SmartSky Reaffirms the Merits of its Patent Infringement Case Against Gogo Business Aviation

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Jan 31, 2024, 16:38 ET

RESEARCH TRIANGLE, N.C., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals decision today, which did not reverse a District Court denial of a preliminary injunction, SmartSky reaffirms the merits of its patent infringement case (C.A. No. 22-266-GBW) against Gogo Business Aviation originally filed in February of 2022. The appellate decision was based solely on the issue of irreparable harm and did not address any of SmartSky's patent infringement claims at this preliminary stage of the case.

SmartSky's patented air-to-ground technology is a new way to deliver premium, streaming-level inflight internet that users expect in their homes or offices.

A preliminary injunction is an extraordinary measure because it stops a company from using and selling stolen patented technology during the pendency of the case. While preliminary injunctions are rarely granted, SmartSky was compelled to seek such extraordinary relief given the allegations of Gogo's egregious infringement.

In July of 2022, SmartSky announced the nationwide availability of its inflight internet network based on groundbreaking, patented technology that significantly outperforms any other previous or currently available air-to-ground solution in North America. In contrast, since 2008 Gogo has announced plans for at least four upgrades to its 3G-based technology. As SmartSky argued in its complaint, after failing to follow-through on those, Gogo abruptly announced in 2016 that it was changing course, and instead chose to market and sell Gogo 5G, a product that is substantially similar to SmartSky's air-to-ground network. SmartSky is confident the jury will agree that Gogo's actions are a clear, obvious, and willful infringement, even if the Gogo 5G network is still inactive as noted by the Court of Appeals.

SmartSky continues to expect it will be fully vindicated in its patent rights claims as the case moves forward and expects to secure a permanent injunction and substantial damages as a result of the trial scheduled for April 2025.

For more information, please visit SmartSkyNetworks.com.

Media Contact:

Mark Hazlin
Xenophon Strategies
Ph: (202) 777-2041
Mhazlin@xenophonstrategies.com

SOURCE SmartSky Networks