SkyCam Awarded Royalty Payments, Injunction in Lawsuit Against Actioncam

Outdoor Channel Holdings announced that Judge Gregory Frizzell of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma rendered a judgment on Sunday, September 30, in favor of SkyCam in two of the outstanding claims in its lawsuit against Actioncam and Actioncam’s President & CEO, Patrick J. Bennett. The case was initially filed in April 2009.

The judgment incorporates the jury’s findings in September 2011 that Mr. Bennett, a former SkyCam employee, breached his separation agreement and, along with Actioncam, misappropriated SkyCam’s trade secrets, and engaged in unfair competition. The jury found the Defendants’ actions were willful and malicious, and awarded actual and punitive damages to SkyCam.

In addition, the court found that Defendants’ theft and use of SkyCam’s trade secrets caused SkyCam irreparable harm, and ordered Defendants to pay SkyCam a royalty for each event covered by Actioncam from September 3, 2011 until February 28, 2013. The court also ruled that Defendants’ false and misleading statements about its own system capabilities and those of SkyCam irreparably harmed SkyCam. Actioncam and Bennett have been enjoined from making further such statements and have been directed to provide corrective advertising to address Defendants’ past false claims.

“These rulings send a message that competition should take place on a level playing field,” said Nic Salomon, President of SkyCam. “We look forward to continuing to provide industry leading technology and safety to the millions of fans who rely on our camera angles each week.”

The SkyCam systems center around a sophisticated, computer-controlled cable suspension system that support, stabilize and allow for three dimensional movement of a camera to capture overhead video of major events. Putting the viewer right in the middle of an event, the use of aerial cameras has significantly changed the way sports and other entertainment programming are broadcasted both domestically and internationally by delivering angles and revealing perspectives that dramatically enhance the quality of coverage. SkyCam’s clients are among the biggest names in network and cable television.