The following article was written by Justin Hartenstein of ORACLE Lighting
For a long time, the common myth was that there’s nothing you can do about overseas counterfeiting. People told us it was too expensive, too burdensome and that foreign courts would never side with a U.S. company.
We decided to prove them wrong.
By working with the team at Sisson & Banyas, Attorneys at Law, LLC, we didn't just play defense; we went on the offensive. We conducted a sting operation, hired private investigators and took our case directly to the Chinese court system. It wasn’t easy, and it certainly wasn’t fast, but we won. We secured a permanent injunction and monetary damages, but more importantly, we sent a message: Innovation is worth defending.
A few takeaways for my fellow innovators in the automotive aftermarket:
- File early: Don't wait until after the SEMA Show. If it’s not patented before it’s public, you may lose your rights in key markets like China.
- Police your brand: U.S. Customs can’t catch everything. You have to be the eyes and ears for your own intellectual property (IP).
- Invest in the example: We aren’t a giant corporation with infinite pockets, but we realized that if we don't protect our designs, we’re essentially working for the counterfeiters.
Our commitment to the "Keep doing right by the customer" motto means ensuring they get the quality and safety they expect from a genuine ORACLE Lighting product, not a cut-rate imitation.
Check out the full article in SEMA Magazine to learn more about how we’re fighting to keep the "specialty" in the specialty equipment market.