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