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Biometric Sensor Company Valencell Accuses Apple of Stealing Technology for Apple Watch

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Biometric sensor company Valencell today filed a lawsuit against Apple (via AppleInsider), accusing the Cupertino-based company of patent infringement, deceptive trade practices, and breach of contract, all related to dealings Apple had with Valencell before the launch of the Apple Watch.

According to Valencell, Apple expressed interest in its PerformTek heart rate sensor technology starting in 2013, leading Valencell to believe Apple would license PerformTek technology for the Apple Watch's heart rate sensor. Apple met with Valencell in 2013 and late 2014 to discuss incorporating PerformTek-powered features into the Apple Watch and is said to have expressed "great interest" in Valencell's wrist-based heart rate-sensing technology.

applewatch
Valencell demonstrated a prototype PerformTek-powered watch in 2013 to 15 Apple employees and later sent Apple PerformTek products to test and examine in detail. Valencell believes Apple deceptively solicited technical information and know-how under the false pretense of a licensing agreement despite having no intention to actually license the technology. Furthermore, Valencell accuses Apple of deciding it was more financially beneficial to risk infringing on Valencell's patents than to license them.

Apple did not have an intention of licensing Valencell's PerformTek Technology. Instead, Apple's interaction with Valencell was fueled by a business decision that the benefits of infringing upon Valencell's patented technology outweigh the risk of being caught and ultimately forced to pay damages. This practice is consistent with the statement by Apple CEO Steve Jobs that Apple has "always been shameless about stealing great ideas."

Valencell believes the Apple Watch infringes on four of its patents, all related to heart rate sensing technology. Valencell is suing for patent infringement, the aforementioned deceptive trade practices, and breach of contract related to some Valencell white papers Apple employees downloaded from Valencell's website using fictitious names and data.

Valencell is requesting a preliminary and permanent injunction preventing future acts of infringement, along with damages and an ongoing reasonable royalty rate for licensing purposes should a permanent injunction not be granted. Valencell has also filed a similar lawsuit against Fitbit.

Tags: Apple Lawsuits, Patent, Patent Trials, Valencell

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Top Rated Comments

rodpascoe Avatar
rodpascoe
137 months ago
Clearly Apple stole their technology,. They have done this before with Xerox and countless other companies.
Now let Apple apologists, defend Apple
"clearly Apple stole their tech" You know this how? From a few paragraphs on this site?

Do you sit on either companies board? Have you torn down both devices and come to that conclusion?

I'm not as you suggest being an Apple apologist - I don't know any more than anyone else reading this post but how people jump to these guilty/not guilty conclusions whilst knowing zip amazes me.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Robert.Walter Avatar
Robert.Walter
137 months ago
Clearly Apple stole their technology,. They have done this before with Xerox and countless other companies.
Now let Apple apologists, defend Apple
Xerox bought a million bucks in Apple stock at a discount prior to the Apple IPO. As part of that deal, Xerox management allowed SJ to use anything he saw at PARC.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cocky jeremy Avatar
cocky jeremy
137 months ago
Clearly Apple stole their technology,. They have done this before with Xerox and countless other companies.
Now let Apple apologists, defend Apple
Found the Android user.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
citysnaps
137 months ago
Clearly Apple stole their technology,. They have done this before with Xerox and countless other companies.
Now let Apple apologists, defend Apple
Clearly??? No. It's merely an allegation.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OllyW Avatar
OllyW
137 months ago
Then why not go after Fitbit and every other company that integrated heart rate monitors into wearables before the Apple Watch even existed?
They are going after Fitbit.

Valencell Files Patent Infringement Suit against Apple, Inc. and Fitbit, Inc. ('http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/valencell-files-patent-infringement-suit-against-apple-inc-and-fitbit-inc-300199025.html')
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Iconoclysm Avatar
Iconoclysm
137 months ago
Clearly Apple stole their technology,. They have done this before with Xerox and countless other companies.
Now let Apple apologists, defend Apple
Apple clearly stole this...yet you know so little about the Xerox PARC deal that you think Apple stole that too? FYI, Apple traded stock for Xerox's stuff, they willingly handed it over, and many employees at Apple at the time were from Xerox PARC to begin with. I don't know why people like yourself always speak as if you know what you're talking about then follow it up with "now defend that, apologists". You're flat out wrong, people are pointing it out, it might seem like defensiveness to you...because you're likely wrong all of the time considering the "facts" you just presented.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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