What do you do when your product is knocked off?

[Matt@BOS]

Originally Posted by JKnight

Yeah, this is really very sad. Unfortunately, when I saw Fesler's "new" product release I thought, hmmmm, those look exactly like the RingBros design.

I don't have any advice for you guys, but can say that awareness of these issues will always drive my purchasing decisions.

That's what I was thinking the other day too. Unfortunately, not everyone knows, who is actually creating the innovative products. Case in point, at SEMA last year, one of your competitor in question won a GM design award for "most innovative products."

I'm curious Greg, if the Ring Brothers had taken the time to protect their hinge design prior to release, would it matter in a situation like this? I've heard from a few small companies around here that the costs generally don't outweigh the benefits because if the design is changed 10 percent or so by the competitor, then it is fair game. In this case, the new hinges aren't completely "air-framed." Also, I kept thinking that there was a difference in the strut mounting position, but then I noticed both are now horizontal. I can't even keep up with who is being innovative anymore

Matt

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by 69MSA

I'm curious Greg, if the Ring Brothers had taken the time to protect their hinge design prior to release, would it matter in a situation like this? I've heard from a few small companies around here that the costs generally don't outweigh the benefits because if the design is changed 10 percent or so by the competitor, then it is fair game. In this case, the new hinges aren't completely "air-framed." Also, I kept thinking that there was a difference in the strut mounting position, but then I noticed both are now horizontal. I can't even keep up with who is being innovative anymore

Matt

Good question, Matt, for which I have no answer. I would ASSume that you'd copy right/patent the design aspect of the hinge being billet... and several other more "cohesive" design elements in order to give you the broadest possible protection. Even then - I'm not sure what could be copy righted and or what that costs. My guess is - it's prohibitive. I just spent a quarter million on litigation and it was a very simple issue. The bills get real high - real fast, when it comes to "legal stuff". At some point it just isn't economically feasible.

[96z28ss]

Originally Posted by 69MSA

Also, I kept thinking that there was a difference in the strut mounting position, but then I noticed both are now horizontal. I can't even keep up with who is being innovative anymore

Matt

I started thinking about what you wrote Matt.
On my camaro I have the old style Ringbrothers Hinge. It has the shock pointing downward. Also my early version has an adjustable link that tie the 2 arms together (they stopped doing that) . These were the only Hinge at the time of purchase. attachment 1.

I did a search here for when Fesler announced his hinge summer of 2007 this thread.
https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=10434

Looking at the pictures you can see that his hinge is more then a 10% difference. The base is different, his shock placement is different, the arms are different.

The weird thing is that now Ringbrothers changed the camaro hinge to a base and shock position that look more like the Fesler ones. attachment 2.

One reason why I can think of is cost of manufacturing. The base being smaller and the one arm being smaller.

Like I said before I have both the RB and Fesler stuff on my car. What you shouldn't do is call out someone for taking an idea when its happened the other way around also.

Billet parts is a hard business to get into and not have competitors run with your ideas. Look at the Billet motorcycle parts. Most of it is now made in China. It hasn't reached the pro-touring parts yet but it will. Ever walk the Asia market section at SEMA?

You need to market and brand yourself as the First, and having a more superior Quality than the competitors. Also to be successful you have to be first to market with new products. That way your selling as much as you can before the competition can make a similar product.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by 96z28ss

I started thinking about what you wrote Matt.
On my camaro I have the old style Ringbrothers Hinge. It has the shock pointing downward. Also my early version has an adjustable link that tie the 2 arms together (they stopped doing that) . These were the only Hinge at the time of purchase. attachment 1.

I did a search here for when Fesler announced his hinge summer of 2007 this thread.
https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=10434

Looking at the pictures you can see that his hinge is more then a 10% difference. The base is different, his shock placement is different, the arms are different.

The weird thing is that now Ringbrothers changed the camaro hinge to a base and shock position that look more like the Fesler ones. attachment 2.

One reason why I can think of is cost of manufacturing. The base being smaller and the one arm being smaller.

Like I said before I have both the RB and Fesler stuff on my car. What you shouldn't do is call out someone for taking an idea when its happened the other way around also.

Billet parts is a hard business to get into and not have competitors run with your ideas. Look at the Billet motorcycle parts. Most of it is now made in China. It hasn't reached the pro-touring parts yet but it will. Ever walk the Asia market section at SEMA?

You need to market and brand yourself as the First, and having a more superior Quality than the competitors. Also to be successful you have to be first to market with new products. That way your selling as much as you can before the competition can make a similar product.

Bob well said!!!!