Smile Direct Club Files Patent Infringement Complaint Against Candid
April 29 2020 - 9:04AM
SmileDirectClub today announced it has filed a complaint for patent
infringement against Candid Care Co. for the operation of its
Candid Studios, a copycat model of SmileDirectClub’s own SmileShop
model. SmileDirectClub was issued a patent for its SmileShop and
related workflow intellectual property from the United States
Patent & Trademark Office (“USPTO”). The patent, U.S. Patent
No. 10,636,522, further strengthens the telehealth dentistry
pioneer’s efforts to bring affordable, accessible oral care to more
people through its unique and innovative teledentistry platform and
direct-to-consumer business model. The patent ensures no clear
aligner competitor will be able to duplicate SmileDirectClub’s
unique model for the next 18 years.
In the complaint, SmileDirectClub details
Candid’s replication of SmileDirectClub’s teledentistry platform,
including the launch of Candid’s retail component, called “Candid
Studios,” launched two years after the introduction of
SmileShops. Candid has wrongfully taken advantage of the
extensive analysis, financial investment, experience and effort
that SmileDirectClub invested in developing its groundbreaking
teledentistry platform and SmileShops. SmileDirectClub is
seeking damages and injunctive relief to prohibit this copycat
model from continuing.
The patent encompasses the unique SmileShop
concept and process, including scheduling of an appointment at a
SmileShop, sending the scheduling confirmation to the customer,
conducting the intraoral scan, generating a treatment plan,
receiving approval of the treatment plan by a licensed dentist or
orthodontist, producing aligners in accordance with the treatment
plan, and sending those aligners to the customer. SmileDirectClub’s
clear aligner therapy platform has helped more than 1,000,000
customers achieve a straighter and brighter smile.
David Katzman, CEO of SmileDirectClub stated:
“The receipt of the patent to protect our intellectual property
surrounding our customer-oriented care model is an important
milestone for our company, and validates all of the hard work we
have put into developing an industry leading and innovative
telehealth platform that enables a customer-focused remote
dentistry experience. We are now able to better defend
ourselves against copycat models, including Candid, who have built
entire companies by directly replicating our successful
teledentistry platform. We will aggressively defend our business,
our technology and our customer experience.”
About SmileDirectClub SmileDirectClub, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SDC) (“SmileDirectClub”) is an oral care company and
creator of the first direct-to-consumer medtech platform for teeth
straightening, now also offered directly via dentist and
orthodontists’ offices. Through our cutting-edge teledentistry
technology and vertically integrated model, we are revolutionizing
the oral care industry, from clear aligner therapy to our
affordable, premium oral care product line. SmileDirectClub’s
mission is to democratize access to affordable and convenient care,
unleashing the power of a person’s smile to positively impact their
place in the world. SmileDirectClub is headquartered in Nashville,
Tennessee and operates in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and Hong Kong. For more
information, please visit SmileDirectClub.com.
Contact: SmileDirectClub Media Relations:
Press@SmileDirectClub.com
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