Dan Dugan, the inventor of automatic microphone mixing technology, has issued a statement reminding manufacturers of the correct usage of the Dugan name by other companies.

Licensed versions of the Dugan algorithms – the Dugan Speech System, Dugan Music System and Dugan Gain Limiting – are tightly regulated by Dan Dugan Sound Design. Currently, Protech Audio, Sound Devices, Waves and Yamaha are licensed to use Dugan algorithms. Dugan plug-in cards are also available for selected Yamaha and Avid consoles.

These companies are the only ones who have been authorised to use the Dugan name on their products and marketing materials, yet Dugan has seemingly become aware of manufacturers promoting their wares in a similar way, but without authorisation.

“As most people in the industry are aware, my patent for the algorithm used in the Dugan Speech System expired some time ago. This expiration enabled other companies to develop their own versions, generically described as ‘gain sharing.’ These versions by other manufacturers, while employing similar concepts, are not Dugan automixing systems and may not be described as such," stated Dugan.

"While I am sincerely flattered by the ‘honourable imitators’ of Dugan automixing technology, I must remind all manufacturers that the usage of the Dugan name is strictly prohibited unless a manufacturer has been licensed by Dan Dugan Sound Design to do so. This includes the terms ‘Dugan automixing’ or even ‘Dugan style’, as recently described by Behringer in a product notice. The Dugan name is trademarked, and no one may use my name for a process that has not been thoroughly tested by my lab to ensure its conformance with strict Dugan performance standards.”

http://www.dandugan.com