Unexpected Trademark Infringement?!?

[jezabel]

Okay, My GF arrives home with a couple of new kitchen knives. This brand is very common and in nearly every home down this side of the hemisphere. While they are not exactly the greatest quality around, they are easily available everywhere.

I got a little shock when I opened the packet...

I'll let the pics do the talking.

[jezabel]

and another...

J:confused:

[razorsharp]

see them at the warehouse- I personally don't like what ever steel is in the coloured blade Santoku Wiltshire knives - the steel seems to not be very fine and doesn't hold its edge too long.

Love how the (spyder?)hole lock is "advanced" lol

Do they have pull through sharpeners in the sheath or something?

[jezabel]

The hole is used as part of the locking device for the "sheath" ( What I find interesting is that older designs of this "Sharpener" locked in just fine without the hole). From the feel of things my guess is that the "sharpener" uses a Carbide blade of some form or another.

J

[razorsharp]

bleh- pull-throughs are terrible, Im steering clear of that . Dont see how a button and a hole is advanced lol. :D

[jezabel]

Yeah the sharpener is just as nasty as the blade steel. My GF thought she had done well too.... some day soon I'm going to have to bust out the cash for a full set of Svords for the kitchen, only problem is I'll have to keep her away from them.

J

[The Deacon]

I'm no lawyer, but as far as I know, Spyderco's trademark only extends to round holes in the blades of folding knives which can be used as one hand opening devices. A round hole in the blade of a fixed blade, especially when it is obviously intended to serve a different purpose, wouldn't violate it.

[razorsharp]

I'm no lawyer, but as far as I know, Spyderco's trademark only extends to round holes in the blades of folding knives which can be used as one hand opening devices. A round hole in the blade of a fixed blade, especially when it is obviously intended to serve a different purpose, wouldn't violate it.

Thats what i was thinking :)

Svord- saw some peasant folders once, looked nice and had a great patina. hmmm, tempted to get one

[jezabel]

I'm no lawyer, but as far as I know, Spyderco's trademark only extends to round holes in the blades of folding knives which can be used as one hand opening devices. A round hole in the blade of a fixed blade, especially when it is obviously intended to serve a different purpose, wouldn't violate it.

I understand what your saying Paul, but if that is the case why is there such emphasis being placed on the "Spyderhole" being implemented on fixed blades?

J

[rycen]

It is on the fixed blades to have continuity within the brand.

[Onionman]

The spyderco hole is a trademark, which typically is a particular symbol or marking which is identified with a particular company. A violation of the trademark typically occurs when another product uses the same or similar symbol which could be confused with the products being sold by the trademark owner. The usefulness of the hole as a one-handed opening feature is irrelevant to the identification of the trademark. So it is possible that so long as the round hole on a fixed blade would cause someone to believe that the product is made by Spyderco, this feature could conceivably violate Spyderco's trademark, unless they have permission from Spyderco to put the hole on their knife.

[Ted]

There is no mentioning of a folding blade in the trademark, so it applies to fixed blades as well. I believe that was the reason Spyderco started making holes in their fixed blades, to have it consistent along the products, otherwise they would be invalidating their own trademark.