WESTPORT, CT (BRAIN)—Cannondale Bicycle Corporation and Kind Shock Hi Tech have reached an agreement in a trademark challenge regarding Kind Shock’s use of the name Dcannon for its house brand in the U.S. market.
The terms of the agreement are confidential, but representatives from both sides of the issue said they are satisfied with the outcome.
“The Cannondale name is an important mark for Cannondale. They’ve been using it for 35 years or more and they protect it regularly. For Cannondale this was really just kind of a routine matter. They felt the name Dcannon was really too close and as far as they’re concerned this is resolved,” said Ed Chansky, Cannondale’s trademark attorney.
“At this point we and Cannondale are in full agreement,” said Rick Taylor, director of U.S. sales, service and marketing for Kind Shock. “We still have a good relationship, we’re both looking to the future and possibly working together in the future.”
Taylor said Kind Shock will shift its focus to developing its KS brand in the U.S., which will include aftermarket front and rear shocks and seatposts.
Cannondale sued Kind Shock in June, 2007 over the use of the DCannon name, and the judge ruled in favor of Cannondale in March. The two companies reached a settlement about two weeks ago.
For more details on this story, read the July 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.
—Nicole Formosa
