DSC continues to innovate in security monitoring, Internet security communications, and wireless security products

Published 4 March 2010

DSC is a big player in electronic security, manufacturing control panels and IP alarm monitoring products; the Toronto-based company has manufacturing facilities in Canada and Italy, and its products are sold in 140 countries

Security is What We Do

Concord, Ontario, Canada-based DSC (Digital Security Controls) is a major force in electronic security. The company offers products which include burglar alarms, communications, control panels, dual technology sensors, structured wiring, and wireless security products.

The company was founded in 1979. It claims to have introduced the industry’s first small and attractive security keypads and micro-processor-based alarm panels that set new standards for performance, convenience, and ease-of-use.

In 1990 DSC acquired Sur-Gard, a competitor specializing in central station monitoring equipment, and in 1998 added to the family of brands with the acquisition of Italian security product manufacturer Bentel. The DSC Group was acquired by Tyco International in 2002 and DSC, Sur-Gard, and Bentel became individual brands under the Tyco Fire & Security portfolio. In 2007 Tyco separated into three independent, publicly traded companies with DSC moving under the new Tyco International banner.

DSC says it is continuing to innovate in the areas of superior security monitoring, Internet security communications, and wireless security products. The company designs and manufactures security control panels, detection devices, communication products, and structured cabling solutions.

The company is headquartered Toronto, and has manufacturing facilities in Canada and Italy. The company products are sold in 140 countries.

We note that a year ago, a federal court in Texas dismissed a patent infringement action filed against DSC and Tyco. The companies prevailed in a major lawsuit which was brought in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas, involving certain legacy DSC alarm panels. ADT, a sister company under Tyco International, also announced the dismissal of a similar lawsuit brought against them as a distributor and installer of these DSC security products.

The lawsuit involved certain alarm control panels manufactured by DSC for ADT and other DSC customers. District Court Judge T. John Ward dismissed the patent infringement action concluding that no reasonable jury could find that DSC infringed Paradox’s asserted patent based on the evidence of record. Judge Ward’s ruling follows closely on the heels of a 12 March 2009 decision by the Federal Court of Canada, which found Paradox’s related Canadian patents to be invalid.

Rob Guttentag, president of DSC, commented on the decision by saying: “We are extremely pleased with this decision. DSC prides itself on the innovation and quality of its products as well as our ethical approach to conducting business. We had always maintained that Paradox’s patents had serious deficiencies and that our products did not infringe.”