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Editor@RubberMag.com |
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 Carlini
Stops Imitation Handlebars With Lawsuit And Hammer
(photo courtesy Carlini)
A trade dress and trademark infringement
lawsuit between Carlini Enterprises and three East Coast companies
ended Feb. 1 with a victory for Carlini and the destruction of
nearly 300 steel handlebars manufactured by V-Twin, Tedd Cycle
and Zoom Cycle that were lesser-quality imitations of Carlini
products.
Based in Santa Ana, Calif., Carlini Enterprises specializes in
the design and production of innovative, high-quality parts for
Harley Davidsons and choppers.
"We reached settlement last October, but the court officially
closed the lawsuit Feb. 1. We were allowed to destroy these cheap
imitations, and this was sweet vindication of the Carlini brand
whose reputation of excellence began 30 years ago when my father
started the company," commented Tony Carlini, Jr., president
and owner of Carlini Enterprises.
Carlini, with helpers alongside, personally destroyed the imitations
-- using hammers to permanently degrade the products. "It
was a great feeling to get rid of these cheap knock-offs, but
it was exhausting work. We made sure to dent each handlebar and
the imitation riser bushings -- we broke two hammers and my father-in-law
cut his hand in the process. But it was worth it -- we saved
consumers from buying bad products -- and thinking they were
Carlinis."
"It wasn't a difficult decision for the Carlini family to
decide to defend their name. They have been in business for three
decades and are respected for their high-quality, custom products.
Tony Carlini, Sr. was a pioneer in the chopper industry,"
explained Becky Christensen, Esq. of O'Connor Christensen &
McLaughlin LLP in Irvine, Calif., the lead attorney for Carlini.
"One of the goals of our lawsuit was to get these imitation
bars out of circulation to protect consumers as well as Carlini.
We achieved that and also have demonstrated that Carlini will
not allow anyone to sell imitations that harm the company's reputation,"
Christensen added.
Carlini originally asked V-Twin Manufacturing and Tedd Cycle,
based in Newburgh, N.Y., and Zoom Cycle, based in Connecticut,
to stop selling the inferior products that infringed on their
trademark and trade dress. When they refused, Carlini responded
by suing in the federal court in California.
It all started after an angry consumer returned a pair of imitation
bars to Carlini. "My stomach flipped when I saw those bars,"
said Carlini. "The welds were sloppy, the bars were a cheap
lightweight construction and the risers were not spaced right."
While the consumer thought he had gotten a bargain on genuine
Carlini SuperSweeps, the products were cheap imitations. The
lawsuit also involved Carlini's hidden riser bushings and nacelle
kits, designed and sold exclusively by Carlini.
"I personally designed the SuperSweeps' curving risers and
cross bars," said Carlini. "There is nothing else like
it on the market. We've worked hard to make the highest quality
parts available. Nothing goes out of our warehouse without careful
quality inspection -- the slightest scratch or the smallest ripple
in the chrome or steel is absolutely rejected."
For more information, please visit the company's website at www.carlinidesign.com.
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