Kubota sues Kioti

[MikePA]

I'm not a lawyer, I don't even play one on TV, but I have heard that company's usually sue quickly when they believe their trademark/copyright has been stolen, infringed upon, etc. If they do not, then their lack of action can be construed as tacit approval of the similar action by others. I don't know if this is the reason for Kubota's suit or not.

In the other example mentioned, the other motorcycle manufacturers did not 'accidentally' make their V-twin engines sound like a Harley anymore than Kioti 'accidentally' painted their tractors the same shade orange and have the same hood design. In each situation, they clearly wanted to exploit the popularity of Harley and Kubota, respectively. Whether Kubota's suit will be found anymore valid than Harley's remains to be seen. As Pete said, it will keep 2 teams of lawyers busy for quite a while.

 

[Thomas]

I think Kubota should let it go..drop it,and Kioti should be more careful in there finish product.

By the way Mr.Kubota,are you planing to sue the state of New Hampshire next,for there highway department heavy trucks also matches your <font color=orange>color<font color=orange><font color=black>. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Getting so people will sue another just looking cross eye at them,but who really pays the bill in the long run..you and I thru our insurance. /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

 

[Thomas]

I been following this issue for a while now.

Harley has the 45 degree twin engine,and Honda came up w/42 degree twin engine...just common sence alone tell Honda intent to copy Harley's engine look,but those 3 degrees differents save Honda butts at the hearing.

Harley and Honda lawyers did cut a deal outside of the court tho..Honda will not offer a 45 degree engine look,nor copy the exhaust system look..but if one looks quickly at Honda ACE 1100cc you might swear its a Harley going by.

 

[MikePA]

Doesn't Yamaha have a Harley-like model, too? The Virago?

I guess I am in the minority in that I can see Kubota's point in suing Kioti. As many discussions on TBN indicate, there's really not too much that differentiates one brand compact tractor from another, hence the focus on buying from a quality dealer. Color and 'styling' are the two major areas of difference, hence Kubota's suit to protect two features of their tractors that make them unique.

 

[Boondox]

Mike -- I can see Kubota's point as well. And while I long ago opined that using the same color was brilliant marketing on Kioti's part, I have to admit there is some truth to what TresCrows said about the strength of building your own brand. Can you imagine Ford launching an ad campaign saying "We're just as good as a Chevy"? Wouldn't make me feel very good about Fords...

Pete

 

[Thomas]

The Virago does look like a Harley and Yamaha touring bike also looks like the Harley touring bike..some models.

Its shame that a company has to keep filing paper work to stop every company thats comes along trying to copy there ideas..plug the loop holes and be fair about it.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...Can you imagine Ford launching an ad campaign saying "We're just as good as a Chevy"?...</font color=blue>

I can see Ford's new campaign next week...

"FORD... Like a MOUNTAIN... the other guy... "like a rock"... /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif"

 

[WVBill]

A town near me here in WV wanted to reduce the noise that trucks make coming through town on the one major road. So they put up signs at the entrances to town that said: "Trucks NO Jake Braking".

The town was promptly sued by the Jacobs company that makes diesel engine compression braking devices for copyright infringement.

The signs were changed and now say "Truckers DO NOT use compression braking devices" /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

 

[Bird]

If I remember right nearly every little town I went through in Canada enroute to Alaska the last time had signs saying no "engine" braking./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Von]

Big Dave, Kubota's colors use to be the same blue and orange, up to about 1996. They went from blue frames to gray and changed the shade of orange. Maybe they changed the color because of Kioti.