Dbrand, the purveyor of accessories, has initiated legal action, citing damages in the "multi-million dollar" range, against Casetify. The allegation revolves around the purported imitation of Dbrand's innovative "transparent" Teardown merchandise. Crafted in collaboration with the renowned YouTuber Zack "JerryRigEverything" Nelson, these skins and cases emulate the inner workings of devices like smartphones, laptops, and gaming systems. Dbrand and Nelson assert that Casetify brazenly copied these designs for their "Inside Out" collection.
Nelson underscores the meticulous efforts invested by him and Dbrand to ensure the authenticity of each Teardown skin, striving for an exact replica of the internal components of the respective devices. However, the collaborators, in a video disseminated on X (previously known as Twitter), reveal the incorporation of concealed Easter eggs for the discerning fans.
Among the grievances voiced, they contend that Casetify's Inside Out cases ineptly mask a label akin to that featured on Teardown products, bearing Nelson's signature phrase, "glass is glass, and glass breaks." Nelson disparages the print quality of Casetify's cases, categorizing it as "extraordinarily subpar." Remarkably, Dbrand's logo purportedly makes an appearance on a Casetify case.
Nelson elucidates that the genesis of this dispute traces back to an incident earlier in the year when an X user alleged that Casetify offered a "transparent" case for a Samsung phone, showcasing the internals of an iPhone. Dbrand seized the opportunity to mock Casetify for this apparent faux pas.
Subsequently, Casetify unveiled the Inside Out line, ostensibly featuring more faithful representations of the internal components of the devices they target. Nelson highlights the utilization of an intricately detailed scanner by the Teardown team, capturing the internals of a device, followed by hours dedicated to refining the scan. He acknowledges the introduction of creative liberties, such as exposing a charging coil to enhance the visual appeal of a case. According to Nelson and Dbrand, Casetify's Inside Out skins and cases perfectly align with the modified designs employed for the Teardown line.
In their legal filing this week in a Toronto court, Dbrand contends that Casetify violated their copyrighted works with 45 Inside Out products, seeking unspecified punitive and exemplary damages, among other remedies.
Following the accusations publicized by Nelson and Dbrand on Thursday afternoon, Casetify promptly removed all Inside Out products from its website. Meanwhile, Dbrand and Nelson seized the moment to introduce a novel array of X-ray skins.
In response to the allegations, Casetify released a statement asserting their historical commitment to originality. The company is actively investigating the copyright claim, having promptly removed the disputed design from all platforms. Additionally, they are looking into a DDOS attack that disrupted their website around the time of the allegations, assuring that all systems are now back to normal, with customer information remaining secure.