Dave Weagle Suing Trek Over Suspension Patent
- Thread starter FoxRidersCo
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brendonj
Likes Dirt
This is when you loose all sense of idealism.
Unfortunately a patent is only as good as the money you got to go to court. And, if you have money you can take any patent to court. Unfortunately Dave is the little man (again) and most likely to loose out (irrespective of which way the decision should or does go).
Unfortunately a patent is only as good as the money you got to go to court. And, if you have money you can take any patent to court. Unfortunately Dave is the little man (again) and most likely to loose out (irrespective of which way the decision should or does go).
Registered Nutcase
Likes Bikes and Dirt
Giant with its Mastro link
bikesarefun
Likes Bikes and Dirt
I'm going to disagree. A patent is as strong as the underlying commercial strategy.
Inventors who go out on their own and try to use the patent system on an amateur basis are destined to fail. But where people take their technology seriously, have a solid business plan, and seek good advice, prospects are much better.
In terms of the cost of litigation, yeah it's out of reach for most people. Fortunately, there are plenty of litigation funding entities out there looking for work. If someone has a good patent (i.e. it's actually valid, and has been prepared by a skilled professional), and it is actually being infringed by a large US company (i.e. it's not a pissweak argument), then the prospects of finding someone to bankroll a litigation are quite high these days.
Ahh yes, How did that one pan out anyway?
Anarchist
Likes Dirt
Giant still use maestro...
akashra
Eats Squid
Maestro was a Trek patent to begin with, wasn't it?
If I remember correctly - but please correct me if I'm wrong - this, and the Alliance patent (carbon/alloy frames) were licensed from Trek for a period of 5 years in return for Giant manufacturing frames for Trek.
New US laws on patents are fantastic, but sadly they don't go far enough. They still allow massive corporations to just farm patents, until they finally come up with something which has a practical use by another company, even when developed independently. In a physical and mechanical field such as crafting bikes, it's not so bad, but have a look what patents are doing to the pharmaceutical and software industries.
c3024446
Likes Bikes and Dirt
Wouldn't he make more money if he lowered his licence fees and allowed everyone to use his technologies? Also, you could have major bragging rights that your suspension design is the one that everybody uses by choice, not cost reasons.
Suspension design was evolving, he found a good one, patented it. Fair enough, he should be rewarded for his idea, but his rewards seem excessive for what he has done. He should share the love....
Suspension design was evolving, he found a good one, patented it. Fair enough, he should be rewarded for his idea, but his rewards seem excessive for what he has done. He should share the love....
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Ivan
Eats Squid
So his licence fees are excessive? Do you KNOW this, or are you ASSUMING?
c3024446
Likes Bikes and Dirt
Assuming. When only boutique companies use your technology, and other companies try to rip off your design for free instead of paying you a reasonable licence fee, i would say the fees are high.
chadly1084
Likes Bikes
Looks like Dave gave Trek a good idea while trying to flog his wares to them.
thecat
NSWMTB, Central Tableland MBC
Not as well as when Specialize sued them over the NRS infringing on it's horst link patient.
brutasauras
Likes Dirt
This could be a good thing if it goes to court and some independent experts are brought in to access some of the bullshit both parties will claim their designs do