Schindler Elevator Scores Sweeping Patent Victory over Otis Elevator

Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP is pleased to announce that its clients Schindler Elevator Corporation and Inventio AG obtained a jury verdict that competitor, Otis Elevator Co., infringed numerous claims in Schindler’s patent on its personalized elevator control system known as Schindler ID?. Schindler and Otis are the two largest elevator and escalator companies in the world. Schindler’s product protected by the patent uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to allow elevator passengers to identify themselves with a badge or other electronically readable device. Schindler ID? can then assign an elevator car that conforms to each passenger’s individual needs and takes them to their preprogrammed floor destinations as soon as possible. Systems like Schindler ID?, first introduced by Schindler in 2000, are now becoming commonplace in the most prestigious high-rise buildings throughout the world.
Schindler filed suit in the Southern District of New York, accusing Otis of infringing U.S. Patent No. 5,689,094 as soon as 7 World Trade Center opened in New York City in 2006 with Otis’s competing system. That competing system is known as Compass with Seamless Entry.

In answering all 33 questions in Schindler’s favor, the jury found that Otis infringed the patent at 7 World Trade Center and six other elevator installations throughout the United States, including the new world headquarters for Goldman Sachs in New York City, Russia Wharf in Boston, and St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort outside of Miami, Florida. The jury also rejected Otis’s challenge that the patent was invalid for obviousness.

After trial, the Court immediately upheld the verdict, denying all of Otis’ motions to set the verdict aside, and observing that it was a “total and sweeping victory” for Inventio and Schindler. The Court also indicated that it was inclined to enter a permanent injunction barring Otis from selling Compass with Seamless Entry in the United States.

Inventio and Schindler were represented by Knobbe Martens lead counsel Jon Gurka and partners Joseph Cianfrani and Joseph Re. They were assisted by Cheryl Burgess and Reza Mirzaie of the firm.

Michael Landis, Vice President of Marketing for Schindler who attended the trial as the corporate representative, commented, “This verdict is an affirmation of Schindler’s leadership in technology and focus on innovative solutions for building owners and the public.”

Jon Gurka of Knobbe Martens said after the verdict, “It was an honor for my firm to represent such a leader in its field with such incredible technology.”