iRobot wins lawsuit against Robotic FX

It's been a long, winding, shady road, but the lawsuits between iRobot and Robotic FX are finally over, with a federal court in Massachusetts ruling the Robotic FX had stolen iRobot's trade secrets, and another federal court in Alabama ruling that Robotic FX had infringed on iRobot's patents. In addition, the Massachusetts court ruled that Robotic FX had destroyed evidence and violated fair trade practices. iRobot has agreed to buy "certain residual assets" of Robotic FX, which is dissolving as of today, and founder Jameel Ahed is barred from competing in the robotics industry for five years. iRobot says all this litigation cost the company $2.9 million -- that's some expensive dumpster diving.

[Isaac @ Dec 21st 2007 8:42PM]

Well, this is not the robot war I imagined bit it will do I guess.

[Jeremiah Zachary Hoffman @ Dec 21st 2007 9:40PM]

my roomba and scooba combined to kick jameel in the nuts

[Digital1 @ Dec 21st 2007 9:51PM]

I,for one,welcome our robotic trade secret carrying overlords.

[silverblackvoid @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:17AM]

now why would you want that?

[Digital1 @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:24AM]

It's not my trade secrets... Besides how can I find out if it blends or Runs Doom?

[mb @ Dec 21st 2007 9:53PM]

What a wonderful holiday gift to iRobot. YEAH!!!!you guys are awesome and deserve so much credit. Continue your dedication and research to assist our military during this horrific war.

Thanks to all those who worked so hard to get the Packbot where it is today and also to the legal team!! YOU ROCK!!

[randy @ Dec 21st 2007 11:15PM]

The Predator UAV watches you plant the bomb,

The C-130 Gunship flattens you into pigeon-manageable hamburger,

Then the next morning a cute little Packbot wheels in and diffuses your life's work, as a crowd of thankful parents and a whole generation of kids watch on.

praise allah!

[Terry Thomas @ Dec 22nd 2007 12:48AM]

"diffuse" or "defuse"?

There IS a difference.

[skulldriveshaft @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:42AM]

@ Terry

Diffuse works - but only the author can clarify if they were talking about the fuse - or the packbot scattering the bomb pieces everywhere :]

[randy @ Dec 22nd 2007 2:34AM]

Defuse!! mind the bystanders!

[skulldriveshaft @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:36AM]

where's the beef?

businesswire didn't survive getting posted on here - site not available :[

so how does a company compete against iROBOT now anyways? since particular methods are patented, how are we going to have any progress?

iROBOT now has a monopoly (mostly?) are they going to slack off on the R&D now?

[Chris @ Dec 22nd 2007 4:55PM]

Competition's easy, just look at Foster-Miller. All this lawsuit means is you can't consider theft as a means of competition.

[skulldriveshaft @ Dec 25th 2007 4:25AM]

BOOOOOOOOOOO

What has become of capitalism? :[