News
DLO files patent infringement suits against Belkin, Griffin
By LC Angell
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Thursday, December 15, 2005
News Category: iPod Accessories
Netalog, which develops and sells iPod accessories under the Digital Lifestyle Outfitters name, announced today that it has filed lawsuits against Belkin and Griffin Technology alleging patent infringement. Both complaints are over a Netalog patent relating to its DLO TransPod FM transmitter and car charger.
The lawsuit against Belkin, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, alleges that the company has willfully infringed U.S. patent No. 6,591,085, entitled “FM Transmitter and Power Supply/Charging Assembly for MP3 Player,� by selling the TuneBase FM. Netalog’s lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, monetary damages and enhanced damages for willfulness. A court date has not been set.
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This is apparently the second federal lawsuit by Netalog to protect the patent. The company said that in September 2004, it filed a lawsuit against Griffin Technology for patent infringement with the RoadTrip all-in-one FM transmitter and car charger device. Netalog is also seeking injunctive relief, monetary damages and enhanced damages for willfulness with this complaint. The trial is currently scheduled for 2006.
Earlier this year, DVForge said it was halting production of its PodBuddy FM auto connection cradle due to a patent conflict with Netalog. “We are not going to be able to launch and sell our PodBuddy product, because of a disagreement with Netalog over a patent that they hold for their TransPod iPod car holder/transmitter,� DVForge’s Jack Campbell said. “We have been informed by DLO that they consider our PodBuddy to be an infringement of their company’s U.S. patent #6,591,085, and, that they will file suit against us, if we launch the PodBuddy.�
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1
YES! stifle that competition! who gives a crap about the consumer!
Posted by Toxic Boy on December 15, 2005 at 8:05 AM (PDT)
2
So basically they have taken two inventions they did not invent, combined them in one box, and filed a patent. That is ridiculous.
Posted by J3 on December 15, 2005 at 8:11 AM (PDT)
3
I do wish web sites would stop giving Jack Campbell (and any company and scheme he is involved in) any resemblance of credence. As with all Jack Campbell ventures, DVForge had no intention to produce a PodBuddy. The Macintouch web site has an excellent series of pages devoted to each one of Jack Campbell’s schemes, and in the future iLounge editors should just quit giving this man free publicity.
http://www.macintouch.com/mactable.html
Posted by JonnyOneNote on December 15, 2005 at 8:51 AM (PDT)
4
may I offer…
Jackwhispers
Posted by videojay on December 15, 2005 at 8:55 AM (PDT)
5
Don’t kid yourself thinking we haven’t read about Jack Campbell. I think everybody has, so there’s no need for pasting in links to stories about him. Regardless of his past actions or the public’s view of him, we will not omit relevant news because he’s involved. It’s not “free publicity.” It’s *news* that his company was also involved in a dispute with Netalog.
Posted by Larry Angell on December 15, 2005 at 9:13 AM (PDT)
6
Don’t be too quick to dismiss these claims, I had the original transpod for my first iPod, and I just recently boght the roadtrip for my 60gb video iPod. The mounts intercange! I can take my transmitter unit from the roadtrip and mount it on the lighter adapter/stalk from the transpod, and it fits just as good as on its own mount. Its actually kind of handy, as I can just leave a power adapter in each car.
Posted by Steven Thomas on December 15, 2005 at 9:53 AM (PDT)
7
Wouldn’t Apple hold any applicable patents, sense they built the framework? Surely these guys aren’t claiming patent on digital FM transmitters, so it has to be the dock connector implementation. DVForge probably couldn’t afford it, but with 95% my iPod accessory revenue, Griffin will squash this for sure.
As an aside:
[rant]
DLO, it’s not your competitors’ fault that you big foray into this market (iBoom) crapped out due to poor quality.
It seems that, in the new milennium, litigation is a new revenue stream. Instead of paying for R&D, you pay attorneys fees and court costs. Instead of testing the market, you have settlment discussions and evidentiary hearings. Instead of market success, you have courtroom decisions and/or large settlments.
[/rant]
Just sad.
Posted by Gordy. in Atlanta, GA on December 15, 2005 at 10:44 AM (PDT)
8
Ouch…pardon my spelling. In my defense, it was a rant.
Posted by Gordy. in Atlanta, GA on December 15, 2005 at 10:51 AM (PDT)
9
Larry Angell, actually, this is first time I’ve heard of this Campbell character and whatever schemes were going on.
Posted by j on December 15, 2005 at 12:17 PM (PDT)
10
There’s only one shadier guy in the Mac/iPod community than Jack Campbell, and that’s Bill Palmer, Retarded Delusional (TM). These guys are liars and class A creeps, they should be tarred, feathered, and run out of the Apple world.
Posted by Captain Freedom on December 15, 2005 at 1:38 PM (PDT)
11
So taking an FM transmitter and combining it with a cigarette lighter charger is worthy enough for a patent?
So, now can we burn down the Patent Office?
Posted by flatline response on December 16, 2005 at 12:44 AM (PDT)
12
Whatever your thoughts on Jack Campbell, get over it. He’s only mentioned here as an aside.
But, since you went there, there are some great products on the DVForge site. Shipping, tested, and reviewed products, mind you.
Posted by Gordy. in Atlanta, GA on December 16, 2005 at 9:18 AM (PDT)
13
This guy is a lowdown creep so no people shouldn’t just “get over it”. I’m sure the sleaze loves people who think like you though.
Posted by I Luv My Pod on December 18, 2005 at 4:19 AM (PDT)