ESCORT Radar Files Complaint Against Cobra Electronics

WEST CHESTER, Ohio, Nov. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ESCORT Inc. (ESCORTinc.com), designer and manufacturer of the world's best premium automotive accessories and the patented ESCORT Live™ real-time ticket protection network, today announced that it has filed a complaint against Cobra Electronics.

On Friday, November 11, 2011, ESCORT Radar filed a complaint (Case Number 1:11 CV 797, United States District Court Southern District Ohio Western Division) against Cobra Electronics in Federal Court in Cincinnati for patent infringement of two ESCORT patents, U.S. Patent 6,670,905 which was issued December 30, 2003, and U.S. Patent 7,999,721 which was issued August 16, 2011.  ESCORT's lawsuit asserts infringement by Cobra's iRadar product and announced iRadar community service.  This is the second time ESCORT has pursued litigation against Cobra relating to the '905 patent; the first lawsuit relating to an earlier Cobra product was settled in early 2008.  ESCORT's latest lawsuit also asserts Cobra breached the agreement that settled the previous lawsuit.

"The patents asserted in this lawsuit recognize ESCORT's innovations marrying GPS and radar detection, which are the result of development and research by ESCORT engineers extending back well into the 1990's," said John Larson, CEO and President of ESCORT.  "Our inventions and patents cover not only the identification and marking of false alerts, but also, the sharing of radar alert information between detectors, an idea we brought to the market with the ESCORT Live™ social network.  ESCORT and Cobra have peacefully coexisted since 2008, but with the iRadar, Cobra has overstepped its bounds, into infringement of our patents, and is capitalizing on our research and our ideas, including ESCORT's multi-decade effort to build a network that permits radar detectors to share information in a network that benefits the driving community as a whole.  ESCORT was left with no choice but to respond."

For information about ESCORT's premium automotive accessories, ESCORT's class-leading radar and laser detectors and the patented ESCORT Live™ social network for the road, please visit ESCORTinc.com or call 800.433.3487.

About ESCORT Inc.

ESCORT Inc. is the leading manufacturer of high-performance radar and laser detectors, the patented ESCORT Live™ real-time ticket protection network, SmartMirror™ GPS NAV enabled OEM replacement rearview mirror, Guardian Alert reverse obstacle detection systems, Entourage GPS enabled navigation and tracking products and other Drive Smarter products.  ESCORT manufactures products under the ESCORT, PASSPORT, REDLINE, SOLO, Vector and BELTRONICS brands.  The company is headquartered in West Chester, Ohio with its principal manufacturing facility located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Editorial Contact:
Ron Gividen
513.870.8500
press(at)escortinc(dot)com

SOURCE ESCORT Inc.