Swiftech announced today that they are withdrawing sales of their H220 Water Cooling Kit in the United States. This is probably why everyone we recommended the cooler to could not find it over the past month or so. The reason for the withdraw is that Asetek claims that the H220 CPU cooler infringes on their US patents 8,240,362 (the ’362 patent) and 8,245,764 (the ‘764 patent) and to cease selling, offering for sale and importing the H220 CPU cooler in the United States.
Swiftech did respond. Here is a record of the correspondence between Swiftech and Asetek:
On June 7 2013, Rouchon Industries Inc., d/b/a/ Swiftech® received a letter from Asetek’ s lawyers claiming that the H220 CPU cooler infringes on their US patents 8,240,362 (the ’362 patent) and 8,245,764 (the ‘764 patent) and to cease selling, offering for sale and importing the H220 CPU cooler in the United States. Pending final disposition of this matter, Swiftech® immediately placed a hold on shipments of the H220 CPU cooling kits into the USA.
On June 27, 2013 Swiftech’s counsel responded to Asetek’ s attorney by a letter stating that preliminarily, Swiftech® does not believe that the H220 product infringes any valid claim of the ‘362 and ‘764 patents. Nonetheless, in an effort to avoid any unnecessary litigation Swiftech® also asked whether Asetek would be willing to offer a nonexclusive license for the asserted patents.
On July 12, 2013 Swiftech® received a response from Asetek’ s law firm stating that the company does not offer licenses.
So if you live in the US and want to get your hands on the H220 good luck finding it. We reviewed the H220 back in March and it was one of the better AiO watercooling solutions we’ve seen this year. It’s sad that many people will not be able to get their hands on it.
Source: Swiftech | News Archive
