USA - The latest move in the ongoing LED patent dispute between Super Vision Inc and Color Kinetics Inc was the filing this week by Super Vision of a motion for summary judgement against Color Kinetics. The motion, which includes nine affidavits from witnesses against Color Kinetics, alleges that the founders of Color Kinetics, George Mueller and Ihor Llys, were aware of the existence of prior art relating to their LED products before they filed their own patent applications. Among the nine witnesses against the company is Jerry Laidman, the Nevada-based lighting innovator who created the Saturn colour-changing LED effects in the late 1970s, and of whose products Mueller and Llys were allegedly aware (see L&SI November 2004 to read more on the background to the controversy). The case is scheduled to be heard in May this year. LSI Online has also learned of an update to a related item reported in our January issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine. At that time, it was reported that Super Vision filed a motion to sanction Color Kinetics for misconduct. Color Kinetics has since informed us that the judge in the case found Super Vision's claims of misconduct to be "utterly without merit" and, at the same time, granted Color Kinetics' motion to sanction Super Vision for obstructing discovery, including the granting of attorney's fees to Color Kinetics.
The full details of the motion and the affidavits are in the public domain and can be viewed on Super Vision website, address below.
(Lee Baldock)
