Dbrand, a well-known accessory brand for mobile devices, has filed a “multi-million dollar” lawsuit against Casetify, a company that made USD300 million (~RM1.4 billion) in annual revenue, accusing them of unlawfully replicating the designs of its “transparent” Teardown products, developed in collaboration with YouTuber Zack “JerryRigEverything” Nelson.
The Teardown products, designed to mimic the internal components of devices like smartphones and laptops, allegedly had their designs appropriated by Casetify for its “Inside Out” line.
They allege that Casetify’s Inside Out cases feature a clumsily concealed version of a label present on Teardown products, showcasing the YouTuber’s distinctive phrase: “Glass is glass, and glass breaks.”
Nelson and Dbrand also claimed that Casetify’s cases not only poorly mimic the Teardown label but also feature subpar print quality, with Dbrand’s logo and other references specific to the company allegedly appearing on Casetify cases.
The YouTuber highlights that the Teardown team employs an intricate scanning process to replicate a device’s internals, investing hours in refining the scan and occasionally taking creative liberties, like showcasing a charging coil for aesthetic appeal.
According to Nelson and Dbrand, Casetify’s Inside Out skins and cases precisely correspond to the modified designs crafted for the Teardown line.
Engadget reports that the lawsuit, filed this week, alleges copyright infringement for 45 Inside Out products, seeking unspecified punitive damages and other remedies.
Following the accusations, Casetify reportedly removed all Inside Out products from its website.
