Vape Detection Legal Battle: Soter Sues IPVideo Corp

By: Joey Walter, Published on Jul 22, 2020

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.

IPVM Image

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

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:

****** ***********
********* ************
**************
******* *************
***** ************* ******
**** ***** / ***** erosion

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

IPVM Image

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."

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

******* ****'* ********* ***** 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:

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

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

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

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

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

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

*****'* ***** ** **** 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 *****'* *******:

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

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

** ********* *** ******* 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 (14)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

07/22/20 06:01pm

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

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

Joey Walter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Undisclosed #3

07/22/20 07:30pm

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

#*****

Undisclosed #4

07/22/20 07:33pm

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

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

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 *******.

Undisclosed #6

07/22/20 10:36pm

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

Brandon Knutson

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

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

John Honovich

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

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

Brandon Knutson

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

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

Undisclosed Integrator #7

07/27/20 02:06pm

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

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

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