American Stand Manufacturer Decries Chinese Knockoffs Of His Original Designs
Dec 29, 2006, ©Copyright 2006, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
FIRST PERSON/OPINION
Via e-mail:
I am writing because of your knowledge of our PIT BULL tire tree (since you
were nice enough to feature it in your New Products section, Roadracing
World, June, 2006) and to further your awareness of what we believe to be
unfair and misleading actions of some companies in our industry. Pit Bull
has made substantial investments in inventing and designing new products. No
corners are cut, and all our products are made in the U.S. Unfortunately,
more and more, we are learning of foreign manufacturers attempting to
imitate or copy our products and sell inferior knock offs. The most recent
example is an attempt to copy our Pit Bull tire tree. The following link
shows Powerstands offering a copy to be available in February 2007:
http://www.powerstands.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=31&Product_ID=53&CATID=1 .
Of the three images, the one on the far right is believed to actually be OUR
product painted black. The other two are believed to be copies based on our
original design. For your reference, our product is at:
http://www.pit-bull.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=23_223&osCsid=4da73dfc8fd641abbb1cd4ec76ba57be .
It is difficult enough making a product in the U.S. but when our designs are
copied and we are forced to spend time and effort protecting ourselves from
inferior Chinese knockoffs like this one, it is just about all we can take!
This follows a pattern by that company and a couple of others. We will
follow the patent procedures and stop them from selling the product in time,
but by then they will have made some money and likely will have moved on to
prey on another of our products or someone else's. We will be out the cost
of the patent and its enforcement and all they will have to do is stop.
Any thoughts?
Charlie VanValkenburgh
Pit Bull
Huntsville, Alabama
