Rut Roe.. Bird and Low having at it..

Deitz Dittrich · January 27, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RACINE, Wisconsin, January 27, 2010 - Johnson Outdoors Inc. (JOUT: Nasdaq) today announced it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Navico, Inc. for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,652,952 by Navico’s sale of the Lowrance LSS-1 StructureScan Imaging System. Johnson Outdoors’ patent protects the Humminbird® Side Imaging® sonar technology. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court in Alabama, the home of Humminbird® products for over 50 years.

Johnson Outdoors’ Side Imaging® sonar produces detailed and recognizable images of underwater objects and waterbeds enabling anglers to pinpoint habitat, structure and drop-offs which are prime holding areas for fish. The patent application process began in 2004 prior to the Company’s introduction of Side Imaging® sonar in Humminbird® 900 series fishfinder models the following year.

Consumer demand prompted Johnson Outdoors to expand utilization of Side Imaging® sonar technology across a broad range of its Humminbird® portfolio and was a key driver behind the brand’s growth over the past four years. Following a comprehensive and methodical review process, on January 26, 2010, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the Company’s patent for “Side Imaging® sonar.”

“Our intellectual property policy is very simple: we will respect the property of others and fiercely protect that of our own. We were diligent throughout the Side Imaging® sonar technology patent application process to ensure we achieved both because real innovation brings real value which our customers and consumers expect and demand. By taking steps to protect our ideas and inventions, we help ensure our ability to continue to bring forward meaningful advances and innovative products that excite consumers and build our customers’ business,” said Kelly Grindle, Group Vice President Marine Electronics & Watercraft.

The Company’s complaint says Navico, Inc. expended substantial resources to inform the trade and relevant purchasers of fish finding products, that it too would use side scan technology to compete directly with Humminbird® Side Imaging® sonar products with knowledge that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office had approved the Company’s patent. The complaint further says Navico actively induced infringement of the patent by resellers. .

The Company is asking the Court to enjoin Navico from further infringement of the patented Side Imaging® sonar technology.

Neighbor_guy · January 27, 2010

The genie is already out of the bottle......

Good luck getting it put back in.........

My guess is this law suit goes nowhere. Just a "little fish" getting upset and trying to get cash from a "big fish".

If the pattent was not approved yet and LEI began development are they forced to stop production or pay "damages"?

Cecil · January 27, 2010

I dont think that Johnson is that much smaller of a fish, if at all...

RK · January 27, 2010

Coming from an industry where stuff like this is a pretty regular occurrence, I can tell you that suits like this are a.) usually settled out of court and b.) sometimes settled for pretty hefty sums of cash.

I think Humminbird was awarded this patent pretty recently. They didn't waste much time enforcing it. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, but this suit coming on the heels of a private personnel matter that turned into a very public PR gaffe, it hasn't been a great couple of weeks for Navico. If Johnson files for a hold on the sale of the disputed technology and gets it granted, that'd REALLY hurt.

RK

TonkaBass · January 27, 2010

"My guess is this law suit goes nowhere. Just a "little fish" getting upset and trying to get cash from a "big fish"."

That "little fish" sure seems to be on better terms with the fishing world right now. I just called their customers service line about an hour ago and was talking to a real person within 30 seconds and off the phone with all my questions answered within a couple minutes. Lowrance, IMHO, made some bad decisions with there products reliability and customer service. Meanwhile Humminbird was busy expanding one of the most ground breaking sonar developments since the flasher. A lowrance cant even read through weeds without getting messing up, and they wonder why nobody wants them.

I think that Lowrance is the one trying to get a piece of this pie..

olski · January 27, 2010

Just a "little fish" getting upset and trying to get cash from a "big fish".

Might want to look into that. This is the same people that own Minnkota,Cannon,Old Town, Etc. Pretty much the top teir products in a catagory.

And Humminbird is cutting into lowrance #'s big time.

NTW · January 27, 2010

It wasn't many seasons ago that I favored Lowrance over Humminbird but that has certainly changed. Customer service, leading edge innovation, and quality are the reasons. I am a bit dumbfounded by Lowrance these days.

RK · January 28, 2010

And the return volley from Navico...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 27, 2010

Gordon Sprouse

Navico

918-438-8615

[email protected]

LOWRANCE AFFIRMS CONTINUED COMMITMENT FOR DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPORT OF STRUCTURESCAN™ SONAR IMAGING TECHNOLOGY

Side-scanning and DownScan Imaging™ software and module add-on solution for HDS displays offers anglers and boaters a unique full-picture view of the underwater world.

Tulsa, Okla. – Lowrance, a world-leading brand in marine electronics since 1957 and GPS navigational systems since 1992, re-affirmed today that the LSS-1 StructureScan™ sonar imaging module option – compatible with HDS fishfinder/chartplotter multifunction displays – will continue to be sold, distributed and fully supported worldwide.

The announcement is a direct response to today’s patent infringement lawsuit filed against Navico, Inc., by Johnson Outdoors.

Lowrance publicly announced the 2009 availability of LSS-1 StructureScan™ sonar imaging on February 20, 2009, at the Bassmaster® Classic Expo, held in Shreveport, La. Additional details – including the DownScan Imaging™ feature of StructureScan™ sonar imaging for Lowrance HDS displays – were revealed publicly on July 15, 2009, at the International Convention of Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), held in Orlando, Fla.

Following the on-time shipment of LSS-1 StructureScan™ sonar imaging in November 2009, excitement of LSS-1 StructureScan™ sonar imaging continues to grow as media and dealer demonstrations at marine-industry events have revealed the unique “full picture” view and other unique features that this add-on module provides for owners of Lowrance HDS multifunction displays.

The LSS-1 StructureScan™ sonar imaging is based on Navico’s known and reliable sonar technology, yet it also features additional new technology not available from others, in a unique add-on module configuration.

“We are confident,” said Louis Chemi, COO for Navico Americas, “in the uniqueness and value of Lowrance LSS-1 StructureScan™ sonar imaging. We also wish to assure our customers that the worldwide sale and distribution of StructureScan™ sonar imaging will absolutely continue as planned with full Lowrance support for years to come. Navico will vigorously defend the recent legal proceedings initiated by Johnson Outdoors.”

For more information on Lowrance StructureScan™ sonar imaging, Lowrance HDS multifunction displays, or the entire Lowrance line of marine electronics, please visit www.lowrance.com.

TonkaBass · January 28, 2010

It's pretty obvious that Humminbird paved the road for this technology. Lowrance simply copied what bird had, and the only issue is whether or not they went against their patents. I for one will stick with bird.

NTW · January 28, 2010

What about the downscan feature? Didn't Lowrance introduce that first with Bird copying?

I haven't downloaded the upgrade to my 798 yet but I feel a little anxious to get it done all of a sudden.

TonkaBass · January 28, 2010

I think they did, but its just a spinoff of the birds sidescan if you ask me... all you need to do is get an upgrade to get it, not even a new unit.

bemidjibasser · January 28, 2010

Just a little info for those on the Lowrance side of things...