Amazon has settled a lawsuit filed by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company over allegations that Amazon copied State Farm’s patented technology to develop elder care services for its virtual assistant Alexa. The lawsuit, filed in 2022, claimed that Amazon infringed on State Farm’s Sundial senior-care assistance technology patents.
Key Details of the Settlement
State Farm had met with Amazon in 2019 and 2020 to discuss incorporating its Sundial technology into Alexa-enabled devices. The insurance company alleged that Amazon subsequently copied patented Sundial features, including a “circle of friends” for coordinating caregiver responsibilities, a chatbot for seniors, and check-in and monitoring services.
Amazon denied the allegations, arguing that the patents were invalid. The case was filed in Delaware federal court, and the companies requested its dismissal with prejudice on Wednesday, meaning it cannot be refiled. The settlement terms remain confidential.
State Farm described this as its first-ever patent infringement lawsuit. The case is State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Amazon.com Inc, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:22-cv-01447.
Representatives from Kirkland & Ellis represented State Farm, while Latham & Watkins and White & Case represented Amazon. The settlement brings an end to the legal dispute between the two companies over the alleged patent infringement.
