Dyson CEO James Dyson
UK-headquartered electronics company Dyson is suing Korean tech juggernaut Samsung for allegedly copying the steering technology used in Dyson’s DC37 and DC39 vacuum cleaners and using it inside its rival Motion Sync cleaner.
Dyson has issued proceedings against Samsung Electronics in the English High Court as it believes the Samsung Motion Sync vacuum cleaner infringes its patent for an invention entitled “A cleaning appliance with a steering mechanism.”
A spokesman for Dyson said that unlike the Apple vs Samsung cases which focused on design rights, the case against Samsung focuses on the way the machine works in terms of its ability to steer and move about, and not just how it looks.
Both the DC37 and DC39 were the product of three years of research and come with Dyson’s Ball technology and Dyson’s patented steering system and Dyson believes Samsung has copied this steering mechanism.
The spokesman said the Samsung machine does not use the same cyclone technology as Dyson.
Cynical rip-off claim
Dyson company founder and celebrated inventor Sir James Dyson commented: “This looks like a cynical rip off by the giant Korean company Samsung. Although they are copying Dyson’s patented technology, their machine is not the same.
“Samsung has many patent lawyers so I find it hard not to believe that this is a deliberate or utterly reckless infringement of our patent. We have been forced to issue proceedings in the English High Court, but I would much rather invest in research to develop new technology than have to sue,” Dyson said.
You decide
Pictured below: Dyson’s DC39 cylinder vacuum (top) and Samsung’s Motion Sync vacuum (bottom)
