The patent infringement case against Overhead Door Corporation and GMI Holdings Inc. has concluded, with the jury clearing both companies of the claims. The Chamberlain Group filed the complaint on March 10, 2021, alleging infringement on patents related to smart garage door opener technology and other devices, including U.S. Patent No. 8,587,404, 9,644,416, and 8,144,011.

About Overhead Door Corporation

Overhead Door Corporation, the defendant, owns the Genie Company, a U.S.-based manufacturer of garage door openers and related products headquartered in Alliance, Ohio. Originally founded in 1923 by the Alliance Door & Manufacturing Company to produce farm equipment, The Genie Company introduced the first mass-produced, radio-controlled residential garage door opener in 1954. The company changed its name to Genie Home Products in 1985, and later to The Genie Company. Today, The Genie Company manufactures a range of products including automatic garage door openers, automatic gate operators, keyless entry systems, and remote controls.

About Chamberlain Group

The Chamberlain Group, the plaintiff, owns Chamberlain and LiftMaster, manufacturers of automatic garage door openers and gate operators. With notable contributions to the garage door opener industry, the Chamberlain Group has helped shape the way users interact with their garage doors. Founded in 1954, the company is headquartered in the United States, with significant production facilities in Mexico. The Chamberlain Group was acquired by Blackstone in 2021 and operates globally, with a presence in over 20 countries including the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Understating the Patents

Here’s a brief review of the patents involved in this patent infringement case:

1. Patent No. 8,587,404: An automatic garage door system features a notification function that alerts users when the door is about to move. To improve user experience, the control device or garage door opener receives additional information to determine whether to activate the warning. This information can be provided through a separate signal, rather than just the standard commands. This ensures that the device can better decide when to issue the warning.
2. Patent No. 9,644,416: A device that adds new features to older garage door openers. The device can be compatible with different openers and connected either with wires or without. It’s easy to set up because it adjusts itself to work with the system you already have. Once set up, it improves the opener functionality.
3. Patent No. 8,144,011: A secure connection is established between a garage door opener and another system, such as a control panel or smartphone app. Both systems share information on a secure channel to help each other work better.

The jury, under the supervision of United States District Judge Rodney Gilstrap, reached a verdict in favor of the defendant. Dustin Bowles, CEO of Genie Company, expressed satisfaction with the jury’s unanimous decision, stating, “We stand behind the integrity of our products and will continue to protect our intellectual property.” The jury determined that Overhead Door didn’t have to pay nearly $63 million for allegedly copying patents owned by the Chamberlain Group. Additionally, the jury found that some claims in two of the patents were invalid.