GM sues Ohio company for rare 'Vette replicas

[Rob]

GM sues Ohio company for rare 'Vette replicas

Robert Snell / The Detroit News
Last Updated: March 21. 2010 1:12AM

The 1963 Corvette Grand Sport roadster is the rarest and arguably most important Corvette model ever made. Only five were built, and they sell for millions at auction.

But an Ohio company is being sued by General Motors for churning out replica versions that sell for less than $90,000.

The lawsuit was filed this month in U.S. District Court against Mongoose Motorsports LLC of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, which specializes in building replica 1984-88 GTP models and the legendary Grand Sport.

Full Story From The Detroit News: GM sues Ohio company for rare 'Vette replicas | detnews.com | The Detroit News

 

[lt1george]

How long has this company in Ohio been building these look alike Grand Sports ???
Seems to me someone blew this company in. The bean counters caught wind of this outfit and now is going after them.

 

[motorman]

i bet if they had paid GM for a licence to build this would not have happened

 

[njlouc]

I dont get it ???

The design is over 50 years old.
Patents dont last that long!!
It's just too bad!!

 

[Mac]

I dont get it ???

The design is over 50 years old.
Patents dont last that long!!
It's just too bad!!

2010
-1963
-------
47

-Mac

ps: There are differences between patents and trademarks and one of them is that trademarks don't expire. As a Corvette enthusiast, I admire the Mongoose-built GS but no-one in the business of building replicas can play at being ignorant of trademarks and their ramifications.

 

[Toms007]

They are replicas....very good replicas........one of our members just got his.

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com...ical-discussion/118836-white-grand-sport.html

And here's his complete story.

My Dad was a sport

 

[killain]

I dont get it ???

The design is over 50 years old.
Patents dont last that long!!
It's just too bad!!

Patents are awarded and are in effect for 17 years. On occasion they can be renewed. FWIW, If you write a story, the story/screenplay/poem it's copyrighted for 50 years, or until you pass away.

But this is a relly good thing that GM is willing to fight for 'It's' property. I was watching a Corvette auction on television a few years ago and a stunning 1969 L88, and the commenter was talking to his other host and he mentioned that GM built 116 L88, but that he'd bet that there's twice of them running around the auction circuit !

One of the major auction houses in New york city was on television recently and they were putting up for bid a Audi historic race car, but they pulled it at the last moment cause it's true authenticity couldn't be guaranted. And they could be sued if they sold a car that wasn't what it was suppose to be?

 

[Rob]

I dont get it ???

The design is over 50 years old.
Patents dont last that long!!
It's just too bad!!

I'm not up on patent law, but understandably GM is very protective of their patents and trademarks / trade names.