A firm specializing in smartwatch face designs via non-fungible tokens has initiated legal action against LVMH, claiming the luxury fashion giant has infringed on its patents.
In a complaint lodged in a Texas federal court on March 10, Watch Skins Corporation accused LVMH of misusing its innovative NFT display technology.
The company asserted that it created a distinctive system that enables users to show verified NFT artworks on smartwatches and boasts multiple patents associated with this technology.
Watch Skins asserted that a smartwatch from TAG Heuer, a brand owned by LVMH, along with other products from the conglomerate, unlawfully deployed NFT display technology that is founded on three patents owned by Watch Skins.
The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 (shown above) is among the watches that Watch Skins alleges infringe upon its patents. Source: TAG Heuer
LVMH is a global holding company that oversees numerous prestigious luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, TAG Heuer, Tiffany, Christian Dior, Hennessy, and Moët & Chandon champagne.
According to Watch Skins, its initial patent addresses a system that verifies NFT ownership prior to displaying it on a watch face, the second patent pertains to a process requiring NFT verification through a blockchain wallet before being showcased on smartwatches, and the third relates to the retrieval and visual presentation of custom watch faces based on NFT ownership.
The company alleged that TAG Heuer promotes patent infringement by offering guidance on utilizing its NFT display functionalities.
“The watch is capable of showcasing the NFT if it belongs to the user’s crypto wallet [and] connects to a user’s crypto wallet to ensure the authenticity of the displayed works,” the complaint detailed.
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Watch Skins is seeking a jury trial along with compensation for lost earnings and royalties due to the infringement, as well as a court ruling to bar LVMH from further utilizing the patented technology.
In 2020, the company revealed the unveiling of the first-ever blockchain NFT watch face marketplace at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The mobile application provides consumers with “the opportunity to acquire authentic, licensed smartwatch faces from their preferred brands,” according to Watch Skins at that time.
Inquiries for comment have been directed to LVMH.
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