Future of Sex
tagline
  • Remote Sex
  • Virtual Sex & Entertainment
  • Robots
  • Human Augmentation
  • Sex Tech
  • Dating & Relationships
  • Bizarre Bazaar 18+
  • Future of Sex Community
  • Remote Sex
  • Virtual Sex & Entertainment
  • Robots
  • Human Augmentation
  • Sex Tech
  • Dating & Relationships
  • Bizarre Bazaar 18+
  • Future of Sex Community
  • Flashbacks & Flashforwards: Legendary Science Fiction Authors Predicted Sex’s Far Future—In 1971

  • How Sites Like RabbitsCams.sex Are Redefining Online Sex

  • Everything Ancient Is New Again: The Rise and Future of Paranormal Sex

  • Dr. Olivia Lee’s Predictions: Solo Polyamory, AI Sexbots, and the Return of Romance

  • Will Snapchat’s AR Glasses Stifle Erotic Imagination or Open Exciting New Literary Possibilities?

  • Bots Behaving Badly: New Study Exposes Persistent Sexual Harassment by Replika

  • AI’s Got Your Back: Chatbot Helps Users Deal With Emotional/Sexual Rejection

  • Securing Sextech: The Importance of Keeping Your Private Life—Private

Future of Sex is supported by our readers. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Home > Sex Tech > LovePalz must pay $56,100 in damages after losing ‘teledildonic’ patent suit

Sex Tech
Home›Sex Tech›LovePalz must pay $56,100 in damages after losing ‘teledildonic’ patent suit

LovePalz must pay $56,100 in damages after losing ‘teledildonic’ patent suit

By Jenna Owsianik
July 21, 2016
6156
4

Judge rules against startup that failed to defend itself. 

An image depicting struggle over patent law.

Winzz, LLC, an apparently now-defunct sex tech company that did business as LovePalz, has been ordered to pay $56,100.71 in damages to TZU Technologies. TZU Technologies, a California-based company, controls the rights to the US patent covering the communication of sex toys over the Internet. This patent is often referred to as the Hassex or the ‘268 patent.

US District Judge John A. Kronstadt found Winzz, LLC/LovePalz liable for patent infringement on June 30 after it failed to both respond and defend itself against complaints. The Delaware-based company once sold interactive sex toys for long-distance partners: a male sex sleeve called Zeus and a vibrator called Hera.

After poor product reviews, LovePalz launched an unsuccessful Indiegogo campaign in 2014 to raise funds for revamped versions of Zeus and Hera marketed as Twist. It also attempted to start an adult social network for remote sex called The LovePalz Clubb. It appears the company has ceased operations since 2015 and has not responded to requests for comment.

Counting the legal blows

TZU Technologies first brought legal action against six sex tech companies, including LovePalz, in June 2015. The crowdfunding site Kickstarter was also named as a defendant after it featured a campaign for the virtual hand holding device Frebble. The case against the company was dismissed last November.

Lawsuits against Internet Services, LLC and WMM Holdings, LLC (the makers of the RealTouch), Happy Haptics, Inc. (FriXion), Comingle, and Vibease remain active.

Vibease, Comingle, and the makers of the RealTouch filed near-identical counterclaims challenging the validity of TZU Technologies’ patent in 2015 with the same legal representation. They have also presented exhibits of prior art to the court in an attempt to demonstrate that sex over communication networks was not a novel idea before the Hassex patent was filed in 1998.

However, the legal battle has served a crushing blow to Comingle in particular. The Atlanta-based sex tech company held itself a funeral in May, unable to keep up with high legal fees. The news came with little shock. In February, the startup announced it had to stop producing its open-source dildo, the Mod, due to the mentally and financially draining patent lawsuit.

Image source: opensource.com

 

Tags#patents

Jenna Owsianik

Jenna Owsianik is a Canadian journalist and sex tech expert. Since 2014 she has been Editor-in-Chief of FutureofSex.net, the world’s leading publication on how technology is changing human sexuality, today and tomorrow.

Jenna is the primary author of the Future of Sex Report (2016).

Her expertise covers state-of-the-art sex technologies and the major fields driving innovations in intimacy: robotics, virtual reality, remote sex (teledildonics), immersive adult entertainment, human augmentation, virtual sex, and sexual health.

A trained journalist with a Masters of Journalism from The University of British Columbia, Jenna’s reporting has appeared on Futurism.com, Al Jazeera English, CTV British Columbia online, CBS Sunday Morning, CBS 60 Minutes, Global News, and CKNW Radio in Canada and the United States.

As a sex tech industry consultant, she is especially passionate about helping companies deliver accessible services and products to people with disabilities and other underserved communities.

Jenna also runs the sites SexforEveryBody.com, a sex-positive, body-positive online magazine that promotes inclusive sex education; and DisabledSexGuide.com, an adult resource on sex, disability, and erotica.

In 2013, Jenna won two Canadian Online Publishing Awards for her work on The Pain Project, a multimedia site on global access to palliative care.

She won second place at the 2011 Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism’s Public Health category for her participation in the documentary Freedom From Pain.

Jenna has an Honors BA in Women’s Studies and Feminist Research as well as a French minor from The University of Western Ontario. She spent a year studying at L’Université Lumière Lyon 2 in Lyon, France.
Previous Article

Love 2.0: Software Agents and Sexuality

Next Article

Westworld: How Will HBO’s New Sci-Fi Thriller ...

Related articles More from author

  • Sex TechVirtual Sex & EntertainmentImmersive Entertainment

    Open Source Sex Tech: the DIY Edition

    December 11, 2014
    By Baxstar J. Ferguson
  • A figure displaying what the 268 patent covers
    Remote SexSex Tech

    Teledildonics Timeline: One Patent’s Control over the Remote Sex Market [Updated]

    August 12, 2018
    By Jenna Owsianik
  • RobotsSex Tech

    Inventor Patents ‘Sex Robot’ Controlled by Man’s Erotic Noises

    August 10, 2016
    By M. Christian
  • Remote Sex

    Say Goodbye to the Mod: Patent Suit Ends Production of Open-Source Dildo

    February 23, 2016
    By Jenna Owsianik
  • An image depicting struggle over patent law.
    Remote SexSex Tech

    Lovense Granted Patent for Tip-controlled Sex Toys

    September 19, 2017
    By Jenna Owsianik
  • Legal symbols
    Remote Sex

    Online Sex News: Defendants’ Counterclaims Call ‘Teledildonics’ Patent Invalid

    October 10, 2015
    By Jenna Owsianik

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Sex Tech

    Securing Sextech: The Importance of Keeping Your Private Life—Private

  • A photos showing facial recognition tech in action.
    Sex Tech

    Facial Recognition Technology Lets You Find Your Erotic Doppelganger

  • Sex TechImmersive Entertainment

    FOSTA Hurts Legit Adult Sites, Explains Sex Tech Lawyer Maxine Lynn

3DXChat
DreamSexWorld offers a stunning XXX 3D world filled with incredibly interactive erotic experiences.
  • TOP REVIEWS

  • Project QT is the most popular RPG sex game at hentai sex game portal Nutaku.

    The Best RPG Sex Games [UPDATED]

  • Multiplayer Online Sex Games

    Review of the Best Massively Multiplayer Online Sex Games

    0
  • Harmony ai sex doll from RealDoll

    State of the Sexbot Market: The World’s Best Sex Robot and AI Sex Doll Companies ...

  • Realistic Sex Games

    Review of the Best Sex Games and Most Realistic Sex Simulators [UPDATED]

    0
  • Screenshot of a sexbot from adult entertainment game

    The Best Adult Games on Steam [UPDATED]

Discover the best virtual sex parties and 3D sex worlds.
Share and discuss what the world thinks about our sexual future. Join the Future of Sex Community A blonde and light-skinned love doll face sppears next to the text Go now realdollxthe future is real.

Like Us on Facebook

Virtual Lust is a 3D interactive sex game.

Top Sex Tech Industry News & Insights

  • Sex Tech News Roundup
  • Future of Sex Expert Series
  • Sex Tech Conferences, Adult Expos, Sex Hackathons, and Virtual Event Listings
  • Sex Science Fiction

Follow us

  • Home
  • About
  • ADVERTISE
  • Contribute
  • Story Ideas
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2011 - 2022 Future Exploration Network
This website or its third-party tools use cookies to improve user experience and track affiliate sales. To learn more about why we need to use cookies, please refer to the Privacy Policy.

By clicking the agree button or continuing to browse through the website, you agree to the use of cookies. Accept Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT