Alarm.com is a well-known provider and pioneer of innovative security solutions, Cloud-based, that include best currently relied on by many homeowners. Their security products include monitoring property wirelessly with a , where you can watch your home straight from your phone. Other features like smart energy monitoring, video alerts if a home securitybreakthrough is sensed, and other innovative product features are all a part of what makes Alarm.com famous online and offline.
Recently, though, Alarm.com filed a lawsuit against Telular Corporation, event monitoring and wireless security and access solution provider, for stealing intellectual property. The claim that Alarm.com made was that Telular was using Alarm.com’s patent-producted services as well as products without permission, and featuring these products as their own. Some of these include the best offered by the offending provider.
Interestingly, Alarm.com is saying that two of Telular’s most popular products, Telguard Interactive and Telguard, are an infringement of Alarm.com’s technology and innovation.
Of course, it must be kept in mind that the basis of Alarm.com’s serious claim is that their cloud-based security is patent-protected. No one else is allowed to use their patent-producted innovative creations, which are defined as offering product users a capability to receive alerts wirelessly and for monitoring their property using their mobile phone.
On that basis, can it be said that every modem device maker infringes on the original rights of the first provider of modems? A feature or innovative advance in product feature science is not patented and held exclusively by one company.
Or is it? Digging a little deeper, it looks like there might be some competition between the companies. (Interestingly, Alarm.com doesn’t even own their products in the 2Gig Technology lineup, that had them so disturbed about Telular—Nortek subsidiary Linear now owns them.)
What set the lawsuit going wasthat a Telular employee accessed an Alarm.com private account and published footage from a video showing the services and products of the competing website under the name Telular.
Telular apparently released shortly thereafter Telguard Interactive, its own Internet-based monitoring service, which included the release of mobile apps for iPhone, Android and Blackberry devices. Then came the announcement on April 10, 2013, about the new Telguard HomeControl service powered by iControl Networks, Inc. – the same company powering security and home automation interactivity for ADT Pulse, Comcast/Xfinity, Cox, Time Warner Cable and other mass marketers (iControl is not mentioned in the suit). The HomeControl solution is implemented in 2Gig by adding a special radio to the alarm panel for cellular communications to and from the iControl backend – the wayAlarm.com and 2Gig do it today.
The senior VP of Alarm.com, recently contacted by the media, is not offering comments on the matter other than his public statement backing the lawsuit recently filed by the company.
Tim Eveler
Author & Public Relations – Tim has been working in sales for the home security system industry over twelve years. He’s held positions at large home security companies and in charge of working with the team to create our security system reviews.