Spin Master sues Soft Air over recalled micro heli
By Staff -- Playthings, 2/29/2008 9:07:00 AM
TORONTO—Spin Master, the North American distributor of the Air Hogs Havoc Heli, and Silverlit Toys Manufactory Ltd., Hong Kong, the R/C micro helicopter’s manufacturer, have filed suit against Soft Air USA of Grapevine, Texas, and retailer The Sports Authority, following the recall of Soft Air USA’s competing micro helicopter.
Earlier this month, Soft Air recalled 30,000 units of its MicoCopter after receiving six reports of its rechargeable batteries catching fire. Since the recall, Spin Master says that because Soft Air’s micro copter looks “exactly like the Air Hogs Havoc Heli,” consumers and retailers have “bombarded” the company with questions and returns mistakenly believing that Soft Air’s MicroCopter is a Spin Master product.
Spin Master and Silverlit are suing Soft Air and Sports Authority for patent and copyright infringement in U.S. District Court in California seeking damages for lost profits and injury to their reputation and goodwill.
''We will continue to protect our interests in this manner and show that if our rights are infringed we will act,” said Anton Rabie, Spin Master’s CEO. “There are reputable sources for remote control helicopters and hopefully the trade will realize that dealing with these secondary knock-off products is a very poor choice.”
Added Rabie, "We feel it is important not just for our company, but also for our legitimate importers, distributors and the public, that we raise awareness of this problem. As creators of original product, we are constantly facing illegal knock-offs being purchased from China by retailers in North America because the knock-offs are cheaper. The product may look the same but invariably there are critical differences that consumers should be cautious of."
Spin Master says its micro helicopter is safer than less expensive models because of the use of a Protection Circuit Module that keeps the Havoc Heli’s rechargeable batteries from over charging and subsequently over heating.
