The Michelin Group has won a lawsuit against a New Brunswick auto shop for selling a tire that violates intellectual property rights.
The suit, filed in New Brunswick provincial court against Tire Boys & Auto Service Inc., (also doing business as Atlantic Tire King) was regarding the BFGoodrich Tires All-Terrain T/A KO2 tire.
The suit alleged that the All-Terrain T/A AK3 tire sold under the Wideway brand included a virtually identical tread design to the original BFGoodrich Tires All-Terrain T/A KO tire.
The tire also had substantially the same features as those protected by intellectual property rights for the All-Terrain T/A KO2 tire, which Michelin manufactures in the United States under its wholly-owned BFGoodrich Tires brand.
DOT markings on the Wideway All-Terrain T/A AK3 tire indicate the product is manufactured in China.
Tire Boys & Auto Service Inc. and Atlantic Tire King Inc. failed to appear or respond in the lawsuit, which prompted Michelin’s motion for judgment.
From the court’s order:
- The defendants are no longer allowed to sell any Wideway tires.
- The defendants are prevented from infringing Michelin’s “T/A trademark.”
- The defendants were charged $50,000 in damages for violating Michelin intellectual property rights.
- The defendant was charged $10,000 in costs for intentional disregard and $1,100 as compensation for disbursements.
Michelin says it takes seriously any unauthorized use or infringement of its patents, trademarks or any other intellectual property.
“Michelin monitors the marketplace for infringements of our intellectual property on all of our products,” said Harold Phillips, global general manager for BFGoodrich Tires.
“Michelin will continue to pursue legal action to protect our products that are covered by our intellectual property. The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tire and its legacy represent the achievement of many years of technical development and is one of the flagship products in our product portfolio. We will continue to actively protect IP rights, with this product line as well as our entire portfolio.”
Michelin previously acted in numerous other countries, alongside the North American filing, to protect its intellectual property rights from Wideway’s alleged infringement.
It seems like the Chinese should be sued as well as and the installer shop and distributor, also deserves a strict warning prior to this?
Maybe I am missing something? http://www.widewaytire.com/ what other brands are they copying and why is there website still up ?