Big trouble brewing for the future of aquarium LEDs
66 Comments
Well we started hearing murmurs of trouble brewing at PFO and our investigation has revealed some startling news which will affect the future of all LEDs for aquarium use. The story all began when we were informed that PFO Lighting, one of the leading innovators and manufacturers of aquarium lighting, laid off their entire staff. Why would a thriving company with innovative products such as the Solaris be forced to do such a thing? Because they are being sued by patent trolls who have nothing to do with our industry! Please read on to learn more about how this lawsuit is damaging innovation in the industry and how it could lead to a complete absence of LED technology in the aquarium hobby.
Update: You can look over the entire lawsuit here and the patent here.
This gloomy situation all began with a patent lawsuit which was filed by the Orbital Technologies Corporation, also known as Orbitec. For some unknown reason, this primarily aerospace research and development company with over $150 Million in industry and government contracts decided to patent the use of LEDs for Marine aquariums, well after the people began to use LEDs for marine tanks and well after PFO began shipping the Solaris luminaire. Once they were awarded the really broad and obviously bogus patent, Orbitec filed a lawsuit against the most obvious aquarium LED manufacturer PFO. PFO tried to reason with the corporation, even offering to sell the lighting division to Orbitec. The suits at orbitec made it clear that they had no intention of operating in the aquarium industry and they demanded 25% royalties on all LED products sold.
With over $150 Million in contracts, what do they care about squeezing out a few grand from the aquarium industry? Well the path of least resistance is what makes a river crooked; Orbitec couldnt care any less about the industry they are disrupting and the American companies and jobs they are shuttering. As if things weren’t bad enough in this economy, the target of this lawsuit is not some far away Chinese knock off company, it’s a domestic manufacturer which uses nearly all American labor and parts.
Furthermore, the implication of this lawsuit will affect all light fixtures which use LEDs, that means Current, Aqua Illuminators, AquaFX and even all the little moonlight makers could be next on the chopping block. PFO has tried and failed to convince some of these manufacturers that this lawsuit is in the mutual interest of many parties, should Orbitec win this lawsuit, they could singlehandedly halt the production of LED fixtures in the aquarium industry for good.
The impending lawsuit scheduled for this month has already stymied aquarium lighting innovation. We know of several LED fixtures which some of these companies have ready for release but they are withholding from the market until the outcome of the Wisonsin based lawsuit. With PFO’s lawyer fees well over 6 digits and climbing, it’s clear that Orbitec and it’s army of legal suits are bleeding PFO of capital until they probably cannot fight the lawsuit anymore.
Editor’s Note: I regret making such an empassioned post and I have edited some of my comments to be more appropriate.
Jake,
This is deplorable espicially in light of current economic conditions. This is not a Chinese company, knocking off and flooding the market but an innovative and forward looking AMERICAN company. I was really looking forward to the push in LEDs in the market and in a few years was looking to venture in.
Thank you so much for bringing this to light and I’m going to email the schmucks over at craptec and give them my thoughts. Lets make sure we all get on board and let them know!
Here’s to PFO and hoping they can win this lawsuit and sue those bastards in return!
Brian
Brian
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:23 am
[...] fan or owner, this is a hard blow to innovation in the industry. Read this post at Reefbuilders: Big trouble brewing for the future of aquarium LEDs | Reef Builders Here’s an excerpt: [...]
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:34 am
[...] been some rumors passing around in regards to PFO Lighting. Unfortunately we were informed today by Jake Adams that the staff at PFO has been laid off. This is very said news, as PFO had some notable staff [...]
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Hang in there PFO. I think orbitec should be taken to court… it is likely they would lose their patent in the process. The fact that they got that patent in the first place just goes to show how rediculous the USPTO is in its process… they just want to make money it seems.
Those guys are in my back yard… let me dig around and see what I can find…
Regards,
Jon
Milwaukee
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Greedy bastards! Maybe I should patent the use of 12v DC fans for aquariums…
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Unbelievable. DIYer’s have been playing with LED’s for years now (starting with moonlights) because we ultimately want to save money and help the environment (less electricity) and have been waiting impatiently for these real LED fixtures, etc. Now, when it is on the horizon, good old greedy corporate America bites us in the butt.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Thats not right at all, I am honestly dumbstruck and don’t know what to say..
+1 for everyone posting.
-1 for the money hungry mosquito’s.
+everything to the staff of PFO..
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Reading the claims they could bypass the patent by removing the controller or changing it so that it doesn’t vary the intensity of the lights but just turns some of them on at different intervals.
A lot of crap gets through the patent sytem nowadays….
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:32 pm
As a member of the reef lighting community, hobbyist I’m outraged at Orbital’s use of taxpayer funded research to back patents that stymie innovation.
Prior art by Tullio Dell Aquila nullifys Orbital and PFOs subsequent patents, check it out:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/feature.htm
Cleverly, Orbital mentions in their patent filing that others had used LEDs in moonlighting, but “NONE” for main lighting.
The drawing above looks suspiciously like units I saw Tullio messing with in 2003.
I think these scientists roll the dice on which companies industries are enforceable. I hope for all involved it gets resolved correctly. Tullio is the only person who can lay claim to this patent if its even enforceable.
my 0.02
Christopher Jung
President
Nanocustoms.com
Nanotuners.com
chris@nanocustoms.com
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:28 pm
So very typical of this day and age. Look at all the patent lawsuits that are currently pending right now; and 99% of them are nothing but bogus claims and a waste of taxpayers time and money. Let’s all hope that karma works quickly.
If there is anything that the AquariumPros.ca community can do to help; we most certainly will.
~Aloha~
*~AJ~*
President
AquariumPros.ca
http://www.AquariumPros.ca
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:51 pm
I would hope that people stay up on this! If they think they can push there way into this industry they are sadly mistaken! If I every hear they are trying to sell to this industry, I’ll do everything I can to educate others to NEVER purchase from them!
It’s the only reason to do what they’re doing!
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I agree with Scott. If this suit goes sour against PFO lets make sure the reefing community steers clear of any products that Orbitect might market to us. There’s been an endless amount of LED bashing on the forums, no reason why this can’t easily be redirected towards one companies products.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Actually, a larger better funded company manufacturing and selling LEDs for aquariums, is a good thing for the consumer. If Orbitec wins and puts more product development money into their Aquarium products we could end up with a better and cheaper product.
Who cares who gets Aquarium LEDs to market first? We should all be glad that a large company wants to invest in these products. No, I am not affiliated with Orbitec whatsoever…..just pointing out a different view which could be a positive.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
The point is that Orbitec is a patent troll and they have no interest in making a product, whatsoever. They just want to sue others and if they win the lawsuit supporting their patent, then nearly all potential LED light manufacturers would have to pay steep royalties to Orbitec.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Although that may be true in the very near term, it will lead to better cheaper products in the long term. Also, when a company gets sued for their product, it means that the product is viabe enough to market and a substantial market exists for the product. This eill encourage other large companies to make the same product which leads to mass production and cheaper products, even if /when royalties need to be paid.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Also, why would Orbitec want to put PFO out of business if all they want is
royalty payments? This is not consistent. Either Orbitec wants to get into this business
or they want to collect royalties from PFO which means they want PFO to succeed. I
seriously doubt any company would spend $$$ to run a company out of business for no reason at all other than they are “thugs”.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_troll
February 4th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Sorry Chuckie,
People and companies have been playing with LED’s in aquariums prior to Orbitec submitting for their patent in 2004. (Tulio Dell Aquilla help us!)
They obviously saw what others were doing, saw their wasn’t a patent on it, drew up some plans on a napkin in a bar and submitted it as a way to make money later on, after others did all the real research and work.
They should lose there suit and then contract genital herpes for being parasitic bottom scum.
If PFO (and all the others producing LED lighting for aquariums, because those suits will follow if they win) loses this suit, I would hope they would somehow “lose” their plans on the internet, allowing DIY’ers to take advantage of LED technology and never allow this company to see 1 single nickle of profit.
“If Orbitec wins and puts more product development money into their Aquarium products we could end up with a better and cheaper product.”
Yea right, the company has been operating for 20 years and just copyrighted it’s website in 2009? I seriously doubt they are ever going to produce a single moonlight, let alone a full reef lighting system.
I wonder how many more patent infringement lawsuits they have pending in other areas… might be worth a look.
February 4th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Well, I think the patent could easily be invalidated. In order to be patentable an invention must be non-obvious. How is lighting aquariums with high power leds non-obvious? Pretty obvious to me. I think that is one very good way to fight this patent.
February 4th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
The way to demonstrate that it is non obvious is the following.
Aquariums were lit by
Incandescent (hagen screw in bulbs anyone??)
NO Fluorescent
Compact Fluorescent
Metal Halides (HID in general, MH because of “spectrum”)
LED is a logical and obvious progression, in all its iterations, designs, and application.
Using various colors (spectral control) and moving/or using different bulbs (spatial) control are all features included in existing aquarium applications.
Some other interesting notes.
ARAD (tullios company) is listed as a Luxeon Certified Luminaire manufacturer. Their relationship with Luxeon and the fact that the company is registered as an aquarium/aquatic lighting company clearly indicates Tullios intent to sell LED based luminaires.
In my personal convos with tullio regarding this matter, hes said “I want NO ONE to have the patent. I want it to be open to the community”.
Lets hope for the best.
Chris
February 4th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Wasn’t Champion lighting working on this back in 2002?
CMAS 2002, Dana Riddle mentioned he was doing some research and testing on them himself.
http://www.wamas.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=208&hl=lighting
February 4th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Right on Chris,
I attended a symposium a couple months ago and Tulio was a speaker there and spoke those same exact words concerning not wanting anyone to have a patent, adding it will stifle innovation, and I do believe that is true.
Along with non-obvious, add in the fact that LED’s are being specifically developed to output the proper spectrums to support photosynthesis. Well since the reef hobby requires lighting in the proper spectrum for photosynthesis it is not only non-obvious, it is a no brainer.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
[...] There is a patent lawsuit gong on against them Here is a link about it Big trouble brewing for the future of aquarium LEDs | Reef Builders [...]
February 4th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Well, to be honest this is more to do with money even if they have shown no interest in Reef lighting industry. I myself currently building my own 400 watts LED system to go over my reef tank and if Orbetec want to take to the court they are more than welcome. Working for KPMG is not bad after all as my company would be more than happy to fight on my behalf and of course it will be free for me…..
I would also like to point out that PFO’s lights are still over priced and if they win the case then I hope to see their price coming down by at least 35%.
Good luck PFO…
February 4th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Hey Tahir,
I agree with you on them being a bit pricey, and would consider building my own also if I had a clue what I was doing… Why not post a build thread on one of the forums?
February 4th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Really the best way to stuff Orbitec is to get to their clients. With $150M in contracts that could go up in smoke due to predatory practices, we should be all over their customers. I doubt their clients want this kind of bad press.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Orbitec just posted a statement (4 Feb) regarding its being a “target” for recent “negative” publicity around this LED issue. An excerpt:
“As ORBITEC’s president, I am an avid aquarium enthusiast. Back in 2003, the company combined my new-found passion for aquariums with our decade-long experience in LED lighting systems for plant growth, science research, underwater bioreactors and aerospace applications to create a new design for a complete LED system for marine environments…”
Wow, thanks Mr. Crabb. Glad to hear you are an avid aquarium enthusiast. Evidently your product is so sub-standard that you can’t afford to have any competition. Or at least not without having them pay you to compete with you.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Very sad this has happened. LED’s were really gaining momentum. I wish PFO the best and I hope the courts see through this.
WWW>REEFAQUARIUMFORUM.COM
February 4th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
@Nrem212:
If you are going to quote someone, I suggest that you quote the whole comment, or at least link it. I personally respect and admire their quick response. (shows they are at least paying attention and take it seriously)
http://www.orbitec.com/LEDaquarium.html
I’m not sure how you made such a drastic leap in logic from his comments to assumptions regarding their quality. Seeing as they seem to be primarily an aerospace-related firm, I’m confident their quality will be leaps and bounds above PFOs. Does no one remember all the crud we just went through regarding PFO and their warranty? They’re not going out of business because of Orbitec, it’s because three-quarters of the first couple thousand units they shipped went back for warranty. That would bury anyone. Orbitec may have simply been the straw that broke the already-crippled camels back.
In any case, have any of you contacted Orbitec? Any luck? What did they say?
February 5th, 2009 at 9:38 am
This is ridiculous! The aquarium market does not represent a drop in the bucket to the lighting manufacturers, hence the “after thought” lighting technology that we already subjected to (referreing to bulbs/LED’s). Now suddenly they are interested in a perceived patent violation? Screw them!
Thanks for sharing!
February 5th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I took the time to visit that companies website and they do work in the lighting field.
They also plan on bringing out a line of LED Aquarium lighting later this year.
I contacted them and was told the suit is over PFO’s use of specific design features covered under this companies patent. I know that is only one side of the story but this might not as some are making it out to be, PFO may have made a serious mistake.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Sorry Kamie,
Orbitec has been granted a patent by the US Patent Office. It really does not matter what you think. PFO will have to deal with this legal issue in court weather you like it or not. PFO should have been smart enough to patent their product first instead of rushing to market, building an inferior product with many issues and charging an arm and a leg for it. PFO is to blame for this mess, not Orbitec who will probably build a better quality product when they come out with their “Apollo” LED Aquarium light.
February 5th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
[...] story which we posted two days ago about Orbitec suing PFO is just a small glimpse of the dramatic saga that will affect the future of [...]
February 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
One effective way to challenge/nullify the patent is the evidence of usage or application prior to the patent filing date. It will be helpful for PFO to reverse the case if anyone knows that the LED had been used in aquarium prior to Orbitec patent filing date Dec. 2003.
February 5th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Actually, PFO filed a patent on April 27, 2006, see the following link,
http://www.freshpatents.com/Led-aqua…0070253196.php
If it is approved, all the other manufacturers and hobbiests using LED in aquarium can also be blocked and sued.
February 5th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
[...] isn’t much of a surprise, a mere two days later after we reported about the LED lighting aquarium patent issue going on in the industry several online retailers have pulled the Solaris LED from their [...]
February 5th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
This lawsuit is not over, while PFO has run out of money to fight this in court, Tullio himself has decided to pick up the fight against Orbitec. Stand by, film at 11:00!
February 6th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Any more details on that Mike? Would love to follow that and see how it goes!
February 6th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Tullio himself has decided to pick up the fight against Orbitec. Stand by, film at 11:00!
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Regardless of PFOs situation, this patten is full of holes and shouldn’t hold up. It will be a nice thing if it’s overturned! I bet a number of companies will start putting out some great stuff!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
[...] Re: What’s the skinny on LED lighting? I am guessing that you havent seen what is going on in the LED patent lawsuit which threatens to prevent anyone from making LED fixtures for resale without massive royalties to Orbitec. Full details can be found in this blog post. [...]
February 7th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
While I think this is also a BS issue. I am not surprised that PFO is getting in trouble. As an owner of the original Solaris Light. I have had multiple issues with the light. With 0 response from the company until recently, after making a BBB complaint. They had me return my light so they could “fix” it and then it was returned still defective. To date I have been unable to reach anyone at PFO lighting and now I have a 2500 dollar paper weight. Unfortunately, Orbitec will not be the only entity sueing PFO lighting.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I sent a letter to Marty Gustafson of Orbitec this morning. I suggest you all do the same. Letter is attached below:
Marty,
I was interested in purchasing LED lighting products for my aquarium. I was looking to give a a company nearly 500 of my hard-earned dollars. In my research, I came across information regarding the lawsuit between your company and PFO Lighting. This kind of stuff is exactly why Chinese companies are kicking our asses in the American market. Your company is suing PFO for “intellectual infringements”. Do you not see how ludicrous this is? The chinese aren’t going to recognize this lawsuit, and they are going to take the opportunity to take your technology and sell it at 1/10 of your price, and you’re suing an American company?
Frankly Marty, the lawsuit is short-sighted. You should thank PFO… you should partner with PFO. Youre going to need companies like PFO when the real battle comes your way from overseas. Oh, and make no mistake… it’s coming.
Save your legal dollars for product development, because youre not going to win a lawsuit against the 300 little chinese companies that are going to steal your technology.
As for me, I’m just going to stick with metal halides for now (until you guys decide to stop fighting amongst yourselves like school children). My dollars are still in my wallet.
Good luck,
Dale Dow
Manager, Engineering and Permitting
CSI Contractors, Inc.
(661)587-2200
February 10th, 2009 at 11:33 am
It’s a bit ironic to place a picture of a carnation coral on your marine aquarium lighting page. That coral would melt in less than a week under bright LED lighting.
http://www.planet-llc.com/pages/sunbow/pages/apollo.htm
And this guy (Tom Crabb) actually has the nerve to claim he’s an avid aquarium hobbyist.
February 11th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
What you my fail to realize is that Orbitec is not a large company, they are a research institution for the most part. They have an office in my hometown which has approx 70 employees.
Their issue with the Solaris, from what I have been told, is more to do with the controller that runs the show. They are not trying to run a good manufacturer out of business, they are just trying to receive compensation for something which they hold the rights. Would any of you act any different ESPECIALLy in these tight economic times. Asking for royalties is no different from their end than being the provider of the LEDs or the housing. They are selling the knowledge involved in making it.
They have had the warrenty issues already, which implies that their product is not as quality as everyone imagines. I have already heard that should this end up poorly for PFO, they would be looking at doing product support for their old systems.
Before everyone looks at Orbitec and says how they are some giant corporation, they should look at the actually personnel size of it. As it stands they would be working with another aquarium products company to get these made.
Also, since they are new, has anyone considered emailing them kindly and asking to be a beta tester for it…. get a high quality system for low cost, and actually since this probably derived from research to create systems for the government, the resources that were directed to the creation of the original project.
Personally, I would rather have a plane which was derived from a fighter plane than one derived from a Cessna. Why wouldn’t you want the product derived from those huge research grants than from a company which has to decide what level to test things before pushing it through trying to be the first to market. This extra delay in time to market will likely yield a product with a greater test time.
Just a thought.
Also, with reference to your last comment Jake, do you really think that the CEO is the one who makes every website and turns every bolt in his company? Really? That is just ignorant. Since they are contracting the creation of these out, wouldn’t it make sence that the company producing this lighting system has probably already hired an ad company to create their stuff for them… so don’t you maybe think that the approval of that design was at the lighting companies meeting rather than two steps beack where the design came from? and even further from the CEO of a research company which likely means he has more important things to deal with than the advertising of something which they created but is being made by someone else?
February 12th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Why don’t we all stop buying from Orbitec lol
February 13th, 2009 at 4:13 am
So far they haven’t started selling…. Also, they are the research company… they have licensed out their design to a different company…
February 13th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I was working with PFO Aquatics on a warranty on my Solaris via email. Now their website is down, phone is not working…. How do I get my light fixed? Is this place done?
February 16th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I sent them an emali “If you are genially looking to produce LED lighting fixtures and are an aquarium enthusiast, then why are you looking to monopolize the market!
Wouldn’t the science be better off with other company’s innovations and products on the market? And if your product were better than others then wouldn’t you have bigger sales!”
Or are you just looking to sit back and collect royalties from other people’s hard work!
This was thier response,
Dear Tom,
Thank you for your email. Though I can not discuss the details of the case, please understand that litigation was our last and final option, and that partnership was always our #1 priority. We have continued on that end and now have several partnerships for distribution for new products coming out this fall.
I encourage you to read the patent as well and understand that it does not corner the market on LED lighting. It is a patent for a complete and particular system that we as a small company decided to protect as intellectual property years before any other systems were on the market.
Please let me know if you have any other questions, and I’ll do my best to answer.
Marty
Marty Anne Gustafson
Manager, Commercial Products
PLANET LLC / ORBITEC
1212 Fourier Drive
Madison, WI 53717
February 18th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I currently own a $4000.00 paperweight with PFO written all over it. One power supply has quit, three LED strips have gone out and more are on there way out. I own an H4 72in. and loved it until now. I have had it running for almost two years with not one problem. My coral love the light, I love the light. The problem is that it is still under warranty with no company to stand behind the warranty. I thought I was being green with this energy wasting hobby by saving energy with and expensive light fixture. Now I am just screwed, just like many other solaris owners. I believe that I have found a power supply to replace the broken one. If it works I will post all of the info in case anyone has the same problem. (Nicole?)
I LOVE FISH (coral)
February 24th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I’m looking for one of the distribution boards, so if anybody can help…
February 25th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Kenny- Thanks! I am in the same boat. Heck of a paperweight I would say. Would have never went down this route had I thought the warranty wouldn’t be there. I just have one light out which makes the whole row dimmer. I was working with a gal and supposedly my replacement part was in the mail. Emailed the begin of January and a couple emails later got a response that it was all set. Still waiting… I think my warranty will be up before this stuff gets settled. It really screws those of us who really supported the company. I guess if if I don’t ever get the warranty part I will have to take to an Electrician and have a new light replaced. Can’t bear to think I have to buy another light yet so I guess if I have to pay to get it fixed.
February 27th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I am a patent attorney as well as an avid aquarist. I would like to speak with Tullio regarding this issue. The email address at ARAD does not seem to work, and there is no voice mail to leave message. Could someone let me know how I might get in touch with him? Thank you.
March 12th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I have successfully found power supplies for the solaris fixtures. I just need to find an LED manufacturer that can repair or replace the 5 row LED strips. I have an H4 unit so I am not sure about the I5. This leaves me with the LCD or computer. If that craps out, which it will, I will just remove it from the fixture and make any simple wiring modifications. Then I will just plug the light into a controller. Problem solved! I might just get my money out of this light after all. My corals grow beautifully with this light, now if I can just get the strips taken care of.
Is anyone interested in part numbers for replacement power supplies for an H4?
KD
March 14th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Is anyone interested in part numbers for replacement power supplies for an H4?
Is the power supply the same for H4 and I4?
I’ve bought and an I4 6 months ago from a LFS. However, one of the power supply is not working anymore. So I took it back to the store and they tried to get a replacement for me but was took the PFO is no longer in business.
So, if someone knows where I can get parts for the power supply, please help.
Thx, LS
March 20th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
For Kenny D and Leslie S,
I think this will lead you to exactly what you are looking for. He’s currently providing an excellent service in creating a PFO original power supplies replacement. Please see my blog for his product (since he has no website or web commerce site). The only way I know how you can find him is thru calling him.
http://jeffreysview.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/pfo-lighting-system-reef-central-thereeftank-talking-reef/
Thanks all, please pass this around to all the previous PFO customer if you find this a great link.
THanks.
Jeff
May 15th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Прикольно. Ðвтору, как говоритÑÑ, реÑпект.
May 20th, 2009 at 1:55 am
[...] also enlighten you some as to the reason for your having a rough time finding parts or support. Big trouble brewing for the future of aquarium LEDs | Reef Builders __________________ If At First You Dont Succeed….Go Fishin Member: (NANFA) NORTH AMERICAN [...]
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Is the answer as simple as this for PFO? Simply sell parts and instructions on how to assemble a lighting systm. Make no disclaimers as to the use but if parts are available, it shouldn’t be that much different than putting a computer together or rigging up the plumbing for a tank. Go pound sand ORBITAL! I looked very closely at the Solaris and feel for anyone who was an early adopter of LED and now a screwed consumer. Why not bombard the politicians in Wisconsin? Government has it’s hand in everything anyway…
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Hi everyone,
My name is Kin and I’m a former airframe mechanic and aquaculture technician. I’ve been in the hobby for more than 25 years and I love it. I built my first 20 gallon acrylic reef tank system 15 years ago. I´ve been researching on Marine Nano Systems (Light “Led Lighting”, Temperature, Water Movement and Nutrients) for Crocea, Acroporas, Montiporas and other species for the past 5 years, and want to tell Orbital and their possible Partners some… What you got is rubbish. You got nothing but and empty claim on a piece of technology that do not belong to you, and if you ever try to market something related to our hobby, I will produce it and make it available at 1/10 of it price in China.
Have a nice day…
June 10th, 2009 at 1:13 am
How did this————————————
* Propulsion, Space Resources, and Energy
* Emergency Response Systems
* Human Support Systems and Instrumentation
* BioProducts and BioProduction Systems
* Interactive 3D Systems and Services
———————————————
cross over into LED lighting aquarium!!!!!
They need to stick to their industry and leave us alone.
Orbital has NO intention to make LED lighting for the aquarium!
July 27th, 2009 at 9:18 am
WTVER- A Free market brings a better company- it means more competition to make their product beter-for the consumer we are the ones that score with more options and a better product -common sense- Yes they are "thugs" capitalistic greedy satanic pigs at that.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:20 am
I have a PFO light, it never really worked great and finally died on me……..it was junk……anyone have spare parts from a non working light…….im going to try and piece this POS back together with random parts
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:35 am
[...] companies and individuals responsible for their actions. You know about illegal Rhizotrochus, orbitec owning a very important patent, and the Fluval G filters being a overpriced paper weight. Accountability is great especially in a [...]
December 30th, 2009 at 7:45 am
[...] Reef Builders readers, it’s time for us to mobilize. Almost exactly a year ago we broke the news that a very large company (Orbitec) had been granted an overreaching patent regarding the use of [...]
January 30th, 2010 at 11:06 am
All you have to do is sell the individual parts for something like this separately – as a semi-DIY project: light panel, power supply, controller, enclosure.
February 15th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
The funny thing is that orbitec does not even list anything to do with marine lighting or anything of the nature on the companies site. The companies are starting to get a little out of hand with all the patent stuff. And the patent office needs to make it more strict on getting the patent, full blown schematics of the circuit, and everything to eliminate things like this from happening. Just makes no sense!
April 6th, 2010 at 2:01 pm