Swiftech? today announced the withdrawal from US sales of the H220

[Buckeye]

This is very sad and I hope Gabe & Swiftech can recover from this.
I thought I saw some place that they had a triple rad unit coming out soon.

http://www.swiftech.com/pr-7-19-13-h...vedfromus.aspx

I am not sure what products Asetek has that is like the H220 unless you consider the usual AIO water cooling units that are out there.

At least we have this one still or will it be pulled also ?

http://www.swiftech.com/H2O-x20-Edge-HD.aspx

Press Release, for Immediate Release

Long Beach, CA July 19th, 2013 11:45 PST- Rouchon Industries Inc., d/b/a/ Swiftech? today announced the withdrawal from US sales of the H220 CPU cooling kit.

On June 7 2013, Rouchon Industries Inc., d/b/a/ Swiftech? received a letter from Asetek? s lawyers claiming that the H220 CPU cooler infringes on their US patents 8,240,362 (the ?362 patent) and 8,245,764 (the ?764 patent) and to cease selling, offering for sale and importing the H220 CPU cooler in the United States. Pending final disposition of this matter, Swiftech? immediately placed a hold on shipments of the H220 CPU cooling kits into the USA.

On June 27, 2013 Swiftech?s counsel responded to Asetek? s attorney by a letter stating that preliminarily, Swiftech? does not believe that the H220 product infringes any valid claim of the ?362 and ?764 patents. Nonetheless, in an effort to avoid any unnecessary litigation Swiftech? also asked whether Asetek would be willing to offer a nonexclusive license for the asserted patents.

On July 12, 2013 Swiftech? received a response from Asetek? s law firm stating that the company does not offer licenses.

Swiftech? continues to firmly assert its position with regards to the alleged infringement as stated in its letter dated June 27, 2013. Nevertheless, in order to avoid litigation the company?s management has now made the business decision to withdraw the H220 CPU cooler from the US market.

Given these circumstances, Swiftech? wants to hereby reassure its US customers that: 1/ it will continue to provide full technical and warranty support for the H220 CPU cooling kits that have been sold in the US, and 2/ the product will continue to be sold in other countries.

Swiftech? sincerely apologizes to its US customers for this extraordinary situation, the very first in its long history. For the past 15 years, Swiftech? has been at the forefront of technological innovation in this industry, and it will continue to do so. In the words of Gabriel Rouchon, the company?s Chairman and CTA: ?I want our customers to know and expect with absolute confidence that Swiftech?s resourcefulness will once again be brilliantly demonstrated in the immediate future?.

[Sparky]

What part exactly is it that Asatek claims is being infringed on? I'm not good at decifering patent info... Looks almost to me like the patents are for standard air coolers or any water cooling system, which makes zero sense...

[AMDforME]

Patent issues can be very tricky because you patent a concept, not a product. How courts interpret patents can be anything from reasonable to absurd. These cases can cost far more than all the gross sales generated in the U.S. for all Swiftech products combined. It's quite possible that Swiftech did unknowingly violate a patent but only time will tell. Basically in the U.S. the only ones who win are the lawyers who get paid no matter how good or bad they perform nor who receives the favorable decision.

[Dami3n]

The first was Coolit, now Swiftech. It seems like Asetek has the patent of the AIO concept. Sad news, we don?t need another patent troll.

[apexracing]

Maybe they could lower the price and offer it without fans, under a different name. I don't see how Swiftech is infringing anyhow, the H220 is not a closed-loop system. If the decision were mine, I would file a counter and say Asetek was being anti-competitive.

[PatRaceTin]

wow may be only in us

[Evantaur]

US patent systems needs to go burn in hell, i'm starting to get really ing pissed on this constant patent trolling bull

[chispy]

Very Sad news indeed such a marvelous and ingenious product , falls down due to the monopoly Asetek has in the AIO H2O Close Loop water cooler concept , bad Asetek bad :/ , feel bad for Gabe and the Team at Swiftech after all this hard work to make the best of all AIO H2O cooler , the only upgradeable one. Time to stop supporting Asetek guys , they want to continue with this monopoly with the non sense patent infringement BS. Asetek based products wont see a dime for me ever again Crap like this make me very mad

[BenchZowner]

Asetek is jealous of Apple it seems...

A sign of trying to hang on ? Asetek isn't what it used to be since the Vapochill LS era has gone by...

[Buckeye]

Very Sad news indeed such a marvelous and ingenious product , falls down due to the monopoly Asetek has in the AIO H2O Close Loop water cooler concept , bad Asetek bad :/ , feel bad for Gabe and the Team at Swiftech after all this hard work to make the best of all AIO H2O cooler , the only upgradeable one. Time to stop supporting Asetek guys , they want to continue with this monopoly with the non sense patent infringement BS. Asetek based products wont see a dime for me ever again Crap like this make me very mad

Agreed Chispy

Considering that Asetek has no product out that even comes close to the performance/features of the H220.

I have purchased many, many H20-X20 Edge units and find them to be very good. If any of you guys are/were interested in these types of coolers take a look at this one, it also comes in a triple rad unit.

[cx-ray]

Did the Asetek CEO learn English from Windows Narrator?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...t0RssTuQ#at=38

[chispy]

Did the Asetek CEO learn English from Windows Narrator?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...t0RssTuQ#at=38

[STEvil]

The way those patents are worded they cover any generic liquid cooled systems.. pure patent trolling.

[Olivon]

I just grabbed an H2O-320-Edge-HD.

Fak u Aztec

[LightSpeed]

It was easily the best 240mm unit out there aside from custom loops of course. How Asetek can possibly win this lawsuit i have no clue whatsoever.

[StAndrew]

Hmm, lots of "patent troll" comments, but I disagree; regrettably, their patent seems pretty solid. They came up with the concept and own the idea of an integrated (pump, reservoir, radiator, and block) low/no maintenance liquid cooling CPU kit. I would argue that it would be even more regrettable if someone can use your idea to cut into your business (<- this comment not aimed at "Swiftech" but at the "patent troll" comments).

Gabe, reading over the patent, Im pretty sure you can still sell this kit, it just has to be unassembled and with the liquid in a separate container. This may even lower production costs

The way those patents are worded they cover any generic liquid cooled systems.. pure patent trolling.

Not true. The "Abstract" is just a background on CPU/PC cooling. The actual description of what is being patented starts as Page 17 "Summary of Invention" for the ’362 patent or Page 15 for the ‘764 patent.

They didn't "invent watercooling" but rather a concept of mass production of assembled, cheap, and integrated waterloops with little to no maintenance required. This is a valid patent IMHO. But before everyone disagrees with me, read the patents...

[BenchZowner]

So... if I per say make a selection of waterblocks, pumps, radiators, tubing and pre-assemble them and fill them with liquid, and decide to sell them as a pre-built kit named... BZ's CoolAid and CoolAid Pro, I'm violating Asetek's patent of a... completely pre-assembled watercooling kit ?

Sorry, but the patent system in the US and globally in most cases sucks monkey balls ( especially if we consider the great innovations that have been patented by the #1 patent troll... aka Apple Inc. ).

[Buckeye]

So... if I per say make a selection of waterblocks, pumps, radiators, tubing and pre-assemble them and fill them with liquid, and decide to sell them as a pre-built kit named... BZ's CoolAid and CoolAid Pro, I'm violating Asetek's patent of a... completely pre-assembled watercooling kit ?

Sorry, but the patent system in the US and globally in most cases sucks monkey balls ( especially if we consider the great innovations that have been patented by the #1 patent troll... aka Apple Inc. ).

I think I just agreed with BenchZowner here... man I need to go outside and get some fresh air

[thegt1]

We need to stop talking and take action, let's hit Asetek where it hurts, boicot their products, use your social media to let everyone know not to buy from this company, use every tool at your disposal (forums, lan party, weekend overclocking events,........) to get this company out of business.

[Evantaur]

We need to stop talking and take action, let's hit Asetek where it hurts, boicot their products, use your social media to let everyone know not to buy from this company, use every tool at your disposal (forums, lan party, weekend overclocking events,........) to get this company out of business.

because it works so well on apple

[mutantmagnet]

Yeah Reebok and Tuna companies were uninfluenced by boycotts. How could any activist expect to organize people with only telephones, letters and newspapers?

[StAndrew]

So... if I per say make a selection of waterblocks, pumps, radiators, tubing and pre-assemble them and fill them with liquid, and decide to sell them as a pre-built kit named... BZ's CoolAid and CoolAid Pro, I'm violating Asetek's patent of a... completely pre-assembled watercooling kit ?

Sorry, but the patent system in the US and globally in most cases sucks monkey balls ( especially if we consider the great innovations that have been patented by the #1 patent troll... aka Apple Inc. ).

Its not the product that they are patenting but the idea . In a world destined only to be gained through deep wallets/rations of roman noodles, catered to enthusiasts, its understandable that someone who invested thousands of their own dollars into an idea/product and subsequently brings this world of enthusiasts to the masses wants their investment protected.

This is the classic, "police suck until your house gets robbed" attitude. When you come up with a great idea and invest your hard earned money into it and someone copies it for free, you'd be pretty pissed and wouldn't hesitate to evoke your patent. Especially if they start eating into your business, putting your investment and hard work into a hole. At least Asetek isn't pursuing damages/money like your typical "patent troll."

Now, before ppl jump to conclusions, Im not judging Swiftech.

[[XC] Lead Head]

It seems to me the main issue is having the pump and reservoir integrated onto the water block is the main issue.

[Buckeye]

The Edge series is very good and I will continue using it. You can use what ever block you want or the one that comes with it which I find is very good.

[STEvil]

Hmm, lots of "patent troll" comments, but I disagree; regrettably, their patent seems pretty solid. They came up with the concept and own the idea of an integrated (pump, reservoir, radiator, and block) low/no maintenance liquid cooling CPU kit. I would argue that it would be even more regrettable if someone can use your idea to cut into your business (<- this comment not aimed at "Swiftech" but at the "patent troll" comments).

Gabe, reading over the patent, Im pretty sure you can still sell this kit, it just has to be unassembled and with the liquid in a separate container. This may even lower production costs


Not true. The "Abstract" is just a background on CPU/PC cooling. The actual description of what is being patented starts as Page 17 "Summary of Invention" for the ’362 patent or Page 15 for the ‘764 patent.

They didn't "invent watercooling" but rather a concept of mass production of assembled, cheap, and integrated waterloops with little to no maintenance required. This is a valid patent IMHO. But before everyone disagrees with me, read the patents...

No, they did not invent it, nor did they invent the pre-assembled aspect. Swiftech, Dangerden, Zalman, CoolIT, XSPC, and several others beat them to the punch on many (if not all) of the mentioned portions of the patent.

They just patent trolled it first.