It's no secret that Giant's Maestro suspension system looks very similar to the DW-Link (notably of Iron Horse Sunday fame) developed by Dave Weagle. Weagle, after having apparently extensively negotiated with Giant regarding potential licensing of his technology, and even entering a Joint Development Agreement to create a new version of the Maestro platform together with Giant, has now filed a lawsuit against Giant (both Giant Taiwan and its wholly owned subsidiary Giant USA) for patent infringement as well as for breaking the terms of the aforementioned JDA.
Consulting the text of the lawsuit (the full version is available HERE, if you have trouble falling asleep at night), it appears that Weagle is making a case for infringement of several patents, following him showing early prototypes of his work to Giant representatives in 2004. The text also describes how Giant and Weagle subsequently negotiated a Joint Development Agreement for the creation of a "G+" suspension system for Giant, an agreement which Weagle now claims Giant have failed to honor.
Looking at the drawings and the patent text, it's hard to see how this trial could be anything but a foregone conclusion, but as we all know, things are rarely that straightforward in the judicial system. We'll just have to wait and see - stay tuned!
Update: In a letter sent to retailers in early May, Giant responded to the lawsuit, vowing to defend against the patent infringement allegations. The text of that letter is below.
GIANT'S RESPONSE TO DW-LINK LAWSUIT
To our valued Giant retailers,
Earlier this week, several consumer cycling Web sites reported on the patent infringement litigation between dw-link/Dave Weagle and Giant involving the Maestro Suspension design. Below is Giant’s official response to this matter:
Giant vigorously disputes and intends to aggressively defend against the patent infringement allegations contained in the lawsuit recently filed by dw- link. Maestro Suspension is a Giant proprietary design, and our retailers can continue to sell Maestro-equipped mountain bikes with confidence.
Giant will continue to focus on developing world-leading technologies to help you grow your business and provide a superior cycling experience for riders worldwide.
We greatly appreciate your support and business.
-- GIANT RETAILER SUPPORT
ChrisG
8/5/2013 7:14 AM
My sympathies are with Giant. If you read the DW-link patents you will notice that they convey the sense that any dual short link suspension linkage can be seen as a DW-link if the anti-squat curve is similarly DW-link like. I would say they are written with an eye to litigation. It don't think it is fair use of a patent that it should cover implementations that the patent holder does not use and will never use.
There is very little about Giant's linkage that is similar to the canonical DW-link. DW should be happy just having a better suspension design and stop playing litigious games.
Headshot
5/15/2013 1:49 AM
bturman
5/13/2013 4:38 PM
cameron.hoefer
5/7/2013 3:54 PM
steven.christiansen.54
5/7/2013 5:01 AM
Headshot
5/7/2013 3:25 AM
LTrumpore
5/7/2013 7:31 AM
b-kul
5/6/2013 3:16 PM
steven.christiansen.54
5/6/2013 8:56 AM
ahleich
5/6/2013 6:49 AM
taletotell
5/6/2013 6:09 AM
LTrumpore
5/6/2013 7:44 AM
Chuck Norris
5/6/2013 8:54 AM
taletotell
5/6/2013 11:34 AM
Patents are good in that they protect innovators, and five years of protection gives them time to profit. Once the patents expire new innovation can built on top of the original innovation without driving up costs. When I have to pay thirty people to use something they invented 20+ years ago before I can innovate then i will not even try. The only guys that can afford to try will be the big boys who have millions to spend. it reduces competition and therefore stifles innovation. Want an example: the electronics industry. That iphone would be $50 and be competing against 1000 products that were just as good, instead of a half dozen who compete for the other half of the market share that apple doesn't control.
Looking at bikes, there are a few huge players who own the majority of the patents and the rest of the companies get to kneel at their feet. Everyone asks does it have sram of shimano kit. Why? Because they own the patents. Race face has to charge more to do anything because they have to pay shimano or sram first for something engineers at those companies came up with forever ago.
I am a fan of Shakespeare, and his works were blatant rip offs of the Lays of Marie de France and other medieval folk tales, but he used their works and built them into something incredible that cannot be bested hundreds of years later, though everyone is free to try! EVERYONE! Talent stands on its own without big brother protecting it.
5 years. if you can't capitalize on your patent by then you don't have anything worth patenting.
Yes, I feel strongly about this. The thermal bread refreshener patent wouldn't exist if the stupid toaster patent would just die.
steven.christiansen.54
5/7/2013 5:12 AM
voodoobike
7/26/2013 9:30 AM
steven.christiansen.54
5/6/2013 5:42 AM
Headshot
5/6/2013 5:20 AM
Leonardo Gaggioli
5/6/2013 3:00 AM
deanopatoni
5/5/2013 11:06 PM
LTrumpore
5/5/2013 11:23 PM
Uncle Cliffy
5/5/2013 6:56 PM
The lawsuit is an interesting read. Especially the timeline of events. Comparing the 2 designs (Maestro and DW link) I think most of us would agree they don't feel exactly alike. As much as I love the way Maestro rides, it seems like Dave is in the right to get what he wants.
Some good reading here: http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/f19/proper-pics-giant-glory-09-a-206317/
unskilled
5/5/2013 6:30 PM
Rl
5/5/2013 6:25 PM
enrico650
5/5/2013 5:49 PM
Adam_Schaeffer
5/5/2013 5:09 PM
Chuck Norris
5/5/2013 5:01 PM