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Clone Golf Club Makers GigaGolf and KrookedStix Fold to Nike and Agree to Permanent Injunction? King Sports Decides to Fight

By David Dawsey PE Esq

As you may recall, back in late December Nike filed a lawsuit taking on the clones (Illinois Northern District Court; 07-c-7108). Specifically, Nike?s December 18th complaint named King Sports, Inc. dba Turbo Power Golf, Hung Ying Chang, Krookedstix, Inc., and Gigagolf, Inc. as defendants. Click HERE to review the prior post.

It didn?t take long for GigaGolf and KrookedStix to fold and agree to a Consent Judgment and Permanent Injunction with Nike. Click HERE to read the GigaGolf document; and click HERE to read the KroodedStix document. GigaGolf and KroodedStix agreed that they do in fact infringe the Nike design patents and agreed to stop manufacturing and selling the infringing clubs. Interestingly, KroodedStix sold a grand total of ?no more than 49 clubs that infringe? the patents-in-suit!

King Sports apparently has decided to fight it out and has filed an Answer to the Complaint. Click HERE to read the Answer. To no surprise, King Sports denies infringement and alleges that the patents are invalid.

I am not sure I would want to be in the position of King Sports in this lawsuit, but you be the judge? Click HERE to view one of King Sports products and compare it to the four images below (each image is from a separate Nike design patent; and keep in mind that dashed lines in the images are unclaimed matter and therefore do not have to be on the product in question to show infringement).

King Sports is now defending itself against Callaway and Nike! Lawsuits such as these by Callaway and Nike may be the demise of the clone golf club industry (and illustrate the value of design patents).

David Dawsey  - Monitoring Clone Golf Club Patent Litigation

Full post as published by Golf Patents on March 10, 2008 (boomark / email).