Havoc Heli spurs new lawsuit
By Staff -- Playthings, 10/23/2007 11:11:00 AM
TORONTO—Silverlit Toys and Spin Master, partners for North American distribution of the Havoc Heli mini R/C helicopter, are suing manufacturer Westminster Inc. and retailer KB Toys to stop sales of a competing mini helicopter.
The lawsuit alleges that the Thunder Wolf Mini Indoor MicroLite Helicopter infringes certain U.S. design patents owned by Silverlit, creator of the Havoc Heli licensed by Spin Master and sold as the Air Hogs Havoc Heli. It also contends that KB and Westminster conspired to copy the popular Air Hogs Havoc Heli and replace those sales with the infringing Thunder Wolf. In addition to an injunction against further sales, the lawsuit also seeks damages for past sales.
“We have spent considerable time, effort and money in promoting the Havoc Heli to the point now where it is one of the top toys of the year. We will not stand by idly and let others benefit from all of those effort,” said Anton Rabie, Spin Master’s CEO. “We have a strong history of vigorously protecting intellectual property which we own and license, and the Air Hogs Havoc Heli merits vigorous protection.”
Spin Master and Silverlit successfully obtained an injunction earlier in the year against Hobbytron for selling a knock-off version of the Air Hogs Havoc Heli.
