Alleges Fitbit and Its Supplier Runtong
Infringe U.S. and Chinese Patents
Immersion Corp. (NASDAQ: IMMR), the leading developer and
licensor of touch feedback technology, today announced that it has
filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of California against Fitbit, Inc. (NYSE: FIT), alleging
infringement of three Immersion U.S. patents. Immersion has also
filed complaints against Fitbit and its Shanghai-based distributor
in China, Runtong International Trade Co., Ltd. (“Runtong”) in the
Shanghai Intellectual Property Court, alleging infringement of
three Immersion Chinese patents.
The complaints allege that certain Fitbit wearable devices
including the Fitbit Flex, Fitbit Flex 2, Fitbit Alta, Fitbit Alta
HR, Fitbit Charge, Fitbit Charge 2, Fitbit Charge HR, Fitbit Blaze,
and Fitbit Surge infringe Immersion patents covering haptic
feedback devices, systems and methods.
“Since 1993, Immersion has been a leading innovator in the field
of haptic technology, leveraging our culture of innovation and
market-leading haptic know-how,” said Victor Viegas, Immersion’s
CEO. “Our valuable patents in the U.S. and China help us protect
our longstanding investment in research and development in this
exciting field. We are disappointed that Fitbit rejected our
numerous attempts to negotiate a reasonable license for Fitbit’s
products, but it is imperative that we protect our intellectual
property both within the U.S. and through the distribution chain in
China.”
The complaints seek orders requiring Fitbit, and its Chinese
distributor Runtong, to immediately and permanently stop
manufacturing, using, selling, offering for sale, or importing
infringing Fitbit devices in both the U.S. and China; as well as
damages to compensate Immersion for the harm the infringement has
inflicted.
The U.S. complaint asserts infringement by Fitbit wristband
products, including the Fitbit Flex, Flex 2, Alta, Alta HR, Charge,
Charge 2, Charge HR, Blaze, and Surge of the following Immersion
patent:
U.S. Patent No. 8,351,299, entitled
“Apparatus and Method for Providing Condition-Based Vibrotactile
Feedback”
The U.S. complaint also asserts infringement by the Fitbit Alta,
Alta HR, Charge, Charge 2, Charge HR, Blaze, and Surge of the
following two Immersion patents:
U.S. Patent No. 8,059,105, entitled “Haptic
Feedback for Touchpads and Other Touch Controls”
U.S. Patent No. 8,638,301, entitled “Systems
and Methods for Transmitting Haptic Messages”
The first Chinese complaint asserts infringement by Fitbit
Blaze, Surge, Charge 2 and Alta of China Patent No.
ZL200980127978.1, entitled “Systems and methods for mapping message
contents to virtual physical properties for sending vibrotactile
messaging.”
The second Chinese complaint asserts infringement by Fitbit
Blaze and Surge of China Patent No. ZL200680041474.4, entitled
“Methods and systems for providing haptic messaging to handheld
communication devices.”
The third Chinese complaint asserts infringement by Fitbit
Blaze, Surge, and Charge 2 of China Patent No. ZL200980128008.3,
entitled “Systems and methods for transmitting haptic
messages.”
About Immersion
Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ: IMMR) is the leading innovator of
touch feedback technology, also known as haptics. The company
provides technology solutions for creating immersive and realistic
experiences that enhance digital interactions by engaging users’
sense of touch. With more than 2,400 issued or pending patents,
Immersion’s technologies have been adopted in more than 3 billion
digital devices. The company provides haptics in mobile,
automotive, advertising, gaming, medical and consumer electronics.
Immersion is headquartered in San Jose, California with offices
worldwide. Learn more at www.immersion.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements,”
including statements regarding Immersion’s intellectual property
and litigation strategies. These statements involve risks and
uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never
materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of
Immersion Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements.
For a more detailed discussion of the factors that could cause
actual results to vary materially, interested parties should review
the risk factors listed in Immersion’s most current Form 10-K and
Form 10-Q, both of which are on file with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press
release reflect Immersion’s beliefs and predictions as of the date
of this release. Immersion disclaims any obligation to update these
forward-looking statements as a result of financial, business, or
any other developments occurring after the date of this
release.
Immersion and the Immersion logo are trademarks of Immersion
Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
(IMMR - C)
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