LEGO’s newest sets are now more than snapping colorful bricks together. Some of them can sense motion, flash lights and make sounds. However, that technology is at the center of a patent lawsuit. Israeli firm May Patents Ltd. is suing the LEGO Group, alleging that its new SMART Play system infringes three patents covering technology that responds to physical movement with specific lights and sounds.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and names several LEGO entities, including LEGO A/S, LEGO System A/S, LEGO Holding A/S, LEGO Systems, Inc. and LEGO Brand Retail, Inc.
LEGO accused of copying a major part of its new ecosystem
The dispute centers on the SMART Brick and SMART Charger, which are part of LEGO’s newer interactive ecosystem. May Patents says the technology inside the SMART Brick matches the architecture described in three of its patents: 11,192,002, 12,095,277 and 12,288,992.
The patents cover physical devices built around a motion sensor that detects how the device is being handled, a logic module that processes that movement and output signals that trigger different visual or audio responses.
The SMART Brick reportedly uses a three-axis motion sensor/accelerometer, a 4.1mm application-specific integrated circuit and LEDs and audio to respond to movement.
LEGO had already been warned
This controversy did not begin with the lawsuit. May Patents reportedly sent LEGO a formal letter in February, proposing a licensing agreement for the technology. Keep in mind that the first SMART Play sets arrived on store shelves in March.
Rather than reaching a licensing deal, the dispute has now moved into federal court. LEGO has the usual window to respond, which is typically 21 days. The company could file a formal answer, ask the court to dismiss the case, or request more time.
Some patent-troll history here
Industry analysts, including Unified Patents, reportedly classify May Patents as a non-practicing entity, or NPE. That means the company is not primarily making products using the patented technology. Instead, it pursues licensing agreements and patent-related payouts.
That’s where the term “patent troll” comes in. But “patent troll” is more of an industry label than a legal finding. The lawsuit still has to play out in court.
May Patents has done this before. In 2018, it sued Mattel over patents involving motion-sensing toys and signal processing. That case was settled privately within three months. The company has also been involved in patent litigation involving companies including Amazon and Microsoft.
Not theoretical LEGO bricks
The technology causing this dispute is already inside real products. The SMART Brick currently appears in several Star Wars and Pokémon All-in-One sets, including Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter (75421) and Charizard vs. Jolteon Ultimate Battle (72167). As the company defends how it built that technology, it will be up to the courts to rule in its favor or decide whether someone else got there first.
Sources: Brick Fanatics, The Brick Post