Google Accused Of Copying Ring Doorbell

Accused late last year of stealing the IP for a new security system Ring doorbell boss Jamie Siminoff is now having a crack at Google for knocking off his biggest selling product, he claims that Google is fast earning a reputation for copying other manufacturers products.

What has got under Siminoff’s skin is a move by the Google owned Nest Company to launch their own video doorbell a device that is set to be launched in Australia later this year.
Speaking to smart home website The Ambient, Siminoff said “It’s embarrassing for a company that spends $800 million a year to be just copying me and be behind me the whole time,” he said. “Having one of the largest companies in the world directly copying products you have, and your message, is worrisome but I don’t think copying is the way to build something great and they can’t copy the future, they can only copy my past.”

Siminoff also had criticism for the Works with Nest program, a platform that makes it easier for different smart home branded products to synchronise with one another, for a more autonomous home.

“I don’t understand this whole Works with Nest thing when basically it appears you’re going to continue to copy whatever is successful on the market and, so far, that’s what they’ve done,” he said. “I think it’s a little bit disingenuous that you have a program that says, ‘work with us, let’s be open and work together’ and then you continually copy products in that.

“It seems that the only way to be a successful Works with Nest partner is to not be successful.”

Nest Labs announced its video doorbell, the Nest Hello, recently – alongside a complete $499 security system called Nest Secure.

Currently Ring is facing legal issues in getting its $199 system into the shops. In November, sales were halted by a Delaware judge following a lawsuit filed by rival electronic security provider ADT. It’s a stumbling block Siminoff expects to overcome soon though.

“I’m working through it,” Siminoff said. “I’m okay with having setbacks and trying to get through them but the one thing I don’t like about this one is that contractually, and as a human, I did all the right things. I saved the company that had just fired 80 jobs. I did everything with the best of intentions.

“We’ll make sure that we still get it out.”

About Post Author

David Richards

David Richards has been writing about technology for more than 30 years. A former Fleet Street journalist, he wrote the Award Winning Series on the Federated Ships Painters + Dockers Union for the Bulletin that led to a Royal Commission. He is also a Logie Winner for Outstanding Contribution To TV Journalism with a story called The Werribee Affair. In 1997, he built the largest Australian technology media company and prior to that the third largest PR company that became the foundation company for Ogilvy PR. Today he writes about technology and the impact on both business and consumers.