throbber
Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 1 of 46
`
`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`WACO DIVISION
`
`
`
`AUDIOEYE, INC.,
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`v.
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD.,
`
`Defendant.
`
`Case No. 6:20-cv-997-ADA
`
`
`
`
`
`FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT
`
`Plaintiff AudioEye, Inc. (“AudioEye”) hereby complains of Defendant accessiBe Ltd.
`
`(“accessiBe”), and alleges as follows:
`
`I. INTRODUCTION
`
`1.
`
`AudioEye provides software tools and services to make the internet more
`
`accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes tools to render website content
`
`accessible to those who rely on assistive technologies, such as screen readers. AudioEye’s
`
`innovative technology, developed over the course of a decade, has improved tens of thousands of
`
`websites. Millions of individuals with disabilities in the United States and throughout the world
`
`benefit from AudioEye’s removal of digital barriers that otherwise limit their access to web
`
`content.
`
`2.
`
`The United States Patent and Trademark Office has awarded AudioEye several
`
`patents on its proprietary technology.
`
`3.
`
`In 2018, accessiBe began marketing and selling a software product here in the
`
`United States that infringes AudioEye’s patents. This action seeks relief for the willful
`
`-1-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 1 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 2 of 46
`
`
`
`infringement of AudioEye’s patents by accessiBe, including in connection with several
`
`customers or resellers in this Judicial District.
`
`4.
`
`In addition to its acts of willful patent infringement, accessiBe has targeted
`
`AudioEye’s customers here in the United States through a pattern of improper business practices,
`
`as set forth in more detail below. This includes misrepresenting the effectiveness of its product
`
`by spoofing an industry-standard tool, developed by a neutral third-party accessibility testing
`
`company, used to verify whether websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities. The
`
`prominent third-party tool, called “WAVE,” specifically warns users that accessiBe’s product
`
`may “temporarily modify content” to cause “interference” with the “detection of and accuracy
`
`[of] identifying accessibility and compliance issues.” WebAIM, a non-profit organization based
`
`at the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University, developed the WAVE tool,
`
`which has now been programmed to issue the following red box warning each time the tool
`
`detects that accessiBe has been used on a website:
`
`The 3rd party accessiBe integration on this
`page may temporarily modify content when
`WAVE is activated resulting in interference
`with WAVE's detection of and accuracy
`identifying accessibility and compliance issues.
`
`
`
`5.
`
`That accessiBe added code to its product to attempt to spoof one specific
`
`industry-standard checker tool suggests accessiBe added code to spoof other checker tools.
`
`Moreover, that accessiBe is attempting to spoof checker tools raises serious questions whether
`
`accessiBe’s product provides the accessibility modifications or benefits accessiBe claims it
`
`provides. In fact, upon information and belief, accessiBe’s product, in an attempt to save costs
`
`and contrary to industry best practices, often adds barriers to accessibility. And rather than
`
`-2-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 2 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 3 of 46
`
`
`
`improving a website, its product often resorts instead to creating a separate—and unequal—web
`
`space for individuals with disabilities.
`
`6.
`
`In addition to spoofing the WAVE tool, accessiBe, upon information and belief,
`
`also manipulates the results of checks performed on AudioEye’s customers’ websites by
`
`impermissibly preventing AudioEye’s technology from properly loading or operating.
`
`AccessiBe then uses the manipulated results to falsely claim that AudioEye’s technology does
`
`not work. AccessiBe has presented such false claims to at least one AudioEye customer to
`
`wrongly interfere with AudioEye’s business relationship with that customer.
`
`7.
`
`AccessiBe has also made several other false, misleading, and disparaging
`
`statements about AudioEye’s products and business, including that AudioEye relies exclusively
`
`on manual remediation rather than automated remediation to improve the accessibility of its
`
`customers’ websites. The truth is that AudioEye and its products offer more auto-remediation
`
`than accessiBe and its product.
`
`8.
`
`AccessiBe has also anonymously and deceptively published a website at
`
`www.topwebaccessibility.com purporting to present an “unbiased review” of internet
`
`accessibility solution providers. AccessiBe is using the anonymous website to deceptively
`
`present false, misleading, and disparaging statements about AudioEye and AudioEye’s product.
`
`A screenshot of this website is below.
`
`-3-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 3 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 4 of 46
`
`
`
`Top 7 Best Web accessibility of 2020
`
`Ma1:gtt11;1r,ghlchoic:gofWQbooces~tvtoo1w,tnunboaSQdrGVl8Wi
`OOClll'I-Otij:>tnlromourteomof~l$
`0 WCAG 2-l ADA,. sWB & mo,11 compaarlCQ
`O RQ>-scam.-.g "VIKY 24 hours
`0 Corrl)iyWlln ~ICJfl 24/7
`O Ful lntagrot,on witn lo;IOd,ng CMS prowi,m
`Updaled on 19/to/ 2020
`
`.,J
`accesslBe
`
`✓ Alacc••-,......_.l<>...._.,_,-.,wc.oc;2.Ju ..
`!N 301!i0!9~
`
`Ii!&
`2
`
`✓ .,-~ ... "'""
`
`✓ """9'auan-._...c_""'""9'""ff
`
`USERWAY
`
`✓ -Yaur.----e--
`
`✓ lOsflOC<>nlig,u,.,_._,.
`
`✓ -......i"""eu.tam~
`
`.... -0no-..,10.--...,
`
`--(0 if:fifri ·I
`
`!ED
`3
`
`b
`
`Eb UALWEB
`
`✓ ~•-ia-,-,,oo,,.~-
`
`✓ u.1_,. ,u_.,.~..-111
`
`✓ 2.t/-~--
`✓ -.. - , - - -
`
`Outot...ding!
`
`9.2
`
`I\Hfifrl' I -
`
`4
`
`••• •
`
`audioeye
`
`✓ ~---al-(aulo-
`•- - l
`
`✓ wa,,,:,niyaluptal':iO,OOO(ux,)
`
`✓ Wana,tyduptol'>Q.DOO(USD)
`
`✓ ~-(~tant-."°""c........_
`
`7
`
`Ei:frHIE
`
`9.
`
`AccessiBe’s false, misleading, and disparaging statements are set forth in more
`
`detail below.
`
`10.
`
`This action seeks relief for the damage AudioEye has suffered as a result of
`
`accessiBe’s improper business practices, as well as injunctive relief to stop accessiBe from
`
`continuing such practices.
`
`II. THE PARTIES
`
`11.
`
`Plaintiff AudioEye is a Delaware corporation having its principal place of
`
`business at 5210 E. Williams Circle, Suite 750, Tucson, AZ 85711. AudioEye is a publicly
`
`traded company and its common stock trades on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
`
`-4-
`
`
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 4 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 5 of 46
`
`
`
`12.
`
`Upon information and belief, Defendant accessiBe is a company registered in
`
`Israel under Registration No. 51-585530-2, having a place of business at Ha-Khilazon St 6, Bnei
`
`Brak, Israel. Upon information and belief, accessiBe has no offices in the United States.
`
`III. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`13.
`
`This civil action includes claims for patent infringement arising under the patent
`
`laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. §§ 100, et seq., more particularly, 35 U.S.C. §§ 271 and
`
`281. This complaint also includes claims for False Advertising and Product Disparagement
`
`under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act; and Product Disparagement, Slander/Defamation,
`
`Tortious Interference with Prospective Economic Advantage, Deceptive Business Practices, and
`
`Unjust Enrichment under New York law.
`
`14.
`
`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claims for patent infringement
`
`pursuant to at least 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a). This Court has subject matter jurisdiction
`
`over the Lanham Act claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(b). This Court has at least
`
`supplemental jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a) over the state law claims because, as
`
`set forth in more detail below, they are sufficiently related to the patent infringement claims over
`
`which this Court has original jurisdiction that they form part of the same case or controversy
`
`under Article III of the United States Constitution. This Court also has subject matter
`
`jurisdiction over all claims in this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1332(a)(2) because AudioEye is a
`
`U.S. corporation and accessiBe is a company registered in Israel and the matter in controversy
`
`exceeds the value of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs.
`
`15.
`
`This Court has personal jurisdiction over accessiBe because accessiBe has
`
`committed some of the acts of patent infringement complained of herein in this Judicial District.
`
`-5-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 5 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 6 of 46
`
`
`
`This includes the acts of patent infringement committed in connection with several customers or
`
`resellers with primary offices located in this Judicial District.
`
`16.
`
`Venue is proper in this Judicial District pursuant to at least 28 U.S.C. § 1391(c)(3)
`
`because accessiBe is a foreign corporation and subject to suit in any Judicial District. See also
`
`Brunette Machine Works, Ltd. v. Kockum Industries, Inc., 406 U.S. 706, 709-710 (1972).
`
`IV. STATEMENT OF FACTS
`
`A.
`
`Background on Web Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities
`
`17. Millions of Americans have disabilities, such as vision, motor, cognitive, or
`
`hearing impairments, that affect their ability to access information and content through the
`
`internet. Most websites, including critical destinations such as workplace applications, online
`
`commerce, and information resources, are not fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.
`
`18.
`
`For example, many individuals with sight impairments are not able to view the
`
`text and images on a webpage. Instead, these individuals rely on a screen reader, which presents
`
`an audible description of the text and images. This helps the user understand the content of the
`
`webpage and also enables the user to navigate through the site.
`
`19.
`
`Screen readers function by examining the code the computer browser uses to
`
`render text and images on a webpage. This code is often in the form of hypertext markup
`
`language (HTML) document object model (DOM), or simply, “DOM.” The screen reader reads
`
`the code and interprets it. This includes reading and announcing a description of the images that
`
`appear on a webpage.
`
`20.
`
`Sometimes, however, website designers neglect to include an image description
`
`that a screen reader can read and announce to a user with sight impairments. This can be
`
`-6-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 6 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 7 of 46
`
`
`
`particularly common in online commerce websites that undergo frequent updates under time
`
`constraints.
`
`21.
`
`Other website shortcomings and issues render a webpage less accessible to
`
`individuals with disabilities. In an effort to address these varied issues, domestic and
`
`international organizations have developed and promulgated rules and guidelines for website
`
`designers to implement to improve accessibility. These standards include the Web Content
`
`Accessibility Guidelines (or “WCAG”) published by an international internet standards
`
`organization. The current version of the WCAG standards is WCAG 2.1.
`
`22.
`
`There are also several standards promulgated by groups and agencies in the
`
`United States. For example, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 has been amended to
`
`require Federal agencies to make electronic information technology accessible to individuals
`
`with disabilities, and government agencies have established standards to comply with these laws.
`
`Also, the U.S. Justice Department has previously indicated that the Americans with Disabilities
`
`Act, or “ADA,” applies to internet spaces.
`
`23.
`
`Industry best practices are to comply with current WCAG standards to provide
`
`equivalent access for all users and, as necessary, to ensure compliance with Section 508 and the
`
`ADA.
`
`B.
`
`AudioEye’s Novel and Patented Web Accessibility Technology
`
`24.
`
`Over the course of many years, AudioEye developed software tools and processes
`
`that help website owners modify and improve their sites to render them more accessible to
`
`individuals with disabilities. AudioEye’s technology has rendered tens of thousands of websites
`
`more accessible to internet users all over the world.
`
`-7-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 7 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 8 of 46
`
`
`
`25.
`
`One of the enhancements provided by AudioEye’s technology involves
`
`automatically supplementing a webpage DOM to include missing image descriptions.
`
`AudioEye’s automated corrections are used by a screen reader to read and announce the
`
`otherwise missing image descriptions to users relying on screen readers for audible output.
`
`26.
`
`AudioEye’s technology includes many other automated processes for modifying a
`
`website to render it more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Many of these modifications
`
`are based on the WCAG standards and materially improve accessibility for all users.
`
`27.
`
`Beginning in 2016, AudioEye filed applications with the United States Patent &
`
`Trademark Office to protect its web accessibility technology. AudioEye has been awarded
`
`several patents on its novel technology.
`
`28.
`
`AudioEye is the owner by assignment of all right, title, and interest in and to U.S.
`
`Patent No. 10,423,709, entitled “Systems, Devices, and Methods for Automated and
`
`Programmatic Creation and Deployment of Remediations to Non-Compliant Web Pages or User
`
`Interfaces” (“the ’709 patent”), which the United States Patent and Trademark Office lawfully
`
`and duly issued on September 24, 2019. A true and correct copy of the ’709 patent is included as
`
`Exhibit 1.
`
`29.
`
`AudioEye is the owner by assignment of all right, title, and interest in and to U.S.
`
`Patent No. 10,444,934, entitled “Modular Systems and Methods for Selectively Enabling Cloud-
`
`Based Assistive Technologies” (“the ’934 patent”), which the United States Patent and
`
`Trademark Office lawfully and duly issued on October 15, 2019. A true and correct copy of the
`
`’934 patent is included as Exhibit 2.
`
`30.
`
`AudioEye is the owner by assignment of all right, title, and interest in and to U.S.
`
`Patent No. 10,762,280 entitled “Systems, Devices, and Methods for Facilitating Website
`
`-8-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 8 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 9 of 46
`
`
`
`Remediation and Promoting Assistive Technologies” (“the ’280 patent”), which the United
`
`States Patent and Trademark Office lawfully and duly issued on September 1, 2020. A true and
`
`correct copy of the ’280 patent is included as Exhibit 3.
`
`31.
`
`AudioEye is the owner by assignment of all right, title, and interest in and to U.S.
`
`Patent No. 10,809,877 entitled “Modular Systems and Methods for Selectively Enabling Cloud-
`
`Based Assistive Technologies” (“the ’877 patent”), which the United States Patent and
`
`Trademark Office lawfully and duly issued on October 20, 2020. A true and correct copy of the
`
`’877 patent is included as Exhibit 4.
`
`32.
`
`AudioEye is the owner by assignment of all right, title, and interest in and to U.S.
`
`Patent No. 10,845,946 entitled “Modular Systems and Methods for Selectively Enabling Cloud-
`
`Based Assistive Technologies” (“the ’946 patent”), which the United States Patent and
`
`Trademark Office lawfully and duly issued on November 24, 2020. A true and correct copy of
`
`the ’946 patent is included as Exhibit 5.
`
`33.
`
`AudioEye is the owner by assignment of all right, title, and interest in and to U.S.
`
`Patent No. 10,845,947 entitled “Modular Systems and Methods for Selectively Enabling Cloud-
`
`Based Assistive Technologies” (“the ’947 patent”), which the United States Patent and
`
`Trademark Office lawfully and duly issued on November 24, 2020. A true and correct copy of
`
`the ’947 patent is included as Exhibit 6.
`
`C.
`
`AccessiBe’s Infringement of AudioEye’s Patents
`
`34.
`
`Upon information and belief, last year, in 2018, accessiBe began offering and
`
`selling a software product here in the United States. AccessiBe claims its product can be used to
`
`makes websites more accessible to individuals with disabilities (the “infringing web accessibility
`
`tool”). Upon information and belief, accessiBe’s claims include the assertion that, like
`
`-9-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 9 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 10 of 46
`
`
`
`AudioEye’s patented technology, its product can be used to automatically add missing image
`
`descriptions to a website’s DOM. And these descriptions, upon information and belief and
`
`according to accessiBe, can be used by screen readers to read and announce otherwise missing
`
`descriptions to users with sight impairments.
`
`35.
`
`Upon information and belief, and as set forth in more detail below, accessiBe’s
`
`product takes advantage of AudioEye’s novel web accessibility technology and infringes
`
`AudioEye’s patents.
`
`D.
`
`
`
`AccessiBe’s Pattern of Improper Business Practices to Target and Interfere with
`AudioEye’s Customer Relationships
`
`36.
`
`Since the launch of its infringing web accessibility tool, accessiBe not only has
`
`been infringing AudioEye’s patents, but it has also been targeting AudioEye’s customer
`
`relationships through improper business practices.
`
`1.
`
`To Generate False Accessibility Reports, AccessiBe Prevents AudioEye’s
`Software Code from Properly Loading or Operating
`
`37.
`
`Upon information and belief, part of accessiBe’s improper business practices
`
`
`
`includes improperly interfering with AudioEye’s proprietary software code that is used by
`
`AudioEye’s customers. Upon information and belief, accessiBe does this to generate false
`
`reports that misrepresent the effectiveness of AudioEye’s accessibility technology. Upon
`
`information and belief, this, in turn, is done to encourage AudioEye’s customers to terminate
`
`their relationship with AudioEye and to form a relationship with accessiBe.
`
`38.
`
`For example, upon information and belief, in June 2020, accessiBe purported to
`
`run a test on the website code of the following AudioEye customer: the Marketing Association
`
`for the Fingerlakes Wine Country of New York (“Fingerlakes”), located in New York. The test
`
`was purportedly conducted to determine the website’s compliance with WCAG and other
`
`standards. However, upon information and belief, before it ran the “test,” accessiBe, without
`
`-10-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 10 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 11 of 46
`
`
`
`authorization, prevented AudioEye’s web accessibility technology from properly loading or
`
`operating. Upon information and belief, after preventing the technology from properly loading
`
`or operating, accessiBe ran the “test,” and compared Fingerlakes’s site to several standards
`
`outlined in the WCAG. AccessiBe referenced this “test” in asserting to Fingerlakes that its
`
`website was not compliant in certain ways.
`
`39.
`
`Upon information and belief, accessiBe documented its misrepresentations and
`
`sent them to Fingerlakes. The document was entitled “Compliance Audit.” AccessiBe’s
`
`document described how accessiBe purported to analyze Fingerlakes’s website for compliance
`
`with the requirements of the latest WCAG standards. In the document, accessiBe asserted that
`
`Fingerlakes’s site was “non-compliant.” The following is an image showing the cover of
`
`accessiBe’s document:
`
`-11-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 11 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 12 of 46
`
`By I accessiBe
`
`WCAG 2. 1 Level M Success Criteria
`
`COMPLIANCE AU
`For finger1akeswinecountry.com if erdict: Non-compliant
`
`accessiBe is the web accessibility market leader, powering the accessibility of tens-of(cid:173)
`thousands of websites, from small businesses to industry-leading enterprises.
`
`This audit evaluates the adherence level offingerlakeswinecountry.com as of June 2,
`2020, to the "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines· (WCAG) 2.1 level M success criteria.
`
`Below you'll find the results for dozens of tests that focus mainly on 3 categories: sc reen(cid:173)
`reader adjustments(for blind users), keyboard navigation adjustments (for the motor
`impaired) and UI, design, and readabi lity adjustments (for the visually impaired).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`40.
`
`Upon information and belief, in its document, accessiBe purported to report the
`
`software code that supported its asserted conclusion of non-compliance. A review of that code
`
`indicates that accessiBe interfered with AudioEye’s proprietary code to prevent AudioEye’s web
`
`accessibility technology from properly loading or operating before it conducted its “test.” This
`
`resulted in falsely claiming to AudioEye’s customer Fingerlakes that AudioEye’s technology
`
`failed to provide the accessibility that it does in fact provide.
`
`41.
`
`Fingerlakes notified AudioEye about accessiBe’s false “report.” This forced
`
`several AudioEye employees to expend resources running extensive testing on Fingerlakes’s site
`
`-12-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 12 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 13 of 46
`
`
`
`and preparing a report to explain to Fingerlakes how accessiBe’s “test” was false. After
`
`spending many hours addressing these issues, Fingerlakes agreed to remain an AudioEye
`
`customer.
`
`42. While accessiBe was not successful at convincing Fingerlakes to terminate its
`
`relationship with AudioEye, it was successful at convincing other customers to do so. This
`
`includes Hoselton Auto Mall (“Hoselton”), also of New York. Upon information and belief,
`
`these customers, including Hoselton, terminated their partner contracts with AudioEye based on,
`
`at least in part, accessiBe’s false reports of AudioEye’s effectiveness, similar to accessiBe’s
`
`actions with Fingerlakes.
`
`2.
`
`AccessiBe Made a False, Misleading, and Disparaging Public Statement that
`AudioEye Relies Exclusively on Manual Website Remediation Rather than
`Leveraging Automated Remediation
`
`43.
`
`Upon information and belief, accessiBe has made at least one false, misleading,
`
`
`
`and disparaging public statement about AudioEye and AudioEye’s products. For example, upon
`
`information and belief, at least one accessiBe representative has stated to a consumer in New
`
`York during a sales call that AudioEye relies exclusively on manual website remediation rather
`
`than leveraging automated remediation to efficiently improve the accessibility of customers’
`
`websites. Upon information and belief, the accessiBe representative stated that AudioEye claims
`
`manual remediation is required so that AudioEye can extract higher prices from its customers.
`
`44.
`
`These statements are false. As reflected in its issued patents, statements on its
`
`website, and elsewhere, AudioEye has developed many automated remediations to efficiently
`
`improve its customers’ websites. Upon information and belief, at least because accessiBe is
`
`aware of AudioEye’s patents and website, accessiBe knows that its statement that AudioEye
`
`relies exclusively on manual remediation is false. AccessiBe made these statements to damage
`
`AudioEye, improperly take AudioEye’s customers, and damage AudioEye’s reputation.
`
`-13-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 13 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 14 of 46
`
`
`
`
`
`3.
`
`AccessiBe Makes Other False and Disparaging Comments about AudioEye’s
`Pricing and Performance
`
`45.
`
`Upon information and belief, accessiBe’s pattern of using improper business
`
`practices to target AudioEye’s customers includes false and disparaging statements about
`
`AudioEye’s business, including false and disparaging statements about AudioEye’s prices and
`
`performance. Upon information and belief, on its website, for example, accessiBe purports to
`
`compare its product offerings to AudioEye’s business, including AudioEye’s pricing and the
`
`time required for AudioEye to deploy its web accessibility technology. For example, accessiBe
`
`purports that AudioEye’s tools and services cost its customers $5,000-$50,000 per year. The
`
`following is a screenshot showing this assertion on accessiBe’s website.
`---------------------------------------------------
`*
`
`accessiBe VS the Comp, X + v
`
`Find on page
`
`1000
`
`8 https://accessibe.com/product/accessibe-vs-the-competition
`< ) Options v
`
`No results
`
`Eo
`
`0
`
`X
`
`X
`
`Product ,.,
`
`Pricing
`
`Test imonials Compliance ,., Company,.,
`
`Support
`
`Partners AGENCY?
`
`accessiBe VS the Competition
`
`accessiBe is the only viable web accessibil ity solution in the market,
`ending all expensive, antique an d unreliable services.
`
`Learn About Our At Engines
`
`Learn About Our Interface
`
`I
`
`accessiBe's
`Al Solution
`
`.;
`
`.;
`
`.;
`
`.;
`
`.;
`
`.;
`
`The only automatic solution
`
`WCAG 2.1 , ADA, s508 & more
`
`Price start at $490/year
`
`Up to 48 hours from installation
`
`Industry highest success rate
`
`Re-scanning every 24 hours
`
`Accessibility
`Services
`
`~
`cl AudioEye, u + r1st & more
`
`0
`
`0
`
`0
`
`0
`
`SS,000 - $50,000/year
`
`
`
`Projects take 3-26 weeks
`
`Drops to 50% within 6 months
`
`Require additional services
`
`rJf
`
`Accessibility
`Plugins
`
`0
`
`0
`
`0
`
`0
`
`0
`
`0
`
`Userway, WP Access & more
`
`Do not comply with legislation
`
`Free to low cost subscriptions
`
`No full turnaround
`
`5% - 15% of the requirements
`
`No maintenance included
`
`Options
`
`Compliance
`
`Pricing
`
`Turnaround
`
`Success Rate
`
`Maintenance
`
`
`
`
`
`-14-
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 14 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 15 of 46
`
`
`
`46.
`
`AudioEye’s tool and services, however, are, for many customers, free. This can
`
`be seen from a simple review of AudioEye’s website. The following is a screenshot from
`
`AudioEye’s website showing its free offerings:
`
`8 https://www.audioeye.com/plans-and-pricing#get-pro&term-annual
`
`Find on page
`
`1000
`
`No results
`
`(
`
`)
`
`Options v
`
`*
`
`X
`
`•=• audioeye
`
`How it Works
`
`Lawsuits
`
`Pricing
`
`Integrations
`
`Become a Partner ...,
`
`Company ...,
`
`Login
`
`Get Started
`
`Plans Built For You
`
`Managed
`
`Enterprise
`
`iewing Annual Pricing
`
`I Switch to Monthly
`
`
`Do-it-yourself digital accessibility with AudioEye Pro for free.
`
`The power's in your hands. Leverage our patented technology to identify your WCAG errors, and then use our Builder to fix
`them .
`
`AUDIOEYE PRO
`
`
`Free
`
`Up to 1 M monthly pageviews
`
`Use the same tools and
`technology our experts use
`to find and fix accessibility
`issues on your own.
`
`..,/ 1 Website Domain
`
`../ Weekly Website Monitoring
`
`../ Automated Accessibmty Report
`
`../ Ioolbar Ctistomization
`
`../ Limited Toolbar with 24/7 Help
`[2i,;k
`
`../ Al Guidance to Identify WCAG
`f.rrQrs
`
`../ Audiofye Builder to Fix Ermrs
`
`../ Accessibility Score
`
`../ Email Suppart
`
`✓ Qnlin.o..EAQ,
`
`-./ Custom pricing for PDEs and
`~
`
`47.
`
`And for a majority of customers, AudioEye’s web accessibility technology costs
`
`less than $1,000 per year. The following is a screenshot showing other common pricing options
`
`for AudioEye’s technology:
`
`-15-
`
`
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 15 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 16 of 46
`
`
`
`8 https://www.audioeye.com/plans-and-pricing#get-managed&term-annual
`
`Find o n page
`
`1000
`
`No results
`
`(
`
`)
`
`Optio ns v
`
`*
`
`X
`
`•=• audioeye
`
`How it Works
`
`Lawsuits
`
`Pricing
`
`Integrations
`
`Become a Partner "'
`
`Company "'
`
`Login
`
`Get Started
`
`Plans Built For You
`
`Prn
`
`Enterprise
`
`iewing Annual Pricing
`
`I Switch to M onthly
`
`Do-it-for-me digital accessibility with AudioEye Managed. Free 30-day trial.
`
`Let us do the work for free for 30 days. We couple our industry lead ing techno logy with ou r team of certified d igita l
`accessib ility experts.
`
`SlMEl.E
`$399/yr (2
`months free)
`
`
`
`Up to 2K pageviews per month
`per customer
`
`~
`
`$999/yr (2
`months free)
`Up to 20K pagOYlews per mon1h
`per aJStomer
`
`i:.o.t.lMEBCE
`$5,999/yr (2
`months free)
`Up to 200K pageviews per month
`per customer
`
`you design and launch you r
`simple website .
`
`complex. You 're ready to
`grow your business with
`accessibility bu ilt in.
`
`Scale your online business in
`a big way with an on line
`experience that 's accessib le
`for all.
`
`
`
`48.
`
`Upon information and beliefs, these false statements about AudioEye’s business
`
`are part of accessiBe’s pattern of improper business practices used to target and interfere with the
`
`relationships between AudioEye and its customers, including AudioEye’s relationships with
`
`Fingerlakes and Hoselton, as well as customers and potential customers in Texas.
`
`4.
`
`AccessiBe Publishes an Anonymous and Deceptive Website to Disparage
`AudioEye and Mislead the Public regarding AudioEye and AudioEye’s
`Product
`
`49.
`
`Upon information and belief, accessiBe anonymously published a false,
`
`
`
`misleading, and deceptive website to disparage AudioEye and mislead the public, including
`
`members of the public in Texas, regarding AudioEye and AudioEye’s Product. The website
`
`www.topwebaccessibility.com purports to present an “unbiased review” of internet accessibility
`
`solution providers, including accessiBe and AudioEye. However, upon information and belief,
`
`-16-
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 16 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 17 of 46
`
`
`
`the website and its content were created and published by accessiBe employees, including
`
`accessiBe’s Director of Engineering. A screenshot of the website is below.
`
`Top 7 Best Web accessibility of 2020
`
`MCJl:g \111;1 right choic:g of ,wit:, OOCQS~t v tool WMl unbiasad rGMGWS
`anCJifl-~tnfrornourteomof~l$
`0 WCAG 2-l ADA,. sWB & mQfll comp,IICJr"oCQ
`
`$ RQ.-sccn,.-.gr.wty24houn;
`0 Comply with ~~,on 24/7
`0 Full ,r'llegro110r1 .... th klodor.g CMS pn:widll1s
`
`Up<Kllect on 19/t0/20'10
`
`accesslBe
`
`✓ &1 accn-,.-..,_1<>......,__,60l,.wc.oo2J u .,,
`t N30..,.9carnpoc,nctl
`
`Eii!9
`
`2 --3
`
`USERWAY
`
`✓ .,-~ ... -
`
`✓ omog,auan-._...c_""'""9'ffl"'
`
`✓ -Yaur.----e--
`
`✓ lOsflOC<>nfie,u,.,_._,,.
`
`✓ -....,.."""c"""""-..dng
`
`.... -0no-..,,o,ooo-...,
`
`b
`
`Eb: UALWE B
`
`✓ ~•-ia-,-,,oo,,.~-
`
`✓ u.,_,. ,u"""""~"""""'"'
`
`✓ 2.t/-~--
`✓ -.. - , - - -
`
`, __ ,
`
`✓ ~---al-(aulo-
`
`✓ wam:>n1yaluptal!,0,000(1JSD)
`
`✓ Wana,tyduptol!iQ.DOO(USD)
`
`✓ ~-(~--.-c--.
`
`4
`
`••• •
`
`audioeye
`
`--e if:fifri ·I
`I\Hfifri· I -
`
`9.2
`
`Outot..dny1
`
`7
`
`Ei:frHIE
`
`50.
`
`The “unbiased review” ranks accessiBe number one and states that accessiBe’s
`
`product provides, among other features, “continuous compliance every 24 hours,” “simple
`
`installation and enough guides for support,” “AI accessibility solution to ADA, Section 508,
`
`WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301549 compliance,” and “customizable interface according to user’s
`
`preference.” Meanwhile, the “unbiased review” ranks AudioEye and its product number four
`
`and, unlike the description of accessiBe’s product, the website fails to state that AudioEye
`
`provides continuous compliance every 24 hours, fails to state that AudioEye provides simple
`
`installation and adequate support, fails to states that AudioEye provides AI accessibility
`
`-17-
`
`
`
`
`
`ACCESSIBE LTD EXHIBIT 1024
`Page 17 of 302
`
`

`

`Case 6:20-cv-00997-ADA Document 7 Filed 12/02/20 Page 18 of 46
`
`
`
`solutions according to requirements of the ADA, Section 508, and WCAG 2.1, and fails to state
`
`that AudioEye provides a customizable interface.
`
`51.
`
`Because the website is structured as an “unbiased review,” and because the
`
`website recites certain features for accessiBe’s product while it fails to do so for AudioEye’s
`
`product, the website falsely and misleadingly communicates to the public that AudioEye’s
`
`product lacks those features. AccessiBe’s statements on the website are false. As reflected in
`
`statements on its own website and elsewhere, AudioEye provides continuous compliance; simple
`
`installation and excellent support; AI accessibility solutions according to requirements of the
`
`ADA, Section 508, and WCAG 2; and a customizable interface. Upon information and belief, at
`
`least because accessiBe is aware of AudioEye’s website, accessiBe knows that its statements
`
`through the website are false. AccessiBe made those statements to damage AudioEye,
`
`improperly take AudioEye’s customers, and damage AudioEye’s reputation.
`
`5.
`
`AccessiBe Spoofs a Third-Party Accessibility Checker Tool to Misrepresent
`th

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket