Help Us Protect the Legacy of Constructech
For 27 years, Constructech, a media platform, has honored the innovators who build our world—from groundbreaking technology companies to visionary construction firms. Our awards weren’t invented—they were requested. In 1998 Constructech was launched with encouragement from Microsoft and built in response to industry leaders who demanded a platform that recognized excellence in construction technology.
Since then, we’ve recognized hundreds of companies through rigorous, independent awards programs. Our judging panel includes respected analysts, professors, and consultants—experts who evaluate innovation, leadership, and impact with integrity. These awards are earned, not assumed.

Now, that legacy is under Attack
UDA Technologies was a Constructech Top Products award recipient from 2008 to 2012. However, they removed the award years from our badge and repurposed it to falsely imply continuous recognition every year since. They also publicly claimed to have won the award 24 times—an inflated and inaccurate figure. Worse, they published a fabricated quote attributed to Constructech (aka Peggy Smedley), which we never wrote, authorized, or endorsed. In response to UDA's actions we filed a lawsuit alleging violations of federal trademark laws. The below images come directly from UDA's website. The quote below was taken out of context to paint a picture that Constructech said UDA is "...the best the industry has to offer." The full quote was not specific to UDA and it said "We are excited to recognize these companies. With this listing of Top Products, Constructech hopes to bring our readers a look at the best the industry has to offer."

The below images is our trademark. The one of the left is an example of a badge we would provide an award recipient had they won in 2012. UDA in fact was a recipient in 2012, but then they took the badge and removed the year and used the image on the right for over a dozen years to promote itself and leverage our company and reputation without

We issued a cease and desist. UDA never responded.
Instead, after receiving a cease and desist UDA continued to promote the badge across multiple products and platforms. Something we have alleged that has been going on for over 12 years, deliberately misleading the public and leveraging our recognition to gain customers. Clearly, they believed our badge had considerable value. When we turned to the courts to stop this gross violation, they denied, denied, denied. Then they filed a lawsuit claiming that since they used our trademark for over 12 years it now belongs to them. We never stopped using the brand we tirelessly built over the last 27 years. We still use it to this day.
Yes—after misusing our badge and ignoring our request to stop, UDA filed a lawsuit attacking the very validity of the Constructech badge and the recognition we’ve built over nearly three decades.

The above screenshot from UDA's own website shows a 2017 Constructech Top Products award. UDA did not win any of our awards in 2017. This isn’t just a legal dispute. It’s an attempt to rewrite history, diminish honest achievement, and undermine every company that has earned our awards with integrity.

By April 2019, UDA Technologies was claiming to have won 24 Top Products Awards from Constructech Magazine. The below screenshot also comes from UDA's website. After being served with our lawsuit and then claiming they own our trademark, they finally removed the badges and false claims (after 12 plus years of leveraging our credibility and reputation in the industry for their financial benefit).

This post discusses the allegations made in our complaint in Specialty Publishing Company v. UDA Technologies, Inc., pending in the Northern District of Illinois (Case No. 25-cv-3873). These statements reflect claims made in filed pleadings, not established or adjudicated facts. The defendant denies the allegations, and the court will determine the truth of these matters. A copy of the complaint is available upon request.

Why This Matters
This case threatens more than just one badge. It calls into question the credibility of every Constructech award program—from Top Products to Vision Awards, Women in Construction, and beyond. If we don’t defend our legacy, we risk losing the trust we’ve built with the industry—and the value of recognition itself.
We are deeply disappointed that UDA would choose to attack the reputation of a media company that has served this industry for nearly three decades. Their actions not only misrepresent their own recognition history—they cast doubt on every award program we’ve built to celebrate honest achievement. UDA's attempt to use legal loopholes and misrepresent facts is something we must fight and we look forward to proving the truth and holding UDA responsible.

How You Can Help Defend Constructech’s Legacy
We’re calling on our community—leaders, innovators, and allies—to stand with us in this critical moment. Your support matters, and here’s how you can make a difference:
Legal Support

⦁ Are you a lawyer moved by this case? If you're willing to help, please message me directly on LinkedIn. Our legal team would be honored to collaborate. ⦁ Contact Us.

⦁ Know someone who can help? If you have legal contacts, industry associations, or strategic connections who could assist Constructech, please reach out. Every lead strengthens our defense. Reach out to me at psmedley@constructech.com

Support
⦁ Believe in earned recognition? Consider donating to help us fight this injustice and protect the integrity of our awards. Every contribution fuels our mission.

Public Advocacy
⦁ Share your story. Post on social media and industry platforms about how earning a Constructech award has impacted your company, your team, and your journey. Your voice adds weight.

⦁ Post an article to defend the Constructech legacy. If you believe in the legacy of Constructech and the integrity of our award programs, we ask you to act. Publish an article, blog post, or opinion piece that defends the decades of work we’ve built together—and helps safeguard the future of industry recognition. Your voice matters. Whether you’re a past award recipient, a longtime reader, or an advocate for transparency and innovation, your words can help set the record straight and inspire others to stand with us. Let’s make sure the truth is louder than the noise. We must be clear about what is earned, not assumed.

⦁ Rally your network. Encourage colleagues, partners, and peers to publicly reject the misuse of awards and badges. Let’s draw a clear line between earned recognition and exploitation.
Expand the Legal Net

⦁ We urge you to activate your networks—reach out to legal experts, associations, and industry veterans who can lend insight, guidance, or representation. The broader our reach, the stronger our stand.
Your donation will truly help us: Cover legal fees to protect our intellectual property and editorial integrity.

⦁ Preserve the credibility and integrity of our awards programs.

⦁ Defend the legacy of honest recognition in construction technology.
This isn’t just about Constructech. It’s about every company that’s ever earned recognition through hard work, innovation, and integrity—and every industry that relies on trust to separate real achievement from marketing spin.
Whether you’re a past recipient, a loyal reader, or someone who believes in the dignity of earned achievement—we invite you to stand with us. Every donation makes a difference.

Donate today.

Protect the Legacy of Constructech

By Specialty Publishing Company

Protect the Legacy of Constructech