Apple countersues stereo headphone inventor Koss, with interesting twist – 9to5Mac

In 2017, Koss looked for out Apple in a purported effort to engage in licensing conversations. Regardless of Apples request that all discussions be carried out without constraint, Koss insisted that the celebrations enter into a written Confidentiality Agreement., or the existence thereof, in a litigation or any other administrative or court case for any purpose.”.

Five of the counts ask for a court to rule that Apple has not infringed each of the 5 patents listed in the initial lawsuit, while a sixth one claims that Koss has no right to take legal action against anyhow …

I recommended earlier that the stereo headphone innovator seemed declaring ownership of basic innovation utilized in all wireless earphones, and might have decided to start with the company with the inmost pockets prior to then going after other brands. If so, that may have been a strategic error, as Apple is not understood for settling such cases, preferring instead to prosecute them.

Apple is now striking back with a six-point countersuit. Five of the counts request a court to rule that Apple has not infringed each of the 5 patents listed in the original lawsuit, while a sixth one claims that Koss has no right to sue anyway …

According to the regards to the Confidentiality Agreement, while the arrangement was in force, Apple might not encourage a Court of Koss hazards to submit baseless infringement claims or ask a Court to declare Apples rights and deal with the legal uncertainty it faced. The Confidentiality Agreement likewise limited how Apple might utilize the existence and divulge and contents of the conversations. The arrangement also secured Apple– Koss was not allowed to later on use the truth that Apple had actually concurred to a conversation with Koss, or the contents of the discussion, versus Apple in lawsuits.
Simply put, having actually enticed Apple to take part in conversations, reveal information, and bypass some of its legal alternatives, Koss could not utilize Apples participation versus it as a “gotcha” to bring claims in a later litigation. That, however, is precisely what Koss did.

The twist? It was Koss, not Apple, which insisted on the privacy agreement, so Koss may have undermined its own lawsuit.

Patently Apple reports that Koss met several times with Apple, these meetings happening under a confidentiality contract. Under the regards to that agreement, neither celebration could use anything they learned in the conferences for the purposes of litigation. Apple states this is exactly what Koss has actually done.

Patently Apple reports that Koss met several times with Apple, fulfilled a number of taking place under a confidentiality agreement. In 2017, Koss sought out Apple in a supposed effort to engage in licensing conversations. Despite Apples demand that all conversations be carried out without constraint, Koss firmly insisted that the celebrations enter into a written Confidentiality Agreement. According to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, while the agreement was in force, Apple could not recommend a Court of Koss hazards to file unwarranted violation claims or ask a Court to declare Apples rights and solve the legal uncertainty it faced. The contract also safeguarded Apple– Koss was not permitted to later use the reality that Apple had actually agreed to a discussion with Koss, or the contents of the discussion, versus Apple in lawsuits.

While Koss submitted its suit in Texas, Apple has actually submitted the countersuit in California, and is requesting a jury trial. It promises that the Texas court would wait for the outcome of the Californian case, although it was filed later, as that could make the original suit moot.

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One possible factor for this odd choice is that Koss wanted to avoid Apple from litigating to have the violation declares dismissed ahead of any lawsuit.

Stereo headphone developer Koss last month took legal action against Apple, alleging violation of 5 patents on wireless headphones. The suit targets both AirPods and Beats cordless earphones.

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