Acoustic Technology, Inc. (East Boston, MA) [called “Acoustic Technology” in the complaint but “Acoustic Technologies” in the caption] sued Itron, Inc. (Liberty Lake, WA) for infringement and inducement to infringe Patent Nos. 5,986,574 and 6,509,841 directed to systems and methods for remote meter reading.
The most interesting part of this story is how ATI obtained its rights in the asserted patents. According to the complaint, the relevant automated meter reading (AMR) technology was developed by ATI for a third party PECO Energy Co. PECO applied for, and obtained, patents directed to the technology which ATI discovered later. Following an arbitration which confirmed ATI’s ownership of the patents, ATI resumed control over licensing and enforcement of the portfolio.
Which bring us to defendant Itron. ATI attempted to license the portfolio to Itron but Itron refused, citing its development of supposedly non-infringing AMR technology. ATI didn’t buy the non-infringing part and so brought the instant suit. The complaint alleges that the infringing devices were either installed by Itron or its customers (public utilities and others) but none of the customers are named in the complaint. No doubt because they are also potential customers of ATI.
Acoustic Technologies, Inc. v. Itron, Inc., 10-10500-NMG (D. Mass. Mar. 24, 2010)
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