Scooter Manufacturer Sues CSK for Selling Counterfeit Models

A Nevada scooter manufacturer is suing CSK Auto Corp., the owners of Kragen Auto Parts, for allegedly selling knockoffs made in China.
Patmont Motor Werks, maker of the GoPed scooter, is charging CSK is selling scooters made in China, which infringe on its trademarks and copyrights.
According to a report in the Record-Courier, a local newspaper, the company founder hopes to dissuade other companies from engaging in the purchase of counterfeit products by launching the suit, in addition to the damages he is seeking. The company t is seeking damages in the amount of $10,000 for each motorized scooter sold in Nevada over the last three years, an injunction preventing CMK from selling the scooters and an order to pay Patmont all profits made on the scooters.
“We hope this suit will serve to protect hardworking American families from calculated theft of intellectual property rights through importation and distribution of low cost imitation products,” said Steve Patmont in a prepared statement.
In March, Patmont charged in a federal lawsuit that the Chinese government and an association of Chinese companies were engaged in unfair trade practices and conspiracy to restrain trade.
Federal District Judge Howard McKibben issued an injunction prohibiting the importation of gas and electric scooters from China, Taiwan and Korea.
Patmont claims CSK began selling Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean-made motorized scooters describing them as GoPeds or Go scooters sometime in the last three years.
When Patmont sued the Chinese seeking to stop the importation of the scooters, the company provided a copy of the lawsuit in order to serve notice.
In its lawsuit against CSK, Patmont claims the auto parts retailer refused to communicate and ignored a second written request to stop using the GoPed trademark.
In addition, Patmont also accused CSK of lifting safety warnings, pictures and photographs from the Patmont Web site.