MADISON, WI (BRAIN) — Trek Bicycle says the patents at the heart of Split Pivot's lawsuit are "unpatentable," and has asked that the case be dismissed. However, a judge in the case has set a date for a jury trial 15 months from now.
Split Pivot is owned by prolific suspension designer David Weagle. In a lawsuit filed last month in U.S. District Court here, Split Pivot claimed that Trek has been violating several of Weagle's patents for years on mountain bikes featuring Trek's Active Braking Pivot feature.
Trek denies the claims and in a response filed with the court last week, the manufacturer asked for the case to be dismissed, saying several of Weagle's charges were based on designs that are "unpatentable."
Trek filed its response last Tuesday. On Friday, both sides met at a pre-trial conference, where the trial date was set for January 24, 2014.
Split Pivot's attorney, Alan Anderson, told BRAIN Tuesday that it's far too early to say whether the case will ever go to court.
Anderson said Trek's response contained nothing unexpected. "We look forward to proceeding with the case," he said.
