Strata-gee.com

Strategy in TECH...

You are here: Home / Archives for patent infringement

patent infringement

Verdict: Apple Hit With $634 Million in Damages in Masimo Lawsuit; Another Shoe May Drop

by Leave a Comment

At the end of last week, Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI) received some good news in its years-long court battle with Apple Inc. over its alleged infringement of Masimo patents misappropriated for use in Apple Watch models. It has been virtually a nuclear war between the two combatants, taking place in Federal, California, and Delaware courts; at the US International Trade Commission; in the Federal Appeals Court; at the Patent Trial & Appeal Board; and with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Now, a California jury has found in Masimo’s favor in one of those cases and ordered Apple to pay it $634 million in damages. But is this the end of the matter?

[Read more…] about Verdict: Apple Hit With $634 Million in Damages in Masimo Lawsuit; Another Shoe May Drop

A Dramatic Finale: Judge Orders Lutron to Pay GeigTech *Double Damages,* Interest & Costs

by Leave a Comment

GeigTech, maker of J Geiger shades, and Lutron lawsuit ends
[Click to enlarge]

In what has been one of the longest-running patent infringement cases I have ever reported on, GeigTech East Bay LLC vs. Lutron Electronics Co. Inc. finally wrapped up last week in the United States District Court in the Southern District of New York before the Honorable Judge Colleen McMahon who delivered a blistering Final Decision and Order full of fire and brimstone…for both parties. Know that as you read this report, you are reading about a case originally filed on June 12, 2018…that’s right, seven years ago!

Says Judge McMahon: “After two trials and many opinions over the past seven years, the Court assumed familiarity with the facts and major players involved in this case.” And you know what they say about familiarity – familiarity breeds contempt!

See the many surprising facts Judge McMahon’s Decision and Order reveals

[Read more…] about A Dramatic Finale: Judge Orders Lutron to Pay GeigTech *Double Damages,* Interest & Costs

‘Legendary’ Judge Alsup Featured in Strata-gee May Go ‘Inactive’ in 2025

by Leave a Comment

Judge Alsup in his chambers

Featured in Sonos v. Google Patent Dispute

Law360, a legal newsletter, reported on Tuesday that U.S. District Judge William H. Alsup – a judge in the Northern District of California – has filed papers with the court notifying it that he will likely take “inactive status” sometime in 2025. Calling him a “larger-than-life jurist” who has presided over some of the most consequential cases in America, Law360 says Judge Alsup is “legendary” in the U.S. legal system. I concur…

Judge Alsup was featured in one of Strata-gee’s most popular stories ever written on patent battles, this one between Sonos and Google. There was a remarkable twist at the end of this story based on real-world detective work by Judge Alsup.

See more on the potential exit of one of America’s most renowned judges

[Read more…] about ‘Legendary’ Judge Alsup Featured in Strata-gee May Go ‘Inactive’ in 2025

J Geiger Shade Maker’s Gamble on New Trial with Lutron Cost It $1.2 Million

by Leave a Comment

Photo from lawsuit showing the Lutron bracket (R) looks identical to the J Geiger bracket made by GeigTech (L)
Patented GeigTech (J Geiger) bracket on the left, Lutron copy on the right [Click to enlarge]

Last week, a jury was convened for a special trial to determine reasonable damages in the matter of GeigTech East Bay LLC v. Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. GeigTech, the plaintiff in this case is the manufacturer of motorized shade products marketed under the J Geiger brand, an independent company owned by Savant (and which is not a party to this litigation). Lutron has already been found to have infringed on certain patents held by Geigtech and the original jury’s large damages award was set aside by the judge who found it to be excessive. This new trial was held to determine a more reasonable damages amount.

See the painful result for Geigtech in this new trial

[Read more…] about J Geiger Shade Maker’s Gamble on New Trial with Lutron Cost It $1.2 Million

Split Decision: A Masimo Win and an Apple Win in High Stakes Legal War

by Leave a Comment

An annotated illustration from a 2005 smartwatch patent discovered by Masimo containing technology like an Apple patent in 2021
An annotated copy of an illustration from a 2005 patent for a smartwatch (Kotanagi) containing the same or substantially similar technology that Apple was granted a patent for in 2021

While many things have changed in the wake of Joe Kiani’s exit from Masimo Corporation (Nasdaq: MASI) – and many more changes are likely still to come – one thing continues on, the many lawsuits existing between Masimo and Apple Inc (Nasdaq: AAPL). And in the last few days, we have learned of two significant developments in that regard. One is a significant win for Masimo…and the other a significant win for Apple.

However, the war between these combatants continues…

[Read more…] about Split Decision: A Masimo Win and an Apple Win in High Stakes Legal War

Lutron Loses Appeal in J Geiger Lawsuit But Gets Penalty Reduction

by Leave a Comment

The judge hearing Lutron Electronics’ appeal of its loss to GeigTech East Bay (part of J. Geiger shades) in a patent infringement case has delivered her decision and it is sure to please neither side. Earlier this year a jury declared Lutron a willful infringer of a GeigTech patent and awarded it an eye-popping $34.6 million. Lutron appealed asking for a new trial, which was denied, but the Judge cut the award to $3.8 million, agreeing that it was “grossly excessive.”

So what happens now? Read on to see…

See more on this ruling of Lutron’s appeal of Geigtech’s trial win

[Read more…] about Lutron Loses Appeal in J Geiger Lawsuit But Gets Penalty Reduction

Josh.ai Goes on Offense, Fires Off Motion to Dismiss Much of Snap One Lawsuit

by Leave a Comment

Graphic with Snap One, Josh.ai, and AVA logos

In the matter of Snap One, LLC v. AVA, Inc, and Josh.ai, Inc., we finally see a substantive move after the initial filing by plaintiff Snap One and subsequent answers from the defendants AVA and Josh.ai. And that subsequent move is a doozy – Josh.ai has gone on offense and filed a motion to dismiss multiple major claims in the Snap One lawsuit.

Josh.ai’s filing is well written and puts Snap One on defense, forcing them to submit genuine facts and evidence to support their many claims, including a few allegations that were really quite salacious.

See more on Josh.ai’s Motion to Dismiss putting Snap One on defense

[Read more…] about Josh.ai Goes on Offense, Fires Off Motion to Dismiss Much of Snap One Lawsuit

Apple Files Massive Appeal; Asks Court to Overturn ITC Ban in Masimo Win

by Leave a Comment

Header for Apple Inc., v. International Trade Commission ITC & Masimo

A Heavyweight Case; 916 Pages Heavy, That Is

Last Friday, Apple, Inc. filed a massive appeal with the U.S. Appeals Court for the Federal Circuit asking the judges to overturn the ruling of the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) which sided with Masimo and ordered a ban on sales of certain models of the Apple Watch. The filing runs an impressive 916 pages long and cites multiple elements of the ITC ruling, telling the Federal Court that the commission “…both exceeded its authority and issued a series of flawed substantive rulings.”

Apple says: ‘The Commission’s decision cannot stand.’

[Read more…] about Apple Files Massive Appeal; Asks Court to Overturn ITC Ban in Masimo Win

Massive Masimo vs. Apple Legal Battle Has Epic Day; Is Apple Capitulating?

by Leave a Comment

Masimo won an ITC ban on the sale of Apple Watch which was pulled from its webstore

STORY UPDATED – Scroll down to read

In the matter of Masimo Corp. v. Apple, Inc….AND…Apple, Inc. v. Masimo Corp. we have a full-blown, overt litigation war raging between two determined combatants. It is a complex battle that has opened multiple fronts with multiple separate actions initiated by each of the parties in District Courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal District. Almost every one of the myriad decisions by all of these entities is appealed to final disposition.

However, Friday, January 12, 2024, turns out to be an especially important day.

[Read more…] about Massive Masimo vs. Apple Legal Battle Has Epic Day; Is Apple Capitulating?

Apple Watch Ban Takes Effect as White House Declines to Veto USITC Action

by Leave a Comment

This image is now the top graphic on the Apple Watch product page. It is the SE entry-level model that has been in the line for some time now [Click to enlarge]

Apple Files Emergency Request to Appeals Court to Halt Ban

UPDATE: See the latest news that broke the day after this story was posted at the bottom of this story…

The Masimo vs. Apple saga continues as the ban on Apple Watch models that the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) declared infringed on multiple Masimo Corp. (NASDAQ: MASI) patent claims is now in full force as the Biden Administration declined to veto the USITC decision. Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) hopes for a presidential intervention countermanding the USITC ban from taking effect were dashed as the Presidential Review period expired at the end of Monday – yes, Christmas Day – with no action taken by the White House.

Speaking for the Biden Administration Tuesday morning, Katherine Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative said the government “decided not to reverse the ban following careful consultations.” With that, the Apple Watch ban took full effect.

See more on what happens now in this Masimo vs. Apple patent battle

[Read more…] about Apple Watch Ban Takes Effect as White House Declines to Veto USITC Action