Around the Net
Google, Honeywell Settle Patent Dispute Over Smart Thermostats
- BizJournals, Monday, May 9, 2016 9:05 AM
Honeywell International Inc. and Google have settled a four-year-old patent lawsuit that centered on Google's Nest Labs, which made an internet-connected thermostat that Honeywell said infringed on its patents. The two companies announced a long-term licensing deal late Thursday that "fully resolves pending patent litigation" between Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Nest. Terms weren't disclosed. Morris Plains, N.J.-based Honeywell, whose home-automation unit is based in Golden Valley, sued Nest in 2012, claiming the startup's "smart thermostat" infringed on years-old Honeywell patents related to user interfaces and controlling a thermostat from a remote location. Nest's early thermostat won critical plaudits for being able to adjust a home's temperature when the house was empty, and learning its users' habits.
