LED Controversy Heats Up, Manufacturers Organize

On Friday, October 22, 2004 more than 40 LED lighting systems manufacturers met at The Entertainment Technology Show-LDI2004 to voice their concern over the past and most recent Color Kinetics patents. The key participants at the meeting were Wayne Howell of Artistic Licence, Nils Thorjussen of Element Labs, Tom Fay of TPR Enterprises, Doug Fleenor of Doug Fleenor Design, Banly Cheung of NCQ Holdings Ltd, John Ortiz of NSI, Chris Ewington of James Thomas Engineering, Bill Little of Advanced Lighting, Brett Kingstone and Mike Bauer of Super Vision, and Wayne Crosby, legal counsel for Super Vision.

“Almost all the participants voiced their concerns with the wholesale attempts at patenting prior art that has been employed by lighting manufacturers and designers for the last two decades,” notes Kingstone, who provided an account of the meeting. “This appears to be nothing more than an attempt to extract a monopoly position on prior art. Something akin to a carpenter patenting a hammer, nail, and saw and then restricting all the other carpenters in the industry from competing with him in using these implements.”

Super Vision, who took the lead in bringing a declaratory judgment action against Color Kinetics' patents, had asked the industry for both financial support and additional prior art evidence support in this case. Kingstone reports that the industry manufacturers in attendance have decided to band together and encourage their trade associations to oppose the early Color Kinetics patents on the use of pulse width modulation in variable controlled LED lighting fixtures. They are also concerned about the newly approved patents on the use of DMX control technology in conjunction with LED lighting systems. “Many participants voiced outrage that Color Kinetics would even consider patenting an industry standard control system such as DMX and were quite shocked at the naiveté of the patent office to allow such a patent to be approved,” Kingstone says.

There has also been some talk of creating an industry committee that will share e-mails and meet at ETS-LDI, Lightfair, or PLASA once or twice a year. One mechanism for immediately addressing the issue was to offer the industry a very fair and reasonable licensing agreement to the Belliveau patent and Laidman Technology.

The High End Belliveau patent, purchased by Super Vision, pre-dates Color Kinetics by almost a decade and provides much broader coverage on color-changing lighting fixtures. Super Vision also recently acquired Laidman Technology which has developments dating back to 1978 and pre-dates Color Kinetics' specific patent claims on variable color lighting fixtures utilizing pulse width modulations by varying the voltage controls to two or more LEDs in a lighting fixture. Such a license provided industry wide at a very low rate would be a cost effective insurance policy for the industry until this matter gets to trial. Super Vision now has more than 25 companies that have expressed interest in obtaining licenses to patents and technologies owned by Super Vision as a defensive move against Color Kinetics and also as a show of support for the financial burden in the current court proceedings.

“It is important to note that Jerry Laidman, not Color Kinetics, was the first inventor of color changing LED lighting systems,” says Kingstone. “Color Kinetics was also aware of the Laidman technology and product while they were filing their patents on color changing LED systems. The Belliveau patent is significant in that it covers the networking of multiple color changing devices utilizing any ‘lamp means’ or ‘light source.’ This effectively provides patent coverage for the utilization of the prior art developed by Laidman decades earlier in a network configuration to allow control for multiple ‘variable color’ lighting fixtures (LED or otherwise) in individually or group controlled formats.”

Wayne Howell, of Artistic Licence in the UK notes that, “Super Vision acquired both systems because the two together effectively cover the current practice in the industry and, again, pre-date the patents of Color Kinetics. Many of us are concerned that Color Kinetics will now turn its attention to patenting other industry standards such as DMX and LED white light applications commonly used in the industry. This probably was the key factor in such an unexpectedly large turnout at the meeting.”

Howell will also be drafting a petition to the US Patent Office that will be submitted for industry-wide signatures. “There are two main issues here,” he says. “The bigger issue is a fundamental flaw in the way US patents are granted. They are not really researched by the patent office. The Color Kinetics patent portfolio shows that it has really gotten out of hand.”

For Howell, the other concern has broader implications. “The issue is about the commercial aspect of one company trying to effectively blackmail the industry,” he says. “We are 100% confident that the Laidman prior-art claim will hold up. More specifically, within the American system, if you patent something knowing it already existed, your patent is not only invalid, but it could be a criminal offense.”

Howell believes that the Color Kinetics patents are too broad, in terms of DMX control of LED technology. “There is a moral issue here as well as a commercial one,” he says. “Even if what Color Kinetics is doing is legal, it is certainly immoral. If the patents don't hold up, there will be a huge benefit for the entire industry. LEDs are the future in many areas of lighting and the Color Kinetics patents are stifling development.”

Color Kinetics recently reported revenues of $11.1 million for the third quarter of 2004, an increase over last year and the second quarter of this year. Color Kinetics also continues to file for new patents, and on October 19, 2004, they were issued US patent number 6,806,659 that broadens the protection of their first patent, issued in January 2000, relating to iChromacore® technology. (Color Kinetics now holds 37 issued patents and have more than 120 patent applications pending).

“We feel that some people are more interested in stirring the pot, rather than developing new products in support of solid state technology,” says Kathy Pattison, a spokeswoman for Color Kinetics [see full official response below]. “We have protected our intellectual property through patents, and we have a choice what to do with those patents. To date, we have 31 OEM and licensing partners which indicate an open and active program of sharing our technology.” Pattison points out that Color Kinetics hold patents not only granted in the US but also in Europe, Australia, Canada, and Hong Kong. “Now that the success of solid state technology is more apparent, a lot of people are jumping on the band wagon,” she says.

COLOR KINETICS' OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO LED MANUFACTURERS' MEETING AT ETS-LDI:

“If there was any doubt that LED technology has become a major factor in the growth and development of the entertainment lighting industry, then the fact that this purported meeting took place should put that doubt to rest.

Had Color Kinetics been invited to the meeting, we would've been happy to share 31+ examples of our OEM & Licensing partners realizing success in the marketplace today with our technology, which we openly share. From what we've heard about the meeting, the baseless allegations waged reveal a complete misunderstanding of patent law, an even more complete misunderstanding of Color Kinetics' patents, and an apparent blindness to our open OEM and licensing program.

To invalidate Color Kinetics' worldwide patent portfolio, one would have to find precedent for the 7,000+ inventions represented by the claims in our patents and patent applications, claims that derive from our active, multi-million dollar research and development program, and that relate to our award-winning products applied in 10,000+ installations worldwide.

Furthermore, one must question the motives of a company that invests little in R&D, offers no unique contributions to the LED space, criticizes the US patent system, and yet purchases patents from third parties to exact a licensing fee under the guise of an ‘open market’ attempting to exploit that same ‘naive’ system to its own advantage.

We view this misguided and defamatory tactic as a mere attempt to wage a PR battle in the face of current litigation.”

WHO WHAT WHERE

The Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) has a newly elected 2005 Board of Directors: president: Bill Groener of Color Kinetics; manufacturer vice president: Bob Luther of Lex Products Corp.; dealer director: Larry Schoeneman of Designlab Chicago, Inc.; manufacturer director: Rich Wolpert of Union Connector Company; affiliate director: David Taylor of Theatre Projects Consultants. (www.esta.org)

John Hickinbotham (aka “John Jig”) has returned to James Thomas Engineering as client liaison coordinator and as part of the company's current management restructuring. (www.jthomaseng.com)

Creative Technology San Francisco has named Nate Mitchell project manager. (www.ctsanfrancisco.com)

As of January 1, Group One, Ltd. will become part of the Clay Paky America network of dealers. Eric Mueller has also joined as regional sales manager for the central and eastern US. (www.claypakyamerica.com)

The “American DJ Customer Appreciation Party” will take place on February 23 during the Mobile Beat 2005 Show at Las Vegas' Beach Night Club, free for show attendees, who can sign up in advance at www.adjparty.com.

Applied Electronics has opened a regional sales office in central Florida. Heading the effort is Darrell Mann, who's been with the company for approximately four years. Applied has also added Jon Lenard for product engineering and customer support. (www.appliednn.com)

Northwestern University's Department of Theatre has been named the 2004 recipient of the Martin Intelligent Lighting Technology Grant, valued at $50,000. The grant consists of a variety of Martin fixtures and control products and includes technical training and support. (www.martin.com)

Color Kinetics Incorporated has announced the appointment of David Emma as vice president, OEM and licensing. (www.colorkinetics.com)

Thommy Hall has been hired as regional sales manager for Vari-Lite and Entertainment Technology in the southeastern US. He will work from the Orlando office. (www.vari-lite.com, www.etdimming.com)

Cast Software will take over worldwide marketing and distribution of WYSIWYG, while ETC, in partnership with Cast, will continue the development and marketing of its own Emphasis® control system. (www.etcconnect.com; www.cast-soft.com)

MA Lighting has appointed Stefan Fiedler as technical sales and project coordinator. Fiedler will support international sales and project business. (www.malighting.de)

G-LEC has announced the appointment of TMB as its exclusive sales partner for G-LEC products in North America. (www.g-lec.com; www.tmb.com)

Wybron, Inc. has been appointed Lighting Innovation's exclusive North American distributor for the new Super Beam 1200. (www.wybron.com)

Robe UK has added Bill Jones as new pro sales manager. Jones will be based “on the road” for the Northampton-based office. (www.robe.cz)

Vickie Claiborne has launched an independent effort as a training development consultant and automated lighting programmer. (www.vickieclaiborne.com)

Ted Moore has joined Stage Technologies' board of directors. Moore has been at the company in a full time capacity since 1994. (www.stagetech.com)

MBT International has appointed Jason Echols as general manager of the Asia/ Pacific office. (www.mbtinternational.com)

Murphy Lighting Systems has named Phil Hall to head the new regional office in the San Francisco Bay Area. (www.murphylighting.com)

The Display Media Division of Toshiba Transport Engineering, Inc. and Blue-Water Technologies Group announced a joint agreement by which Blue-Water will use Toshiba's TechnoRainbow LED systems during the 2005 New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles Auto Shows. (www.technorainbow.com; www.bluewatertech.com)

Paul Dexter has recently opened a new business, Masterworks Lighting Design, to provide lighting design services for a variety of applications. (www.mwld.com)

The IALD Education Trust 2005 scholarship information is now available on the IALD website. In addition, The IALD has announced the induction of Naomi Miller as a fellow. (www.iald.org)

Lift-Turn-Move has appointed Alan Wood as works engineer. (www.liftturnmove.co.uk)

5 Questions for Martin Postma

  1. You have to turn a dance floor at Webster Hall into a 1980s high school prom several times a week for the Awesome 80s Prom. How did you change up typical nightclub lighting to adhere to a more theatrical event in the same space?

    The installed lighting rig in the Marlin Ballroom of Webster Hall consists of 18 automated fixtures, some strobes, a smoke machine, and a handful of conventionals. Budget restrictions and the fact that the space must revert to its normal nightclub state after every show prevented any re-hang. The only things I added were some PAR64s on spare dimming channels to light up the crowd more. Eight of the automated units are Coemar iSpot 150s, which are awesome little lights for low-ceiling dance floors. Their speed is unmatched by any other moving-yoke light I've come across.

    Some of my greatest challenges revolved around how to create the cues for each moment without having it look disjointed. Any traditional cueing scheme or breakdown that I played with was quickly burned at the stake. I really had to break apart the final look for each scene and distill it down to a very basic level. I added layers on to flesh it out as much as possible. There are a few hairy moments for the operator, when having four extra hands is almost a necessity. Additionally, all the consoles had to still be able to run the nightclub looks immediately after the show, so there were certain things within the memory and recall functions that could not be altered. This was really an exercise in making it work, no matter, what using only what I had on hand.

  2. What is the best career advice you've ever been given?

    “Stay in school and finish your degree.” I'm very glad I chose to finish up my degree, as my education has served me well and continues to do so. I have the legendary Billy Mintzer to thank for guiding me on that.

  3. And what's the worst career advice you've ever been given?

    “If you don't know what you're doing … fake it and figure it out later.” If you work with anyone who takes this attitude, RUN!! Being able to recognize what you do and do not know is essential.

  4. What inspires your creativity?

    When you have a decent rig, the music is good, and the crowd is into it, you can really ramp up the energy; make the crowd feel the music through light, and they react with exuberance. Anyone who has been a part of something like this knows exactly what I'm talking about.

  5. What piece of equipment (doesn't have to be lighting) can you absolutely not do without?

    A good set of earplugs accompanied by an SPL meter. Working mostly in nightclub and concert environments, I am exposed to 125+dB for six to eight hours at a time at least three times a week, if not more. Most earplugs cancel out about 25-30dB, which means there is still exposure to about 95-100dB. That's still 10-15dB above the recognized healthy maximum SPL of 85dB. Most events start off softly and progressively build louder and louder. Usually it's because the ears of the DJ or FOH Engineer start to fatigue, and they turn it up to compensate. I watch my SPL meter like a hawk, and if it consistently goes up over a certain point, I put in my earplugs. I want to be able to hear my grandkids talk to me across the table without having to adjust my miracle-ear. No job is worth losing your hearing.