A Patent Infringment Lawsuit

[STEVETERRY]

CB'ers may be interested in the following press release issued by ETC today:

July 10,2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) announced today that it has filed a patent infringement suit against Lightronics Inc. seeking unspecified damages in U.S. District Court. After a number of attempts by ETC to resolve this matter without resorting to litigation, the action was filed with co-plaintiffs David Cunningham and Gregory Esakoff. Cunningham and Esakoff are the inventors and owners of the Source Four® ellipsoidal spotlight design, which they have exclusively licensed to ETC. The suit alleges that Lightronics knowingly and willfully infringed and continues to infringe certain U.S. Patents covering the ETC Source Four® ellipsoidal reflector spotlight.
.
ETC CEO Fred Foster commented: “The Source Four® ellipsoidal is a groundbreaking invention that has had a profound effect on the lighting industry over the last 16 years. ETC places a very high value on the intellectual property surrounding the Source Four® product, and we will vigorously defend it against illegal patent infringement.” David Cunningham added: “Patent protection in the lighting industry provides a key incentive for new product development and innovation. Patent infringement has the effect of removing this incentive and would eventually have a negative effect on new product innovation.” Foster continued: “ETC has a long history of significant and continuous investment in the development of the Source Four® product line. Patent protection is a key enabling factor in this development program.”

[Van]

Oh great there goes my cheapo supply of S4 knock-offs.

[LDTom]

Originally Posted by STEVETERRY

CB'ers may be interested in the following press release issued by ETC today:

July 10,2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) announced today that it has filed a patent infringement suit against Lightronics Inc. seeking unspecified damages in U.S. District Court. After a number of attempts by ETC to resolve this matter without resorting to litigation, the action was filed with co-plaintiffs David Cunningham and Gregory Esakoff. Cunningham and Esakoff are the inventors and owners of the Source Four® ellipsoidal spotlight design, which they have exclusively licensed to ETC. The suit alleges that Lightronics knowingly and willfully infringed and continues to infringe certain U.S. Patents covering the ETC Source Four® ellipsoidal reflector spotlight.
.
ETC CEO Fred Foster commented: “The Source Four® ellipsoidal is a groundbreaking invention that has had a profound effect on the lighting industry over the last 16 years. ETC places a very high value on the intellectual property surrounding the Source Four® product, and we will vigorously defend it against illegal patent infringement.” David Cunningham added: “Patent protection in the lighting industry provides a key incentive for new product development and innovation. Patent infringement has the effect of removing this incentive and would eventually have a negative effect on new product innovation.” Foster continued: “ETC has a long history of significant and continuous investment in the development of the Source Four® product line. Patent protection is a key enabling factor in this development program.”

Very Interesting, Thanks for Sharing. I never used a Lightronics cheaper S4 knock off but they must be something if ETC is coming after then.

[lieperjp]

I was wondering when that would happen. It's funny this showed up today because I just saw an advertisement for them today in Live Design.

[soundlight]

Finally!

I was wondering how long Lightronics would get away with this.

[Grog12]

No surprise there.

[JD]

Originally Posted by STEVETERRY

Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) announced today that it has filed a patent infringement suit against Lightronics Inc.

Good luck on that one! I once owned Sigmatel stock. Had been $40 a share as they supplied all the MP3 chips for Ipods etc. Then the Chinese company ACTs semiconductor copied their chip and blew them off the market. Sigmatel sued. As ACTs was in China, (even though they had American distribution) they filed that the case had to be tried in China. Sigmatel's stock was at $3 per share, right before they went belly up on Feb 4, 2008.

Since all Chinese companies are really only one, the Chinese government, the chance of prevailing is about 0%

A quick check shows that there is no such thing as American stock for Lightronics Inc. (Dow, Nas, S&P.)

[derekleffew]

/sarcasm ON
A great way to stifle creativity and innovation by filing frivolous lawsuits against innocent companies whose products may appear, on the surface, to be vaguely similar to yours.

It's Vari*Lite vs. High End all over again.

Tomorrow I'm going to try to buy as many of those ERSs as I can, then sell them at a huge premium on ebay. At least until Philips buys ETC and PRG.
/sarcasm off

[STEVETERRY]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

/sarcasm ON
A great way to stifle creativity and innovation by filing frivolous lawsuits against innocent companies whose products may appear, on the surface, to be vaguely similar to yours.

It's Vari*Lite vs. High End all over again.

Tomorrow I'm going to try to buy as many of those ERSs as I can, then sell them at a huge premium on ebay. At least until Philips buys ETC and PRG.
/sarcasm off

Derek, my friend, you have it wrong.

ST

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by STEVETERRY

Derek, my friend, you have it wrong.

Not the first time I've had something wrong. I've screwed up way more important threads than this!

Seriously, Lightronics has a Virginia Beach, VA address. Do they, in fact, import their products from Asia? Are these so-called Ellipsoidals, made in China? FWIW, MSRP on Lightronics 6.25" units is $440, "street" price for ETC 426 is $308. In ten or even two years, where are parts going to be available?