British manufacturer Dyson is suing Samsung over a vacuum cleaner which it says is a "rip-off" of its invention.The dispute centres on Samsung's Motion Sync cleaner, which it showed off at the Ifa tech show in Berlin last week.Dyson alleges that the machine infringes its patent on a steering mechanism for cylinder cleaners.Samsung rejects its rival's "groundless" accusation, saying the product was the result of its own research and development."We will take all necessary measures, including legal actions, to protect our technological innovation against Dyson's groundless claims," said a spokeswoman. Dyson said it had issued proceedings in the High Court in England, but has not said whether it wished to block the sale of Samsung's product or impose a licence fee."This looks like a cynical rip-off," said Sir James Dyson, the firm's founder."Samsung has many patent lawyers, so I find it hard not to believe that this is a deliberate or utterly reckless infringement of our patent. "We have been forced to issue proceedings in the English High Court, but I would much rather invest in research to develop new technology than have to sue."

Dyson first filed a patent for its steering mechanism in 2009. It describes a way to allow the device to spin quickly from one direction to another on the spot, and to follow the user's path rather than just being dragged behind, in order to prevent the vacuum getting snagged on corners.It said the system took three years to develop and has since been used in two of its models.Samsung's marketing materials for its new vacuum cleaner specifically highlight the "revolutionary" design of its swivel body machine saying it "makes swift motion for sudden turns much easier".The firm rejected the idea that it achieved this by copying Dyson."The Samsung Motion Sync is an outcome of our own extensive research and development," added a spokeswoman.This is not the first time the two firms have clashed in the UK courts.In February 2009 a judge ordered Samsung to pay about £600,000 of Dyson's legal costs after the UK firm challenged its rival's attempt to patent a suction technology already used in its "triple-cyclone" cleaners.

Dyson has also sued Hoover, Vax and Bosch in the past to protect its technologies, with varying success.17 The Gtech Multi Vacuum – A Worthy Rival to the Dyson?GTech, the makers of the best-selling AirRam recently launched a new handheld vacuum that they claim can run as much as 30 minutes on a single charge that’ll take roughly 4 hours.Daily Mail dubbed this the Swiss Army Knife of vacuum cleaners that can rival the Dyson. In fact they’ve come up with this illustration that compared the DC34 Animal and the Multi Vac.Granted the DC34 is an older model by Dyson so it’s a bit unfair to compare a newly released model to a product that’s already been in the market for quite some time. Dyson has responded and says that a better comparison would be the DC59 which they claim to be first cordless to achieve upright performance.Some promotional videos from GtechHere’s a quick look at the features:30 minute run time4 hour charge timeAttachments include the crevice tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush, extendable hose and extension tubeHas a built-in headlightFilters are washable and will last the lifetime of the vacuumUses lithium ion batteries2 year warrantyRight now it’s only available in UK stores for £149.

Gtech also sells the AirRam AND the Multi Vacuum as a package for £299 or a £70 savings. Related Posts It’s Official Dyson Launches Their First Robot Vacuum Simply Called the 360 Eye Dyson’s Project N223 – Is it a Robot Vacuum? Miele Enters the Robotic Vacuum Market with the RX1 Scout Cool Time-Lapse Video Shows You How a Roomba Moves Around Neato Introduces the XV Essential Robot Vacuum Cardboard Vax – The Greenest Vacuum on the Planet (What’s Next?) do vacuum cleaners kill bugsDyson DC59 Digital Slim Vacuum Cleaner Soon To Be Unveiled! powerful mini vacuum cleanerGTech AirRam Review Garrick Dee Garrick is the founder of the Cordless Vacuum Guide that originally focused on cordless vacuums but he has now expanded to reviewing corded vacuums and carpet cleaners to be able to provide a more complete guide in terms of choosing the right cleaner.hoover vacuum cleaner review

Dezeen Wire: British manufacturer Dyson has expressed disappointment about the lack of protection offered to British designers following the loss of a design rights case against Chinese-owned Vax, who Dyson claims have copied one of their popular models. Image showing the Dyson DC02 and Vax Air vacuum cleaner: courtesy of Dyson Dyson recently won a similar case in France against the same company but British courts failed to find fault with the similarities between Dyson's DC02 and Vax's machine. Dyson founder James Dyson added: "We’ve invested decades, not to mention millions, in creating better technology. And sadly we waste millions more in cases like this. We need to better protect British design." James Dyson launched his first vacuum cleaner without a bag in the 1980s. See all our stories about Dyson here and listen to our interview with him here. Below is a press release issued by Dyson earlier today: Dyson design wins in France but loses in Britain

Dyson has lost its design rights case against Chinese-owned Vax (part of TTI). British courts failed to find fault with the Chinese conglomerate aping the appearance of Dyson’s iconic DC02 cleaner, bypassing inventiveness in favour of imitation, yet in France Dyson won its hard fought design case against the same firm (TTI). French courts ruled that TTI’s Dirt Devil had unfairly copied Dyson’s overall look; Dirt Devil is Vax’s sister brand.  French law rules that copying a distinctive design is illegal because it creates confusion for consumers and is unfair competition. The UK does not have the same supportive legal framework. James Dyson: “By copying our design, Vax has attempted to ride our coattails, crudely cashing-in on the success we’ve built on better engineering. We’ve invested decades, not to mention millions, in creating better technology.  And sadly we waste millions more in cases like this.  We need to better protect British design”. Iconic British Design: Dyson’s DC02 was engineered in the UK in 1994.

Dyson’s first cylinder machine, its distinctive appearance caused it to be noticed across the world: examples can even be found in New York’s Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The Vax Mach Zen Air was launched in 2009. Whilst Vax claims to be an “iconic British company”, its latest financial results suggest otherwise, showing all shares to be owned by the Chinese company TTI, the owner of other vacuum cleaner brands Hoover and Dirt Devil. The company’s 2010 results also appear to reveal that no corporation tax was paid in the UK and only £149,000 was paid on overseas earnings.  88% of Dyson’s taxes are paid to the British Exchequer – £50 million in 2010. Imitation – far from flattering: Dyson has recently won an unfair competition case against Dirt Devil in France and is waiting for the handing down of  a decision of the Dutch court of Appeals  in the Netherlands. However, Dyson continues to battle with Chinese manufacturers manufacturing copies of the Dyson Air Multiplier fan.