Johnson Outdoors Files Suit in Federal Court Against Lowranc

[scottkh]

Johnson Outdoors Files Suit in Federal Court Against Maker of Lowrance Navico 'Willfull Infringed' on Side Imaging(R) Patent

Press Release Source: Johnson Outdoors Inc. On Wednesday January 27, 2010, 9:00 am

RACINE, Wisc., Jan. 27, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq:JOUT - News) today announced it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Navico, Inc. for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,652,952 by Navico's sale of the Lowrance LSS-1 StructureScan Imaging System. Johnson Outdoors' patent protects the Humminbird® Side Imaging® sonar technology. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court in Alabama, the home of Humminbird® products for over 50 years.

Johnson Outdoors' Side Imaging® sonar produces detailed and recognizable images of underwater objects and waterbeds enabling anglers to pinpoint habitat, structure and drop-offs which are prime holding areas for fish. The patent application process began in 2004 prior to the Company's introduction of Side Imaging® sonar in Humminbird® 900 series fishfinder models the following year.

Consumer demand prompted Johnson Outdoors to expand utilization of Side Imaging® sonar technology across a broad range of its Humminbird® portfolio and was a key driver behind the brand's growth over the past four years. Following a comprehensive and methodical review process, on January 26, 2010, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the Company's patent for "Side Imaging® sonar."

"Our intellectual property policy is very simple: we will respect the property of others and fiercely protect that of our own. We were diligent throughout the Side Imaging® sonar technology patent application process to ensure we achieved both because real innovation brings real value which our customers and consumers expect and demand. By taking steps to protect our ideas and inventions, we help ensure our ability to continue to bring forward meaningful advances and innovative products that excite consumers and build our customers' business," said Kelly Grindle, Group Vice President Marine Electronics & Watercraft.

The Company's complaint says Navico, Inc. expended substantial resources to inform the trade and relevant purchasers of fish finding products, that it too would use side scan technology to compete directly with Humminbird® Side Imaging® sonar products with knowledge that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office had approved the Company's patent. The complaint further says Navico actively induced infringement of the patent by resellers.

The Company is asking the Court to enjoin Navico from further infringement of the patented Side Imaging® sonar technology.

ABOUT JOHNSON OUTDOORS MARINE ELECTRONICS, INC.

Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. consists of the Humminbird®, GEONAV®, Minn Kota® and Cannon® brands. Humminbird is a leading innovator and manufacturer of fishfinders, fishfinder/GPS combo units, chartplotters, marine radios and digital depth gauges. Geonav is a manufacturer of high-quality, easy-to-use marine electronics products. Minn Kota is the world's leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as offering a complete line of battery chargers, Trim Tabs and marine accessories. Cannon is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.

ABOUT JOHNSONOUTDOORS INC.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation company that turns ideas into adventure with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Marine Electronics, Diving and Outdoor Equipment. Johnson Outdoors' familiar brands include, among others: Old Town® canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak™ and Necky® kayaks; Lendal® paddles; Carlisle® and Extrasport® paddling accessories; Minn Kota® motors; Cannon® downriggers; Humminbird® fishfinders; GEONAV® marine electronics; SCUBAPRO® UWATEC® and Seemann® dive equipment; Silva® compasses; Tech4O® digital instruments; and Eureka!® tents.

[Brian D.]

And so it begins...

[DL]

As soon as Scott put up the post about the Patent, you knew this was coming. How long until we see the cease and desist order? Humminbird should have done a better job with their SI and this wouldn't even be an issue. Whats the over under on millions spent in this pissing match? This should be settled somewhere around 2019 ...and by then, Lowrance will have hit their projected sales figures.

[Rick G]

Couple of big lawfirms are about to make a bunch of money and my guess the price of electronics will go up again and the consumer/dealer will pay the tab. What a shame. Rick G.

[Levy]

You mean bigmouth111, oops I meant Bigbass 111 was wrong again??? I thought you said Hummingbird would not be suing Navico...

And hear I thought you knew it all : )

[Noluk]

What a wondeful country we live in. Too bad sonar has never been used to look in other directions but down before. Maybe it could have been used to look in a full circle around a vessel and find bait pods or even possibly find a submarine underwater.

[biteme]

I find it odd that when someone knocks off a bait they are the bad guy. Imagine if someone came on here with a knock off of a black dog bait. Boy would be ever send them packing! But I guess its different when we personally dont know the company thats doing the copying.

[StockOption]

The US patent office is in place for a reason.

One can certainly argue their effectiveness however it is what it is.

In the US patents are filed for and assigned to protect intellectual property rights (IP). Anyone who files for and receives a patent does so to protect their IP. Violation or apparent violation of any assigned patent is something any patent holder has a right to pursue to the fullest extent of the law within the US.

I believe each and everyone of us would do precisely the same thing.

[scottsweet]

There are multiple things about this patent that make it very compelling and interesting.

The side imaging (or down imaging) is only a component of the patent. One other component is the correlation of the side imaging to GPS positioning. The ability to move a cursor to the painted image and mark a waypoint on an object is also in the patent.

Traditional side imaging used by the Navy and such have a transducer that is towed behind the vehicle referred to as a "towfish" in the patent. Many people who have watched movies have heard them also called "sonar buoys." The problem with this is that the sonar buoy or towfish is not fixed and doesn't allow GPS positioning to be accurate enough to actually paint an image we have become accustom to seeing. Also, when we turn our boat quickly, the cable would get tangled in our motor and such. What we could do before is know something was there, but not actually paint a "picture" (a tree, rock, etc) of what the sonar signal is returning. The patent specifically describes the notion of a fixed transducer system (put on the boat) with multiple transducer elements to transmit different frequencies and angles to allow it to paint an image rather than just a return (like a blip).

From what I have seen, the only thing that makes Lowrance "different" so to speak is the physical packaging of the transducer system itself, the hardware packaging approach to enable the capability (the LSS-1) and the user interface software to get to the various screens.

The secret sauce of painting the image the way it is, the way it is presented to the user, the GPS correlation and the new transducer design/approach are all the things that Humminbird mastered.

Cool stuff actually if you read through it in detail.

Scott
www.humminbird.com
www.minnkotamotors.com

Disclaimer: I am not an employee of Johnson Outdoors or Humminbird. I am sponsored and represent their product to the best of my knowledge.

[offduty]

Just got off Casitas with the new free upgrade for my 997C SI units. I am very impressed how much each upgrade makes it better and more clearer. I've got my sensitivity @ 13 with the amber 2 palette and am very happy with the new images, they got a lot clearer and more defined. Got a couple on a red DD22 also 1 was 6 1/2.
Rich

[619]

I'm not giving back my Structure Scan. It's mine now.

[ash]

I find it odd that when someone knocks off a bait they are the bad guy. Imagine if someone came on here with a knock off of a black dog bait. Boy would be ever send them packing! But I guess its different when we personally dont know the company thats doing the copying.

I saw some cheap *** wanna be black dog baits at the ISE... burn em.

[tunaman]

Maybe it could have been used to look in a full circle around a vessel and find bait pods or even possibly find a submarine underwater.

I think you're on to something - we should brainstorm on this!!! I think the ideas have merit!!!!!

I doubt seriously that they will ever be able to have the technology recalled, but perhaps they may be able to get some "damages" and licensing fees, and as Rick says the lawyers will make a mint and drive the costs skyward (not that they aren't already!).

Roger