USITC Launches Investigation into Samsara's Patent Claims Against Motive Technologies

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has initiated a formal investigation following allegations by Samsara Inc. that Motive Technologies Inc. has infringed on its patents. The probe, announced earlier this week, will examine whether Motive Technologies unlawfully imported and marketed products that incorporate Samsara’s patented “vehicle telematics, fleet management video-based safety systems, devices, and components.”

Details of the Complaint

San Francisco-based Samsara filed the initial complaint on February 9, which was later supplemented on February 29. The company claims that Motive Technologies has violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which pertains to the unfair importation of goods that infringe on U.S. intellectual property rights. The USITC explained that remedies for such violations could include exclusion orders to prevent infringing products from entering the United States and cease-and-desist orders against the implicated parties.

In some instances, temporary exclusion and cease-and-desist orders may be issued to provide expedited relief. Samsara’s complaint specifically requests that the USITC enforce a limited exclusion order along with cease-and-desist orders.

The USITC has clarified that the decision to investigate does not imply any conclusions on the case's merits. The chief administrative law judge of the USITC will assign the case to an administrative law judge who will conduct an evidentiary hearing. This judge will then make an initial determination on whether there is a Section 337 violation, which will be reviewed by the commission. A preliminary hearing date has been set for November 14.

Ongoing Legal Battles and Responses

This USITC investigation is part of a broader legal dispute between the two companies. Samsara had previously filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing Motive of infringing several technology patents, along with claims of false advertising, fraud, breaches of federal hacking laws, and unfair competition. Similarly, Omnitracs Inc. has also filed a federal lawsuit against Motive, alleging comparable patent violations.

Motive Technologies has firmly denied the allegations from both Samsara and Omnitracs. Samsara, in a previous statement, dismissed Motive’s counterclaims as a diversion tactic. "Motive has decided to copy our claims," remarked Samsara spokesman Adam Simons, expressing confidence in their defense against the accusations.

Motive's countersuit argues that their technology is independently developed and innovative. According to Motive, their platform enables real-time visualization and analysis of physical operations, which was previously unachievable.

Statements from Key Figures

Lauren Whittemore, lead IP Counsel at Motive, stated, “We have filed an answer and motion to terminate the Trade Commission investigation. We believe our arguments are strong and that the companies should compete in the marketplace rather than in court. The best outcome would be a finding of non-infringement or invalidation of the patents. While the worst-case scenario might involve the exclusion of some products by U.S. Customs, we do not foresee it reaching that point.”

Attempts to contact Samsara for further comments were not immediately successful. Nonetheless, Samsara has previously accused Motive of using unethical and unlawful tactics to compete in the marketplace.

As the USITC investigation unfolds, the outcome could have significant implications for both companies and the broader industry. The competitive landscape of vehicle telematics and fleet management may see substantial changes depending on the results of this high-stakes legal conflict.

What is Trucker Social?

Trucker Social is more than just a company; it is a driving force behind the trucking industry. With our innovative Trucker Social App and a range of solutions, we cater to the diverse needs of everyone in the trucking ecosystem. From top-notch recruiting services to cutting-edge marketing strategies, we are here to support and uplift the entire trucking community.

Share on: