Holy pilfering paddle peddlers, Bat Man!
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Werner Paddles says it can do without. The company recently unearthed a Chinese manufacturer that’s using Werner’s images and even product names to peddle their own watersports wares.
“Theft is the sincerest form of flattery, I suppose, but we want to alert our dealers to this activity and warn them about whatever scam these guys are up to,” says Werner President Bruce Furrer. “They’ve stolen our intellectual property and are attempting to use Werner paddles images and names to sell their own paddles into the US and other markets.”
Indeed, when PL visited the culprit company’s Web site (visit paddle pilferers here), we found a Chinese manufacturer who definitely pilfered the look and feel of Werner Paddles’ Web, down to such marquee Werner paddle names as the Double Diamond, Sho-Gun and Stikine.
“Theyre using our model names and images to create interest in their sub-standard offerings,” says Werner Marketing Director Jim Miller. “They’ve even gone so far as to copy the Werner mission statement.”
Adds Furrer: “We’re pursuing legal recourse, to whatever degree it exists, to get this group to stop using our logo, images and names.”
He adds that Werner has no licensing agreements with any manufacturer to produce Werner paddles. “All Werner paddles are hand built in the United States, in Sultan Washington and we are very proud of our heritage and reputation. To have this type of identity theft is a serious violation to us and our dealers who represent us so well,” he says.
About Werner: Werner Paddles is the leading manufacturer of high quality kayak, canoe and stand up paddles, operating near the banks of the Skykomish River in Sultan, WA. For more information call 800.275.3311 or visit us at www.wernerpaddles.com