Ok an electronics hobbyist reseller company called Sparkfun imported a bunch of multimeter of their own brand from China.
Lo and behold, the items were denied entry to the USA by DHS.. Why?
LOL.. Because
Quote:: |
products with multimeter functionality that have a contrasting color combination of a dark-colored body or face and a contrasting yellow border, frame, molding, overlay, holster or perimeter |
are trade marked by Fluke (another electronics product manufacturer).
The interesting thing in this is that to send back the stuff to China would cost more than the actual total cost of the whole shipment (stuff and shipping combined).
To wait for legal judgments, will cost the company $150 / day for storage of a few pallets.
To get them DESTROYED by DHS would cost them further $150 per hour without any prior metric to estimate what the total time hence cost is going to be.
It seems that Sparkfun is not not sparking any fun being caught up the creek without a paddle.
www.sparkfun.com/news/1428
So .. beware if you are importing stuff.. the wrong COLOR would get you in trouble...
Heck since Apple can trademark flat tablets that look like a piece of paper..
Some might try to trademark round black rubbers derivatives that fits in wheels and feet that fits in shoes..
Gawd I hate these legalese people that do nothing but stunt progress..