LAKE FOREST, Calif. (August 3, 2011) - Kwikset announces today that the
brand has successfully defended its popular SmartKey™ re-key
technology patents and that the Kwikset lawsuit against Schlage for
patent infringement and false advertising has been amicably resolved. As
a condition of settlement, Schlage has agreed to cease making and
selling all SecureKey products as of December 31, 2011.
Kwikset, a leading provider of door hardware and locksets, originally
filed the lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District
of Delaware against Schlage on March 2, 2010, for patent infringement of
Kwikset's re-key technology and for false advertising - Kwikset alleging
that Schlage's claim that SecureKey products are "10 Times More Secure"
than other lock products was false and misleading.
SmartKey re-key technology features a patented side-locking bar, central
to the locks' ability to be rapidly and easily re-keyed. This stainless
steel side-locking bar also replaces the traditional pin and tumbler
design that is particularly vulnerable to increasingly popular
lock-bumping attacks. Additionally, the cylinder uses two steel balls
inserted into the front of the cylinder face to provide improved drill
resistance.
SmartKey deadbolts have passed the most stringent lock picking standard, UL 437,
par. 11.6 and offer ANSI/BHMA certified Grade 1 security. Based on performance and features, SmartKey deadbolts earned the prestigious Best Buy rating from Consumers Digest Magazine in the residential deadbolt lock category in February 2010.
"Kwikset's SmartKey technology is recognized as one of the most
successful launches in company history," said Brent Flaharty, President
of Kwikset. "It has driven market share gains in all channels of
distribution."
Kwikset was one of the first lock manufacturers to introduce re-key
technology to the industry with its SmartKey products in 2007, providing
homeowners the flexibility to re-key their locks quickly and easily,
without removing the lock from the door. This feature empowers
homeowners to protect their homes and families in the face of lost,
stolen or unreturned keys.
