Santos Electronics Inc., dba OSD Audio, and Outlaw Audio LLC – both direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands – have settled all claims between them in their dueling lawsuits that began back in 2022, according to court filings from earlier this year. In that order from the court, I learned that the entire action was dismissed “with prejudice” – meaning it cannot ever be revised or otherwise litigated again (on these issues).
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Throwing Shade – Jury Finds Lutron Guilty of Infringement; Owes J. Geiger $34.6M
A Federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York delivered a verdict against Lutron Electronics Co., finding that it had infringed on a window shade patent held by GeigTech East Bay, a South Carolina company. The jury awarded GeigTech $34.6 million in damages for Lutron’s infringement, a figure that Lutron called “grossly excessive.”
Learn more about Lutron losing to GeigTech
[Read more…] about Throwing Shade – Jury Finds Lutron Guilty of Infringement; Owes J. Geiger $34.6MDraper at Home Appoints National Director for Custom Integration
Draper at Home, a division of Draper, Inc., announced this week that it has appointed a National Director of CI (custom integration), a new role at the company. The company said it created the new position in response to the continuing growth in Draper’s custom integration business.
Learn more about this new role for Draper at Home
[Read more…] about Draper at Home Appoints National Director for Custom IntegrationD-Day Arrives; Control4 Integrators Begin Turning Clients over to Snap One
On Tuesday this week, a previously announced program being offered by Snap One – now Resideo – has begun. This program, called Control4 Connect, is a mandatory program that requires all integrators to connect all new client installations of Control4 products directly to Snap One’s central station for future software updates and data collection.
It is a new kind of transactional connection that establishes a direct relationship with the client for direct-to-user system updates and base-level client support supplied – not by the local integrator – but by Control4 support.
See more on this new industry scheme
[Read more…] about D-Day Arrives; Control4 Integrators Begin Turning Clients over to Snap OneAfter a Hopeful February, March Housing Starts Drop Double-Digit Percentage
Residential construction, known as housing starts, dropped in March by a surprising double-digit percentage. Most industry analysts believe that the slowdown is due to stubborn inflation readings motivating the Fed to keep interest rates high which is affecting mortgage rates and home affordability.
After solid gains in February raised hopes in the segment, the March numbers were a chilling splash of reality as home inventory is low and mortgage rates are high.
See more on housing starts in March
[Read more…] about After a Hopeful February, March Housing Starts Drop Double-Digit PercentageCredit Agency Moody’s Had This to Say About the Resideo Acquisition of Snap One
See Details Behind the Deal
The day after we learned about the acquisition of Snap One by security company Resideo, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., one of the nation’s preeminent credit rating agencies, issued its initial judgment of the impact of this deal on Resideo’s creditworthiness. What they had to say kind of swung two ways so I thought I would share its perspective with you.
Read more on Moody’s judgment on the creditworthiness of Resideo now
[Read more…] about Credit Agency Moody’s Had This to Say About the Resideo Acquisition of Snap OneHighly Regarded Exec Frank Sterns to Consult on Custom Integration for Nationwide MG
Frank Sterns, a well-known and highly regarded (some would say renowned) industry executive, has been retained to consult on custom integration matters with Nationwide Marketing Group. Clearly a sign of just how serious the large diversified Nationwide organization is about targeting custom integration, Sterns brings a wealth of Grade A experience as a leader in the custom integration space.
See more on Nationwide retaining Frank Sterns
[Read more…] about Highly Regarded Exec Frank Sterns to Consult on Custom Integration for Nationwide MGSecurity Company Resideo Acquires Snap One in $1.4B Transaction
Will Merging Two Stagnant Businesses Reignite Growth?
This morning we learned that Snap One Holdings, Corp. (Nasdaq: SNPO) has been acquired by large security provider Resideo Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: REZI) and private equity company Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) in a $1.4 billion deal. If you aren’t familiar with the Resideo name, you may know them by ADI, their distribution wing.
The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2024.
See more on Resideo / ADI / CD&R acquiring Snap One
[Read more…] about Security Company Resideo Acquires Snap One in $1.4B TransactionIllness Forces Austin AudioWorks to Delay Launch & Bypass AXPONA
Austin AudioWorks (AAW), a startup audio brand that was to have its launch at this week’s AXPONA show in Chicago, has announced that due to illness striking one [or more] “family member[s]” it is forced to cancel its participation in the event. Expressing regret for this unforeseen development, the company will announce a revised rollout plan as soon as is practicable.
See more on the surprise cancellation by Austin AudioWorks
[Read more…] about Illness Forces Austin AudioWorks to Delay Launch & Bypass AXPONAPremium Player Luxman Launches Its First Network Transport
Luxman announced this week that it is launching its very first network transport that provides for the playback of a wide range of digital file-based and streaming audio sources in a quality component system. This new streamer, the NT-07, embraces the high-end engineering and componentry that is typical of the Luxman brand, helping audiophiles to enjoy a higher grade of musical performance in their home.