IR Patent

[Lawrence Thomas]

Hey All,

I have been considering buying an IR camera for a few months now. I am also slow and careful when considering this size of a purchase. I've taken several on-line training courses and was just about to pull the trigger and order (from FLIR) when I found all of the information about the patent troll and NACHI. Another strange coincidence is that about once a month for the past 4 months I have gotten suspicious calls from out-of-state where the caller asks only a couple questions (price and if I do thermal imaging) before stating "I want an inspection using thermal imaging". So maybe I've lost a few potential customers (maybe not).

What is the current state of the patent fight on IR thermal imaging? Is it worth while to join NACHI to avoid the trolls? Can I avoid the fray by stating that thermal imaging is an ancillary service that is "in addition" to the home inspection?

Thank You in advance for the help.

[Krow Bar]

The patent is for a specific process or set of processes which involve using thermal imaging equipment for various diagnostics. Unless you have taken or seen classes from the patent holder and you try to duplicate their method without licensing it, it would be very difficult for you to infringe. They would like everyone to think that you must purchase license from them to use an IR camera in home inspections, but the claims in the patent are extremely narrow to the point of being worthless. It would be like you patenting the process of holding a pencil with one hand having your index finger 1 inch from the tip, your other thumb and middle finger each 40 degrees to either side of the index finger and using said pencil to write an inspection report, starting 65 seconds after sharpening the pencil and blowing the excess graphite from the tip, and 45 seconds after wiping it across the front of your jeans. Then you go around telling everyone that they need to pay you if they want to use pencils to write inspection reports.

[edit] The last I've heard on the progression of this is that Nick at interNACHI has filed a lawsuit against homesafe and its owner for misrepresenting the scope of their patents to intimidate purchasing licensing. As of the beginning of the year this was all set to move forward. I would base your decision to join on other benefits and not consider the IR inspection process licenses as a benefit.

[Lisa Endza]

Here is the latest: https://www.nachi.org/forum/f14/international-association-certified-home-inspectors-continues-fight-inspectors-homesafe-infrared-litigation-113844/

[Mark Reinmiller]

More ASHI bashing by a guy who I think still owes something like a $14,000 fine to PA from when he was in the Radon business.

Classless.

[Lisa Endza]

If Nick wins, he wins for ASHI as well. He wins for the entire inspection industry, all of us, you too.

[Raymond Wand]

If Nick wins, he wins for ASHI as well. He wins for the entire inspection industry, all of us, you too.

More tripe.

Nick openly stated this on the thread/link you posted Lisa,


Basically. Their website is still up. For the good of the entire industry, they should take down their site IMHO.

You are contradicting your boss Lisa. Disingenuous message from you and your boss.

http://www.homeinspector.org/Education-Training/InspectionWorld/Save-The-Date