US Court finds WhiteWater West infringe Proslide patents

A Court in the US state of Florida has found that WhiteWater West Industries Ltd of British Coumbia, Canada infringed patents owned by rival ProSlide Technology Inc. for its FlyingSAUCER® product, and for its non-commercialized ORBIT® technology, by offering similar products for sale in the USA

The jury in the case also confirmed the validity of all of ProSlide’s patents.

Commenting on the verdict, ProSlide President and Chief Executive, Rick Hunter stated “we are very pleased with the jury’s ruling in this case.

“At ProSlide, we understand the importance of protecting the investment that we make when developing new products by filing and defending patents.

“The FlyingSAUCER has revolutionised what a water ride experience could be and is unlike anything that was available prior to its introduction to the market.” In this case, the jury ruled specifically that WhiteWater’s Tailspin and Orbiter wilfully infringed ProSlide’s U.S. Patent No. 10,702,783.

The jury also found that WhiteWater’s AquaSphere infringed ProSlide’s U.S. Patent No. 9,079,111.  In response to this, Hunter noted “we are happy that the jury ruled that our patents are valid, providing ProSlide with assurance that our innovative designs are protected in the U.S. market from being replicated.

“The waterpark industry has been confused in recent years about WhiteWater’s infringing Tailspin and Orbiter products. The jury clearly called out the wilful infringement.”

The FlyingSAUCER was first introduced to the water park industry in 2015 with the opening of Singha at Siam Park, Tenerife, Spain and went on to win the IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Water Ride of the year - the award adding to 16 IAAPA first-place Best New Water Ride awards in the last 20 years and four IAAPA IMPACT Awards.

WhiteWater West has also been embroiled in a longstanding legal dispute with American Wave Machines in relation that WhiteWater's Endless Surf product allegedly infringing patents held by American Wave Machines. 

Image: ProSlide's FlyingSAUCER slide. Credit: ProSlide Technology Inc.