GoPro can’t catch a break. A week ago company shares dropped to an all-time low after announcing they would be laying off 7% of their workforce after a slump in sales. Then, earlier this week, we shared news that investors have filed a lawsuit against GoPro for sharing misleading numbers and projections, causing massive losses for investors across the globe.
Now, it’s been revealed that action cam manufacturer Contour has filed a lawsuit against GoPro for patent infringement.
The particular patents in question are U.S. Patent Numbers 8,890,954 and 8,896.694, both of which lay out the framework for a remote viewfinder system designed to be used with action cams.
According to the documents, GoPro’s HERO 3, HERO 3+ and HERO 4 are the cameras being called into question, considering all three operate in their intended use almost solely based off the remote viewfinder technology.
Contour’s claims are that GoPro’s massive success (in the past, at least) is partially due to technology laid out in the aforementioned patents and that as a result, GoPro’s massive market share has lead Contour to its demise by not being able to get any traction in the action cam market.
As a result, Contour is asking for compensation of lost profits, royalties and payment of all legal fees past, present and future for this particular case.
Furthermore, Contour is looking to prevent GoPro from selling any future action cams that might infringe upon the patents via injunction—meaning the GoPro HERO 5 might have some issues hitting the market.
Of course, everything would have to go in Contour’s favor for this to happen. But with GoPro’s luck as of late, who knows what could happen. They’ll have to keep en eye out for any Canon, Sony and Samaung patents as well.
[via Photography Bay]
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