed Integrator #6

07/22/20 10:36pm

*** ***** **** ********* devices ********** ******* ** schools? * **** *** participated ** ****** **** in ****** * ******. Outside ** ******* **** detection ** ***** ***** about ** *** *******. Gunshot ********* ** * surprisingly ****** ******* *** never **** *********.

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Brandon Knutson

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #6 | 07/22/20 11:03pm

****** *** ** ******** in ****** ********* ***** to *** ******** ******* schools. * **** ** idea ** ******* *** installing *****, *** **** are ********** *** ** solve ****.

Agree
Disagree
Informative: 1
Unhelpful
Funny

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Brandon Knutson | 07/22/20 11:08pm

*******, ******! ******* - what *** *** ******* on *** ****** **** about ***** *********** *********?

Agree: 1
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Brandon Knutson

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 07/22/20 11:21pm

* *****'* ***** ******** on **** *********, *** many ********* ********* **** bigger ********* ** **** for **** ****. *** temperature *********, ** ******** is ****, * *** it **** ** ******** thermometers ******** ** ****** room **********.

Agree: 2
Disagree: 1
Informative: 2
Unhelpful
Funny

Undisclosed Integrator #7

07/27/20 02:06pm

** ** ********** ********.***, but ****'* **** ** the ~$*/**** **** *** .com/.edu/.org *** ******* ** the *******? *'* *** saying **** ** ***** Corp *** *** **, there ***** ** ** a *** ** ********* on *** **** ** a ********* ** ************. But *********, *** ******'* you ******** *** ***** versions ** **** *******?

Agree: 3
Disagree
Informative
Unhelpful
Funny

Eliezer Martinez

08/17/20 07:54pm

*** ******* * **** to **** *** *** a *** *** **** Detection ** * ****** District ***** *****'* ******** product ** *** ******* offered. * ***** ***** of **** ***** ********* seeing ** ***** ******* Halo ** ***** *****. It ****** **** * better ******* ** ** opinion. ***** ****'* **** to **** ***** ***** together **** * ********* standpoint *** **** ****'* really ********** *** ******** the *** **** ** Video ***. ** ***** listened ** ********** ******** while ***** ****'*. **** allows *** *********** **** Genetec ***** ***** *****'* to ** *********. ** just ***** **** ** Video *** ****** ************* in *** ******** *** knows *** ******* *** selling ** *-**'* ******. Soter **** ***** *** as ***** ***** **.

Agree: 2
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Joseph Marotta

IPVMU Certified | 11/18/20 04:06pm

************* **% ** *** technology ******** * ****** are *** *-** *** higher ********* *******. **** was *** ***** **** a ****** ***** ** to ******* **** ******* on * *** ****** campus *******. ****** ******, other ****** ********* **** requesting **** ******* ** their ******** ****. * searched *** *** ******** FlySense *** **** ***. Their **** ****** **** very *******, *** *** detection ************ ** *** Halo ******* ****** **** more *************, *** **** didn't **** ****** *********** fees. ******** *** ****** reoccurring **** ** $*** per ******. *** **** school ********* *** ** what * *********, * send **** * ****/*******/**** comparison ** ******** *** Halo ** *** ****** district *** ****** *** themselves.

Agree
Disagree
Informative
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Funny

John Honovich

IPVM | 11/21/20 01:20pm

******: ***** ** * second ******* ***** ** Soter ******** ****** ************ by ** ***** ****.*** *****'* *********.

***** *** ******* *** * "****** and ****** *** *********** vaping *** ********" (**********). *** ********** *** this ******, ** ******* in *** ********* **:

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******************* *** ******* ** June **, ****.

** ***** **** ********* with *** ****** ** the *********, ******** **** **** had ******* ** ******* detector ***** ******, ** 2014, *.*.:

IPVM Image

********, ** ***** **** says **** ****** ** NDA **** *** ** 2016, ******* **** *********** with ****, ******* ***** Soter's ****** *** ***** Peterson *** ** *** employee:

IPVM Image

* **** ** *** IP ***** **** / IPS *** *** *********.

*****'* *** ***** *********'* LinkedIn ************ *** ** * VP ** **** ******** development *** ******** *********** at *** **** ** this ***:

IPVM Image

** ***** **** ** seeking ** ******* **** patent ****.***** ***** * ****** on ******* ** ******* against ****.

* ******* ********** ******** **, ****, with * ******** *** for *** **** *** months:

IPVM Image

Agree
Disagree
Informative
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Funny

John Honovich

IPVM | 03/01/21 12:11pm

******: **** ***** ******* *** order** ******* ********** *****'* complaint:

**********’ ****** ** ******* the ********* ** ******* IN ****. *** ****** brought ** ********** **** Defendants’ ******* ***************** **** the **** ****** ** “compatible ****” *** ******** platform *** ********* **** prejudice. ***** *** *** product ************* ** ********* without *********. *** ********* claims ******* ********** *+ Technology *** ******* *** DISMISSED ******* *********. *** Clerk ** ***** ** respectfully ******** ** ********* those *******. ********* ** granted ***** ** **** a ****** ******* ********* within ** **** ** the **** ** **** Opinion *** *****.

Agree
Disagree
Informative
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Funny

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 03/30/21 11:09am

***** *** *** ***** a ****** ******* *********

********************************************* - ****** ******* Complaint_et_al__nysdce-20-05007__0100.0

* *** *** ***** what ** *** ** modified ** *** *********.

Agree
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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 04/09/21 11:22am

***** ** *** ******* leave ** **** * 3rd******* *********, ****** **** aim:

** *** ********** *********** in ******* ** *** trademark ************ *** ****** competition ****** ***** **** only ********** ***** **** argument ** **********’ ****** to *******.

*** ******** ** **** IP ***** **** **** Soter's ********* ***** (**** Soter) ** ******** ** marketing:

IPVM Image

******* *** *** ******** ***** amended *********.

Agree
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