AirHawk International announced that it recently filed in the United States District Court Central District Of California Southern Division a Complaint For Patent Infringement, False Advertising, Tortious Interference, and Unfair Competition against various parties related to a product called “Wild Ass Motorcycle Cushion.”.
AirHawk has also sent Cease and Desist letters to various parties and some retailers known to have sold or purchased, or planning to sell or purchase, the product in question with the reminder that it is important for them to understand that every person or entity in the chain of commerce can be liable for patent infringement, including but not limited to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, resellers, advertisers, marketers, and consumers (end users.)
According to the filing, AirHawk is asking for:
Preliminary and permanent injunctive relief restraining and enjoining defendants and their respective officers, directors, agents, servants, representatives, employees, affiliates, attorneys, and all persons acting inprivity or in concert with them, and their parents, subsidiaries, divisions, successors and assigns, from directly or indirectly infringing AirHawk’s patents; as well as other findings and judgments.
AirHawk owner, Don Mahoney, expressed confidence that conscientious retailers will honor AirHawk’s patents and steer clear of obvious knock offs if and when they are offered to them. He said, “I do hope retailers remember that they too are liable for patent infringement when they are selling infringing knock-offs.” Mahoney went on to say that he did not think that anybody really wants to buy a product made in China when they can have a proven, quality product manufactured in Santa Ana, California for the same price. AirHawk is launching its digital online media campaign the first week of May. For info check out AirHawk or call 888-443-2669
What are Air Hawk having a problem with? Is the Chinese cushion using ‘Air Hawk’ branding or is it infringing a patent (although I see no patenet info on Air Hawk’s web site)?
I have to agree that I’d sooner buy the US cushion though but that’s just me.
David. AirHawk is a brand name, not a patent!!! Several US companies produce seats in China then sell them under the name AiHawk in the US to dealers and consumers.
Kenny, yes I know ‘Air Hawk’ is the brand, not a patent! What I meant was on their site, I didn’t see any patents on any products or technology behind the products. The odd trade mark shows up. So, your point about seats being sold in the US under the ‘Air Hawk’ brand is the relevant one as ‘Air Hawk’ looks like it has an official brand registration. That said, trade mark registration is a bugger to track as it tends to be done by country/continent/trade area, so China might be able to infringe – look what just happened to Apple & the iPhone in China. But I guess the retailers in the US might have a problem!
2Kenny, is your “AiHawk” a typo for AirHawk, or are these Chinese seats being marketed with a purposefully missing r ?
Woody’s. No, it’s a typo I made.
Is Airhawk even making the neoprene cushions anymore? It seems like they switched to all plastic when Mahoney bought the company
thx Kenny
Hello everyone.
I see some of your followers have been inquisitive about AirHawk’s recent court filings and I thought I would clear up any confusion.
– Our suit is for patent infringement, and other related issues mentioned in the filing and in the press release.
– AirHawk Intl. is the owner of U.S. Patent No. D673,785, U.S. Patent No. D672,569, and U.S. Patent No. D658,396. These can be verified at http://www.uspto.gov.
– AirHawk’s trademarks are registered in the USA and other countries. The USA registration can be seen at http://www.uspto.gov.
– We are not making claims of trademark infringement at this time, but will always vigorously defend against both patent and trademark infringement.
If there are any other questions, we will respond as promptly as possible.
John Strahl,
That lawyer speak did not clear anything up. What is being done to Airhawk in laymans terms? Are they stealing your concept? design?
A seat cushion doesn’t seem all that unique.
I appreciate that they are made in the USA.
I looked up Wild Ass seats and they seem to cost as much as Airhawks. Are they made in China?Copying Airhawk?
Their price is high. Doesn’t seem like a knockoff bargain price.