No More Kingpin?

[nyskirat]

German manufacturer Marker DE has stopped selling the beloved Kingpin ski binding in response to a finding from a patent infringement lawsuit brought forth by G3 Genuine Guide Gear Inc. According to legal documents, Marker stipulated in court in May, agreeing that it had infringed on one of three patent claims that G3 asserted against them. Subsequent court dates will determine whether Marker infringed on two other infringement claims, as well as the damages G3 will be awarded.

http://www.powder.com/gear/g3-sues-m...664#sf93775664

[Skirotica]

Just read this and hopped in here to see if word was spreading. Sucks. I never got a pair because I kept finding Dynafits for cheaper. Am hoping the settlement will let the binding remain in development and sale. maybe G3 will start selling it...

[1000-oaks]

Wonder if the Tecton brake catch design is in the same boat.

[Speedfreak]

So this means the only "pintech" binding on the market with a full heel cup is being taken off the market based on brake design? Smooth one G3.

Since power transfer thru pin heels fucking blows this presents a problem should I break one of the two sets of Kingpins I have. Guess I'll be voting with my $$$ and looking at companies other than G3 for new skins (and other gear) in the near future.

[rob stokes]

Fuck off G3, concentrate on sorting out your recall before trying to take other (better imo) bindings off the mountain.

[adrenalated]

Marker will redesign the brakes, or pay G3 royalties, and the Kingpin will go on. Marker has invested way too much into the Kingpin to let it die that easily.

[Meadow Skipper]

So it's G3's fault and they suck because Marker infringed on their patent?

I kind of miss the good ol' days when everyone here hated Marker.

[kalisto]

^ Was thinking the same thing...

[m-ruta]

G3 has every right to defend their patents. That's the whole point of filing one.

From the sounds of it, a major manufacturer willfully infringed on a small company's patent. Marker Volkl probably thought G3 didn't have the resources to call them on it, but G3 took a stand. Good on them.

Anyway, the Kingpin isn't going anywhere. Marker will just license the design or pay a settlement and retool the (lousy) brake retaining thingy.

[galibier_numero_un]

Wonder if the Tecton brake catch design is in the same boat.

I'm guessing they're using the Vipec catch design, but then again, WTF do I know.

... Thom

[LeeLau]

G3 has every right to defend their patents. That's the whole point of filing one.

From the sounds of it, a major manufacturer willfully infringed on a small company's patent. Marker Volkl probably thought G3 didn't have the resources to call them on it, but G3 took a stand. Good on them.

Anyway, the Kingpin isn't going anywhere. Marker will just license the design or pay a settlement and retool the (lousy) brake retaining thingy.

Here is the patent. See the claims http://www.google.ca/patents/US8746728

Fritschi settled and is licensing the patent. Marker could do so as well.

Keep in mind that Dynafit had a very strong pintech patent that they licensed for a long long time.

[galibier_numero_un]

That's fascinating, Lee. The catch mechanism on the Vipec is so different from the Ion, and yet they had to license it? The verbiage in lawyer/patent-speak makes me dizzy ;-)

... Thom

[XXX-er]

Ohhhh! I love this when the pure and perfect lifestyle of the broke and dirtbag runs head on into the stark reality of business

[Spyderjon]

According to my Marker source this is a US only problem, all other regions of the world are unaffected. Bet G3 are wishing they had a worldwide patent now. This has been going on since 2015 so it looks like G3 took action as soon as the Kingpin was launched.

[Spyderjon]

If it's only the brake catch that's the issue then in the short term Marker could simply offer the Kingpin with their fixed rear AFD platform & a leash instead of brakes.

[mall walker]

So it's G3's fault and they suck because Marker infringed on their patent?

I kind of miss the good ol' days when everyone here hated Marker.

word. G3 is a legit company, why file a patent if you aren't going to enforce it?

plenty of other heavy ass touring bindings for the rest of you fatsos

[Adrgha]

According to my Marker source this is a US only problem, all other regions of the world are unaffected. Bet G3 are wishing they had a worldwide patent now. This has been going on since 2015 so it looks like G3 took action as soon as the Kingpin was launched.

Whew, that's good news. So they haven't actually stopped production of the binding?

Already have two pairs of these, and looking to get another for next season. They've been flawless for me.

[Gman]

Whew, that's good news. So they haven't actually stopped production of the binding?

Already have two pairs of these, and looking to get another for next season. They've been flawless for me.

I dont think they will be shipping any more to local retailers for the time being. Many retailers still have them in stock but mostly left over stock from last year.

[GeezerSteve]

why file a patent if you aren't going to enforce it?

It just aint that simple. It's not uncommon for patent claim holders to forebear from enforcing some patent claims. Some forebear because it's the right thing to do, e.g., Daimler Benz allowing others to make better ABS and antilock brake systems in violation of DB patents. Some forebear because they don't want to expose their patent claims to attack and eventual invalidation. You might be surprised how often a patent claim holder sues to enforce a patent and the court eventually deems one or more of the claims to be invalid as prior art or per patent misuse doctrine. Starting a patent infringement claim process can be a very risky move.

[MultiVerse]

G3 has every right to defend their patents. That's the whole point of filing one.

From the sounds of it, a major manufacturer willfully infringed on a small company's patent. Marker Volkl probably thought G3 didn't have the resources to call them on it, but G3 took a stand. Good on them.

Anyway, the Kingpin isn't going anywhere. Marker will just license the design or pay a settlement and retool the (lousy) brake retaining thingy.

The majority of patent cases do not involve copying a published idea but are instead over an independent invention. This makes patent law distinct from copyright infringement and theft of trade secrets because patent law alone punishes independent progress.

[tuco]

So it's G3's fault and they suck because Marker infringed on their patent?

I kind of miss the good ol' days when everyone here hated Marker.

No, they suck because they make chinsey shit! Skins(or at least the glue) suck ass, the fit and finish on their skis suck ass, not to mention QC, selling skis that have no business being sold(at least without making it known skis are seconds)! Everything I've ever had from them, whether good idea or design, is just built half ass! Furrher proof---Ion.
It's as if AMF was reborn as G3!

[teledad]

According to my Marker source this is a US only problem, all other regions of the world are unaffected. Bet G3 are wishing they had a worldwide patent now. This has been going on since 2015 so it looks like G3 took action as soon as the Kingpin was launched.

Looks like they did file in Europe but it's still in review (8 years after filing): https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP09716177

So this may eventually affect EPC countries as well. Looks like Fritschi is listed as a licensee.

Tried searching for G3 assigned patents in Canada but just found a couple for climbing skins. I don't know if their external patent database includes applications though.

[LeeLau]

Docket fyi https://www.plainsite.org/dockets/2l...tschland-gmbh/

Didn't see court order on it as yet. Just a suggested court order by G3's counsel

The Canadian patent office dbase doesn't list applications fyi

[LightRanger]

No, they suck because they make chinsey shit! Skins(or at least the glue) suck ass, the fit and finish on their skis suck ass, not to mention QC, selling skis that have no business being sold(at least without making it known skis are seconds)! Everything I've ever had from them, whether good idea or design, is just built half ass! Furrher proof---Ion.
It's as if AMF was reborn as G3!

Yeah. The G3 Avitech Shovel, burlyass 320cm probe, and various skis I've had over the years were total garbage.

[TahoeJ]

So it's G3's fault and they suck because Marker infringed on their patent?

I kind of miss the good ol' days when everyone here hated Marker.

I'm not a fan of Marker DH bindings, but the Kingpin is pretty sweet. Put them on two separate setups last winter.

I have a couple pairs of G3 skins and they've been great.