Nest Labs to Honeywell: We'll see you in court

Smart-thermostat maker Nest Labs responds to Honeywell's patent infringement suit by claiming Honeywell's broad patents are invalid.

Nest Labs today fired back at Honeywell over its patent infringement case against Nest, claiming the thermostat giant is using its patent portfolio to stifle innovation.

The company also hired Apple's former chief patent counsel, Richard Lutton Jr., as it plans for a legal fight with Honeywell in the years ahead.

Founded by former successful Apple engineers, Nest Labs started selling its $250 Learning Thermostat last year and quickly sold out amid rave reviews over its design and ability to automatically set schedules.

Honeywell in February filed a suit claiming that Nest infringed on several of its seemingly broad patents. It also filed suit against Learning Thermostat distributor Best Buy.

In its official answer to Honeywell's complaint, filed today in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, Nest argues that Honeywell's patents are "hopelessly invalid."

"Instead of countering product innovation with its own new products, Honeywell has a track record of responding to innovation with lawsuits and overextended claims of intellectual property violations," Nest writes in its answer to Honeywell's charges.