[iDrive] Pacific vs Maverick

[Ruben]

Subject: Pacific Sues Maverick, Klein, Alleging Patent Infringement

MADISON, WI -- 01/21/2004

Pacific Cycle filed a patent infringement lawsuit against
Maverick American and Klein Bicycle based on its iDrive
suspension technology.

Pacific, which owns the Schwinn, Mongoose and GT brands,
seeks to stop the two companies from using Maverick"s rear
suspension design, which Pacific claims uses iDrive technology.

The Maverick suspension design in question is used on its
ML7 frame and is licensed by Klein for use on its Palomino
mountain bikes.

Pacific filed suit in the Colorado District Court.

"We take our proprietary technology very seriously,"
said Chris Hornung, Pacific"s founder and chief operating officer.
"It"s a big part of what makes our bicycles among the best in the
industry, and our independent bike dealers expect this level of
innovation from us. It"s unfortunate that we have to take legal action,
but we will protect our technology by any means necessary to
continue supplying independent bike dealers with the highest level
of bike design."

Paul Turner, Maverick"s founder and the founder of RockShox,
has long contended that his design is different and that Pacific"s
allegations are without merit. He has sought a solution to this
problem since before Pacific acquired GT.

Officials at Trek, which owns Klein,
also said the lawsuit is groundless.

"Trek has looked very closely at the allegations Pacific raises
against it and Maverick. We believe them to be without merit.
The Klein Palomino does not infringe the Pacific patent," said
Bob Burns, Trek"s general counsel.

Dorel Industries of Montreal began the process of buying
Pacific earlier this month. Hornung will remain as Pacific Cycle"s
chief executive officer and will run the company as a standalone
division of Dorel.

On January 13, 2004 Pacific Cycle Sold
To Canadian Company For $310 Million

Dorel Industries of Montreal is the new owner of Pacific Cycle.
Chris Hornung, Pacific Cycle"s chief executive officer,
will remain head of Pacific Cycle and will run the company
as a standalone division of Dorel. The two companies hope
to finalize the sale by the end of the month.

"As you know Wind Point Partners, the majority shareholder
in Pacific has been trying to sell the entire company for over a
year now which has happened," said Byron Smith, Pacific Cycle"s
president and chief operating officer. "Dorel will keep the
management team together in Madison and key managers,
including Chris, retain an equity stake in the new company.
We all have a vested intrest in the new company."

Dorel is a publicly traded company employing approximately
4,800 people in fourteen countries. It specializes in consumer
products including home furnishings. It"s juvenile product division
sells infant car seats, strollers, high chairs and toddler beds under
the Cosco and Safety 1st brand names. Pacific Cycle, which
sold approximately 5 million bikes in 2003, is the company"s
first bicycle venture.

Canada"s anti-dumping tariffs, up to 64 percent on
Chinese produced bicycles like Pacific Cycle imports,
do not make it viable to move Pacific from the United States
where import duties are substantially less.

[Exar]

Hm, dan zullen ze Decathlon binnenkort ook wel aanpakken, hun all-mountain NEUF model heeft ook wat i-Drive aspecten in het ontwerp zitten...

Ze zijn er alsnog rijkelijk laat mee!

[Pino]

Het is in de US of G.W niet allen mogelijk de techniek te patenteren, maar daaraan gekoppeld ook de vermeende effecten van het effect.
Dus als je een technisch systeem patenteert met als effect: full active suspension zonder brake-lockout, zou je ook andere veersystemen met dezelfde geclaimde no brake-lock out onder j epatentbescherming laten vallen.
Gelukkig ben ik geen jurist en snijdt bovenstaand verhaal misschien geen hout.

[DeKerfs]

Pino, als dat klopt wat jij zegt... is Amerika toch echt wel een ... uhm.. jah.. weet eigenlijk niet wat.. maar in elk geval enorm k an s l o o s land!