Freedom Scientific has filed two additional lawsuits over the past month. In one suit, they aledge the Foundation for Blind Children, an Arizona nonprofit who was formerly a dealer, is using trademarks without authorization and after their contract was terminated. The organization operates a store which sells technology products, but no products from Freedom Scientific were found in the store as of the time of this post. In a separate proceeding, Freedom Scientific is seeking financial remedies from the U.S. Government in regards to a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs. We've procured the full text of both of these cases and have linked them below for your convenience. Be sure to post your thoughts in the comments.
Freedom Scientific vs. United States of America
Freedom Scientific vs. the Foundation for Blind Children
Is Freedom Scientific vs.The Foundation for Blind Children a bargain? Or is it news/article?
BGZ Wednesday, 04-Aug-2010 8:16 PM ET:
It's a very sad day when an Assistive Technology company the size of FS goes out of their way to get a small non profit like FBC to not cease and desist but to essentially force them out of existance by the damages they ask for by the courts. While this is legally allowable for FS to do, in my opinion it's deplorable. FS will take a severe thrashing by many in the blind community for going way beyond getting a blind childrens non profit company to obey the law. Freedom Scientific, go back to what you are supposed to be doing with our money! Stop trying to be the biggest meanest bully on the block and get back to fixing long standing issues with Jaws. I don't renew my SMA's so you guys can go out and continueally sue companies that you feel the need to crush.
darknexus Wednesday, 04-Aug-2010 8:43 PM ET:
All this money they're spending here could be spent on something useful... say, actually fixing the focus loss problem that's been there since JFW 3.0, perhaps? Or how about the sticky alt problem, or the virtual buffer freezes, or... well, I think I've made my point. And yet, it doesn't matter what the blind community thinks. Many of the blind community are hypocrites on this issue anyway, they complain and complain how deplorable this is yet continue to pay money into FS to allow them to continue this crap. In the end, people will complain but continue to pay, rehab will continue to pay, FS will get more lawyers, and the cycle will continue as long as FS exist in their present form. You want this to stop? Stop buying their products and encourage everyone both personally and professionally to follow. Money is the only message FS will comprehend, words will do nothing at this stage of the game.
Khinton Thursday, 05-Aug-2010 3:39 PM ET:
This is more than an injustice! A non profit organization that can't aford anything? That is rediculis! What does Freedom Scientific think they are doing? We need to get JJ, GW Micro, Serotek, and everyone else to stand up for this injustice! Now who's with me!
Kyle Thursday, 05-Aug-2010 8:02 PM ET:
This is a call to action! I totally agree that this is indeed an injustice of the worst kind. We need to let companies like Freedom Scientific know that we will no longer stand for their mess, and hurting children, even indirectly, is one of the worst things a company can do. I am calling for an immediate and total boycott of all Freedom Scientific products and services by all individuals and organizations worldwide. More information can be found at http://3.ly/FSBoycott .
Nikita Thursday, 05-Aug-2010 10:01 PM ET:
Hmm. The FS has chosen costly and a bit strange tactics. I am very sorry for the money which might be used otherwise, for the development of new products and updates.
v8dodgeram318 Saturday, 07-Aug-2010 6:34 PM ET:
So basically what you are all saying is that it is ok for someone to break the law as long as they are a non-profit organization? What the FBC did was wrong, and against the law. Point blank end of story. They entered into a legal contract with Freedom Scientific which allowed them to use trade mmarks and images of the FS products and sell said products. When the agreement was over. Then these rights are legally terminated. Freedom even asked them to stop the violation, and FBC did not. All Freedom is asking is that the court order the FBC to stop the use of legal property of FS and for the FBC to pay court cost. This is not outrageous. Just because we are blind it doesn't give us the right to break the law.
Kyle Monday, 16-Aug-2010 5:39 PM ET:
@v8dodgeram318 Do you have any evidence to suggest that FBC in fact did break the law? Basically, all we have is a lot of unverifiable allegations by Freedom Scientific. Yes, I know about the exhibit that is posted in another article, but I also know that whole web sites can be forged, and that snapshots of entire sites can be taken and mirrored, dated whenever someone chooses to date them. From the FBC site we can easily see that they are no longer selling FS products. The real evidence to either prove or disprove the allegation that FBC was selling FS products beyond the termination of their contract is unfortunately not present. If you have substantial evidence, please feel free to share it here, complete with links to actual archives from FBC's web site during the dates in question. Even still, Freedom Scientific's persuit of this extreme legal action is far from just, whether or not FBC in fact knowingly or unknowingly violated its contract.
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J.J. Meddaugh is an experienced technology writer and computer enthusiast. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a major in telecommunications management and a minor in business. When not writing for Blind Bargains, he enjoys travel, playing the keyboard, and meeting new people.
