Commercial Integrator December 2021 - 6

CI NEWS IN BRIEF RECENT STORIES PEOPLE AND PLACES WHAT'S NEW
IHSE Acquires kvm-tec
IHSE, GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY
provider for KVM solutions,
acquired IT security specialist
kvm-tec with the intention of
expanding its product portfolio
and customer base.
Founded in 2006, kvmtec
develops and distributes
flexible, high-security KVMover-IP
solutions (KVMoIP) to
extend and switch computer
signals. The company also
enables the high-performance,
latency-reduced transmission of
the signals via the standard IP
protocol in existing networks.
Kvm-tec is based in Tattendorf,
Austria, and currently has 28
employees.
With the acquisition of
kvm-tec, IHSE is accessing a
worldwide KVMoIP customer
base that will benefit from the
international IHSE distribution
network going forward, with offices
in Germany, the USA, Singapore,
and China. According
to the company, in addition to
joint sales forces, the management
of IHSE and kvm-tec will
see further synergy potential in
purchasing and production.
Ing Dietmar Pfurtscheller,
founder and CEO of kvm-tec,
says he will remain with the
company after the transaction is
completed, along with his wife,
Ingrid Pfurtscheller MSc, head
of sales and marketing. They
will drive growth together with
the IHSE team.
" Since kvm-tec was founded
some 15 years ago, we have
continuously developed the
technology behind our KVMoIP
products and are proud to
supply numerous international
customers today, " says
Pfurtscheller, in a statement.
" We are confident that in IHSE
we have found the right partner
to support our ongoing growth.
With its global footprint and
KVM expertise, we are well-positioned
to become a KVM
global powerhouse together. "
Dr. Enno Littmann, CEO of
IHSE, says, " With kvm-tec's
IP-based product portfolio, we
are strengthening our strategic
competitive position in the
market for further growth. Now
we offer the right KVM solution
for every customer need. Our
joint technology platform also
means we are reinforcing our
innovation capabilities in a
rapidly changing market. "
Michael Spatny, managing
director of IHSE, says the company's
international subsidiaries
enable it to be close to customers,
which are a key to success
in the IT security space.
Jury Sides with ClearOne in Ceiling Tile
Mic Patent Case Against Shure
A U.S. DISTRICT COURT JURY ruled that ClearOne did not infringe
on Shure's patent related to ceiling tile beamforming mic arrays,
marking another chapter in the litigation between the two audio
manufacturers.
On Nov. 3, the jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of
Delaware found that ClearOne did not infringe on Shure's patent,
and further, that Shure's patent is not valid.
In a statement, ClearOne President and CEO Zee Hakimoglu
called the jury's verdict " the latest in a string of litigation victories "
for the company against Shure.
" We are very pleased that the jury found that ClearOne's BMA
CT products did not infringe and invalidated Shure's patent, "
Hakimoglu said. " Shure was using the '723 patent to retaliate
against ClearOne, and the jury's verdict validates ClearOne's
refusal to give in to Shure's tactics. "
According to ClearOne, the products accused of infringement
in this case included the BMA CT, BMA CTH (i.e. the COLLABORATE
Versa Pro CT, COLLABORATE Versa Lite CT, COLLABORATE
Versa Room CT), BMA 360, and BMA-CTX.
In an emailed statement to Commercial Integrator, Shure said
the company plans to appeal both rulings.
" Shure is disappointed by the jury's findings that our '723
patent is not valid and was not infringed, " the company said.
" We believe the United States Patent Office correctly recognized
Shure's novel design when it issued the '723 patent, and
ClearOne's BMA CT products infringe that design. We intend to
appeal both rulings. "
The companies are also embroiled in another federal litigation
in the Northern District of Illinois involving Shure's drop-in ceiling
mounting configurations which ClearOne is accusing Shure of
infringement.
IHSE says the acquisition of kvm.tec now enables the
company to offer KVM solutions for every customer need.
6
Commercial Integrator DECEMBER 2021
The court in 2019 granted ClearOne's request for a preliminary
injunction that prevented Shure from making and selling those
products. Later, in September 2020, the court found Shure in contempt
for selling a different version of that product that ClearOne
believes infringes its own patent and violates the preliminary
injunction.
Most recently, in July 2021, a U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed
Shure's appeal of that contempt finding.
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Commercial Integrator December 2021

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