Cooler Master Sues SilverStone, Enermax, and their OEM for AIO CLC Patent Infringement

[btarunr]

Cooler Master has sued SilverStone, Enermax, and their common OEM, the Guangdong China-based Apaltek, for patent infringement of designs of their all-in-one, closed-loop liquid CPU coolers. The company has moved the United States District Court in the Central District of California, against the three companies for alleged IP violation in the design of its AIO CLCs. Cooler Master alleges that the three companies violate U.S. Patent numbers 10,509,446; 11,061,450; and D856,941 held by it. The infringing products referenced in the Lawsuit are SilverStone IceMyst 240, PF240, PF240W, IceGem 360, VIDA 240 Slim, and RGB Controller, and the Enermax Aquafusion ADV, Liqmax III ARGB, Liqtech 360 TR4 II Slim, and RGB Controller. Apaltek doesn't have any products in the retail channel under its own brand, but is being sued as the original technology supplier for SilverStone and Enermax.

Specifically, the Cooler Master suit alleges that the pump-inside-radiator design choice is a Cooler Master invention; as is the ARGB mini-controller. It also alleges infringement in the essential design of the coolers. It seeks damages and legal costs in Relief. One of the three defendants has reached out to TechPowerUp with a comment, in which it says that it finds it interesting that Cooler Master, which itself defended a similar patent infringement lawsuit against Asetek in 2016-17 would go on to allege patent infringement with smaller competitors such as Enermax and SilverStone, while leaving out certain other customers of Apaltek, such as MSI. They stated that they intend to defend their designs in the Court. This defendant termed Cooler Master's behavior as being that of a "bully."



All pages from the Cooler Master lawsuit follow.


View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Chaitanya]

Seems like Cooler Master has learned from the best bully in business- Asstek.

 

[wNotyarD]

Seems like Cooler Master has learned from the best bully in business- Asstek.

Well, CM literally got some products sued to oblivion by Asetek. They ought to learn something out of it.

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

Well, Enermax AIOs have not been good for me, just had a two year old one die the other day out of nowhere....and I'm sure it's ggunked up inside despite the fact that I was ensured that my unit was not apart of the recall batch....realize that's a bit off topic, but hopefully it'll warn any potential customers that these budget aios are budget for a reason

 

[Steamroller]

Cooler Master: Make it Yours.

We steal your design and make it ours.

 

[Chrispy_]

LOL, the pump in the radiator was a shitty workaround to circumvent the Asetek patent. Now CM are trying to enforce their patent evasion patent.

I think the next step is someone needs to come up with a (patent evasion patent)-evasion patent and then wait for someone to copy that and sue.

The whole thing is a total farce that keeps lawyers busy I guess, but it only serves to show how utterly pointless the USPTO has become.

 

[rv8000]

Cooler Master: Make it Yours.

We steal your design and make it ours.

Thats more thermaltakes mantra, theyve been copying stealing and otherwise making subpar knockoffs for years now.

 

[Steamroller]

Thats more thermaltakes mantra, theyve been copying stealing and otherwise making subpar knockoffs for years now.

Guess you didn't follow this year's CES and their custom loop products.