NoTubes.com files lawsuit against Specialized
NoTubes.com is taking Specialized to court in the US (AFP/Getty Images)
NoTubes.com is taking Specialized Bicycles to court over claims that some of the firm's Roval brand wheels infringe one of its patents.
New York-based NoTubes, best known for its Stan's tubeless kits, alleges that Specialized has infringed US patent 7,334,846 "by making, using, selling, offering for sale and/or importing into the United States certain tubeless wheels and rims".
The patent covers a rim design invented by NoTubes’ founder and owner, Stan Koziatek.
The lawsuit, filed under the name of NoTubes' parent company, KG Motors Inc, is pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. Specialized officials have no comment on the pending suit.
User Comments
There are 6 comments on this post
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 comments
-
padonbike
Posted Thu 13 Nov, 1:50 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
What goes around comes around, eh? Haven't Specialized blocked many other manufacturers of full suspension MTBs in the US market at least by virtue of the Horst link patent that they possess?
Should be an interesting case to follow. Please keep us informed, BikeRadar.
-
The Pinkster
Posted Thu 13 Nov, 2:27 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Technically speaking Specialized haven't blocked other manufacturers in the US (or Taiwan) from using the Horst Link, they just charge a nominal fee (IIRC $1 a frame) for it and insist on a licence sticker being put on the frame.
According to US patent laws Specialized's patent on the Horst Link should be expiring sometime in the next couple of years as well (2009?) so that should open up rthe competition a bit to anyone wants to us it.
-
Shiny Flu
Posted Thu 13 Nov, 5:11 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Um, sorry but Specialized don't charge a 'nominal' fee... it's quite a bit more than that. They also get to select who is allowed to use FSR and who is not.
Anyway, Specialized purchased the US patent from AMP and have the legal right to defend it albeit only in the USA. Hence why up till now Scott diddn't sell their Genius models in the US but everywhere else.
I think if Specialized have truly infringed on Stan's idea, than Stan's deserves the appropriate compensation and legal action in the same way Specialized has protected it's intellectual property and market position.
Stan's truly brought something innovative to the market that was reasonably priced, light and strong and backed it all up by great customer service. They deserve what is theirs.
-
giant mancp
Posted Fri 14 Nov, 8:11 am UTC Flag as inappropriate
Hope they sue their asses!!
-
critchie11
Posted Sun 16 Nov, 3:40 am UTC Flag as inappropriate
Wanna bet Specialized hasn't infringed on Stan's patent? Further, it appears that Stan's just patented the rims. I suspect that Specialized had their rims designed and in production before there was even a patent to infringe.
-
aracer
Posted Mon 17 Nov, 11:37 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
Whilst we're talking about the Horst link patent, it's worth pointing out that it should never have been granted due to prior art - one of the dodgiest patents around (hence why it's only a US one). Scott got very close to fighting Specialized in court over it, but backed down due to the huge amount it would have cost them in legal costs even if they'd won.
Good news if it really is expiring - can't happen soon enough.
- 1
Post this story to: