We-Vibe
{{Short description|Canadian sex toy brand}}
{{Infobox company
| logo = We-Vibe logo 2018.png
| name = We-Vibe
| type = Private
| parent = Standard Innovation
| founders = Bruce and Melody Murison
| industry = Consumer electronics
| hq_location_city = Ottawa, Ontario
| hq_location_country = Canada
| website = {{URL|https://we-vibe.com/}}
| products = Sex toys
}}
We-Vibe is a brand of sex toys manufactured by Standard Innovation, a company founded by a Canadian couple in 2003. It is one of Canada's largest producers of adult toys.{{Cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/whats-all-the-buzz-about|title=What's all the buzz about?|last=Lai|first=Jodi|date=2011-12-12|work=Financial Post|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en-US}} The company has sold millions of devices since the launch of its first vibrator in 2008.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/10/couples-vibrator-we-vibe|title=The Race to Build the Perfect Couples Sex Toy|last=Counter|first=Rosemary|date=2015-10-09|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en}} It has been the recipient of over twenty awards including the best couples sex toy at the Sexual Health Expo in Los Angeles.
History
We-Vibe was created by Standard Innovation, a Canadian company founded by the married couple Bruce and Melody Murison. Bruce Murison previously worked in the semiconductor and manufacturing industries. Both were former employees of the telecommunications company Nortel, which went bankrupt.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sex-toy-an-international-success-story-for-ottawa-couple-1.2956296|title=Sex toy generates great vibes for ex-Nortel couple from Ottawa|last=Harris|first=Sophia|date=February 14, 2015|work=CBC News|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en}} They started Standard Innovation in 2003 but did not publicize what the company was working on until the launch of the first product in 2008. The company released the first We-Vibe couple's vibrator, a small U{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sex-toy-buzz-helps-launch-ex-nortel-engineer-s-startup-1.834355|title=Sex toy buzz helps launch ex-Nortel engineer's startup|date=January 19, 2009|work=CBC News|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en}} or C-shaped device designed to be worn by a woman during sex and over the pubic bone,{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/06/we-vibe-vibrator-drugstores_n_2820485.html|title=We-Vibe, Vibrator For Couples, May Be Coming To Your Local Drugstore|last=New|first=Catherine|date=2013-03-06|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en-US}} with one end inserted vaginally and the other end resting against the clitoris.{{Cite news|url=https://www.prevention.com/sex/i-tried-a-couples-vibrator|title=I Tried A Couples Vibrator With My Husband And Here's How It Went|last=Koenig|first=Ronnie|date=2017-02-01|work=Prevention|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en}} Soon after, the company gained the endorsement of Sue Johanson, a Canadian sex educator, and Mehmet Oz, a surgeon and host of the talk show The Dr. Oz Show.
In 2009, We-Vibe was recognized as the best-selling toy at Venus Award in Berlin, Germany.{{Cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/life/vibrations+ottawa+company+takes+cheap+chinese+knock+offs/5820374/story.html|title=Bad vibrations: Ottawa sex-toy company takes aim at cheap Chinese knock-offs|last=Spears|first=Tom|date=2011-12-06|work=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en-ca|archive-date=2018-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115184458/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/vibrations+ottawa+company+takes+cheap+chinese+knock+offs/5820374/story.html|url-status=dead}} Since its release, the brand has seen significant popularity and sales. Adult toy experts believe this may be due to the brand's mainstream consumer marketing strategy, product design, and discrete packaging. The product has also gained popularity among celebrities. On several occasions, We-Vibe products have been added to "Oscar bags" given to guests attending the Academy Awards. At the 2012 Super Bowl in Miami, We-Vibe products were given as gifts to notable guests.{{Cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/business/local-business/we-vibe-patent-battle-settled|title=We-Vibe patent battle settled|last=Pilieci|first=Vito|date=2016-02-04|work=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en-US}}
Standard Innovation has used legal means in an attempt to protect its intellectual property. In early 2012, the company filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) against LELO and others for infringing on Standard Innovation's patent for the adult toys designed to be worn while a couple has sex.{{Cite news|url=https://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCABRE95G16B20130617|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115124802/https://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCABRE95G16B20130617|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 15, 2018|title=U.S. patent case climaxes with win for Canadian vibrator maker|last=Bartz|first=Diane|date=June 17, 2013|work=Reuters|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en-CA}} The two companies settled the patent disputes in 2016.
In 2014, We-Vibe released a new iteration of the company's couples vibrator, the We-Vibe 4 Plus.{{Cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/business/local-business/ottawa-tech-company-vows-to-take-sexting-to-the-next-level|title=Ottawa tech company vows to take 'sexting to the next level'|last=Pilleci|first=Vito|date=2014-09-18|work=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=2018-01-15}} In addition to the remote control included in previous models, this version featured a Bluetooth-enabled vibrator with mobile app connectivity features.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/detail-we-try-out-the-we-vibe-4-plus/Content?oid=2274114|title=Detail: We try out the We-Vibe 4 Plus|last=Zavala-Offman|first=Alysa|date=2014-12-17|website=Detroit Metro Times|access-date=2018-01-15}} For the first time, the company's products could be controlled by a partner over long distances and from anywhere in the world where a user can access an internet-connected smartphone device.{{Cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2014/10/12/more-couples-are-trying-app-controlled-sex-toys/|title=The iPhone-controlled sex toy you can turn on from anywhere|last=Wright|first=Jennifer|date=2014-10-12|work=New York Post|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en-US}} In January 2015, the We-Vibe 4 Plus was awarded the best couples sex toy at the Sexual Health Expo in Los Angeles. By 2015, We-Vibe had sold nearly 4 million couples vibrators.
In 2016, two hackers reported that the app was collecting data on its use.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dildo-data-hacking/|title=The Internet of Dildos Is Watching You|last=Oberhaus|first=Daniel|date=2016-08-06|work=Motherboard|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en-us}} Following the revelations, a lawsuit was filed against the company, claiming the app violated its users' privacy.{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-vibrator-app-lawsuit-0914-biz-20160913-story.html|title=Lawsuit claims smartphone-enabled massage device violated privacy|last=Channick|first=Robert|date=2016-09-13|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/14/wevibe-sex-toy-data-collection-chicago-lawsuit|title=Tech company accused of collecting details of how customers use sex toys|last=Redden|first=Molly|date=2016-09-14|work=The Guardian|access-date=2018-01-15|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} In March 2017, the company agreed to a settlement of approximately US$3.2 million, resulting in up to US$127 for each claimant.{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21729745-and-threaten-property-rights-digital-age-how-digital-devices-challenge-nature|title=How digital devices challenge the nature of ownership|date=2017-09-30|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=2018-01-15}}
In 2018, We-Vibe merged with Womanizer.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-14 |title=This Buzzy Vibrator Has Everyone Shaking in the Best Way |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/womanizer-vibrator |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Glamour |language=en-US}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.we-vibe.com/}}
Category:Canadian companies established in 2003
Category:Sex toy manufacturers
Category:Companies based in Ottawa