The April issue of Latitude 38 (p18) has an ad from Westmarine that says:
Laser Performance HardwareNow West Marine has the genuine Laser Performance hardware you need to optimize the performance of the world’smost popular one-design! We carry the Laser Clew Sleeve,Outhaul & Cunningham and Vang Upgrade Kits and LaserTraveler and Boom Blocks by Harken, along with sail numbersand Hull and Deck Covers. And remember that shipping is freewhen you order online for pick up at your local West Marinestore. At selected stores and online at westmarine.com.
I thought it might be an April Fool's joke. . .
Filing date 2013-03-14. Hmm.
http://trademarks.justia.com/858/76/laser-85876136.html
Filing date 2013-03-14, HMM.
http://trademarks.justia.com/858/76/n-a-85876140.html
I heard on the rumour mill today that the ISAF having said they will no longer supply plaques to Laser Performance and that the Laser hull manufacturng factory in Banbury is locked up......
http://www.kirbytorch.com/
Looks like he already has builders lined up, and he wants to re-work the existing ILCA into the Torch class.
This is not over by any means. While a new builder tries to set up shop in the alley out behind the magazine editorial offices, there is still a court case working its way through the system. The court could rule against Kirby, meaning the new builder would have to compete directly against LPE's existing building experience, supply chain, and dealer network. Sounds like a risky business move to me.
The ILCA tried to head this off a couple of years ago with bad/incomplete information, and that obviously failed. Quite frankly, they should wait for the court case to be resolved before making any deals on a Kirby Torch class.
They must have one of those new 3D printers out back.
This is a sad day in sailing history.
Looking on the bright side, maybe the rights to the Laser name will become worthless and the Class can pick them up for a song.
If BK wants to build support from class members, he needs to explain who he selected as builder and their qualifications. Right now there is just an address for a house which from Google Maps appears to have been converted into a duplex, half of which is occupied by a massage business. Not one of "those" places, but still not what you would expect for a qualified builder.
No idea how it works in the US but in the UK when there is a court case in progress people (involved in the case) have to be careful what they say/argue in public. Never reflects well if what should be argued in court comes to be argued in public (by those involved in the case). So I can appreciate Kirby being quiet at the moment as his priority must be not to jeopardise his case.
Ian
If BK wants to build support from class members, he needs to explain who he selected as builder and their qualifications. Right now there is just an address for a house which from Google Maps appears to have been converted into a duplex, half of which is occupied by a massage business. Not one of "those" places, but still not what you would expect for a qualified builder.
Don't LaserPerformance make a number of other boats using the Laser trademark? Laser Vago, Laser Pico, Laser Bahia and some others. Even if they can't build Lasers any more, wouldn't they want to hang on to the rights to the Laser name for use with these other boats?
Don't LaserPerformance make a number of other boats using the Laser trademark? Laser Vago, Laser Pico, Laser Bahia and some others. Even if they can't build Lasers any more, wouldn't they want to hang on to the rights to the Laser name for use with these other boats?
---snip---
I am sure Rastegars lawyers will whinge and complain but at the end of the day they are no longer licensed to build the boat and will not be supplied plaques by ILCA/ISAF what can they argue?
snip>>>if ILCA decide to become ITCA (although they cannot use that particular moniker as the International Topper Class Association might be upset).
I can't believe that LP is going to just let a multimillion dollar revenue stream go without a fight. I think this is going to get really messy really fast.
Yeah, sure the hardcore laser sailors who read these forums is going to know about the change, but what about the average recreational sailor? They're not going to care about any of this. They'll just buy a laser, probably directly from LP, plaque or no plaque. Even beyond this, it's just going to kill sales. Nobody wants to deal with this confusion except maybe someone who's doing an olympic campaign. I sure don't. Laser fleets have been dying for the last 5 years and this is going to make it even worse. Time to jump ship imo.
I can't believe that LP is going to just let a multimillion dollar revenue stream go without a fight. I think this is going to get really messy really fast.
Word is out that there is a meeting next week somewhere in US. Kirby, PSA and a European group will sign and agree the distribution for newly named Laser. Laser Performance are out.....though no doubt they will kick up, bitch and moan and try and go legal.....
Gonna get messy (messier)......
I support Kirby in this. Yes this is annoying as hell, and there'll be a delay before any new boats are built, but that only will affect the 1% who want new boats....the same 1% the upper echelons of ILCA seem only to listen to.
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