Yakima still talking with competitors

    Nearly four months after Yakima Products Inc. filed a complaint against four of its competitors, the company is still talking about settlements.
    Beaverton, Ore.-based Yakima filed a complaint against Boulder, Colo.-based Rocky Mounts Inc., Los Angeles-based Hollywood Racks, Madison, Wis.-based Saris Cycling Group and Torrance, Calif.-based Car Mate, USA Inc., owner of Inno racks, for allegedly violating Yakima patents.
    The complaint, filed Nov. 13, 2008, alleges that Rocky Mounts violated patents in its disc adapter, while Saris, Inno and Hollywood allegedly violated hitch, roof and trunk rack patents.
    According to the complaint filed with Oregon district court, “(The) defendant is making, using, offering for sale, and selling, and inducing others to make, use, offer for sale, and sell, bicycle carriers and assemblies that infringe (on Yakima patents).”
    Someone from each company has spoken with Yakima attorneys, but despite Yakima telling Explore It! it wanted to settle outside of court without a lengthy litigation process, talks are ongoing.
    “We’re just ongoing with settlement talks in hopes that those will lead to something fruitful,” said Nick Thede, one of Yakima’s attorneys.
    Thede wouldn’t elaborate on what the company hopes to gain from the potential lawsuit, but according to the complaint filed with Oregon district court, remunerations include: A decree that the defendant infringed on Yakima patents; A court order prohibiting further infringement; A “reasonable royalty” for unauthorized use of the patents; Repayment of Yakima’s attorney fees; Other appropriate relief.
    Alex Connelly, vice president of Inno Racks, said he thinks Yakima is just attacking the “little guys.”
    “I think it was just a big boy rockin’ the world,” Connelly said.