EcoFactor Escapes Sanctions in Smart Thermostat Patent Dispute

EcoFactor Inc. dodged sanctions for bringing a patent infringement suit against EcoBee Inc. after a Texas federal judge found that EcoFactor didn’t improperly bring the suit despite ending similar disputes.

EcoBee asked Judge Alan Albright of the US District Court for the Western District of Texas to levy sanctions against EcoFactor, which accused it of infringing several patents related to smart home thermostats. There was not enough evidence of bad conduct that rises to the level of sanctions, Albright wrote in an order.

EcoBee had argued that EcoFactor acted in bad faith because it obtained an unfavorable outcome in ...