Homeland Security Agents Visit Toy Store

A.B.Normal

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http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=206591

So she was taken aback by a mysterious phone call from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to her small store in this quiet Columbia River town just north of Portland.

"I was shaking in my shoes," Cox said of the September phone call. "My first thought was the government can shut your business down on a whim, in my opinion. If I'm closed even for a day that would cause undue stress."

When the two agents arrived at the store, the lead agent asked Cox whether she carried a toy called the Magic Cube, which he said was an illegal copy of the Rubik's Cube, one of the most popular toys of all time.

:rolleyes:
 
HeXp£Øi± said:
True Prof, still, the dhs? What the f*ck do they have to do with patent infringement?

Part of customs...which is mandated to enforce patents and copyrights...;)
 
Gato_Solo said:
Part of customs...which is mandated to enforce patents and copyrights...;)

Apparently so. This should not be the case though. This type of thing should be handed on the the proper authorities. Imo the dhs should not be using its budget to investigate patent infringement.
 
After the agents left, Cox called the manufacturer of the Magic Cube, the Toysmith Group, which is based in Auburn, Wash. A representative told her that Rubik's Cube patent had expired, and the Magic Cube did not infringe on the rival toy's trademark.

Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said agents went to Pufferbelly based on a trademark infringement complaint filed in the agency's intellectual property rights center in Washington, D.C.

If the MC Manu ,is still saying the Patent is up then shouldn't HLS be more interested in them, if it is still protected under copyright law.If the patent has expired, its nice to see the HLS is nothing more than thugs that can be sent after anyone because they don't investigate claims.

Note : some searching has turned up the fact that its the "Rubiks Cube" thats trademarked and the basis for any past patent infringement cases ,not actually the 3X3X3 dimensioned puzzle.
 
A.B.Normal said:
If the MC Manu ,is still saying the Patent is up then shouldn't HLS be more interested in them, if it is still protected under copyright law.If the patent has expired, its nice to see the HLS is nothing more than thugs that can be sent after anyone because they don't investigate claims.

Note : some searching has turned up the fact that its the "Rubiks Cube" thats trademarked and the basis for any past patent infringement cases ,not actually the 3X3X3 dimensioned puzzle.

Hate to say this, again, but customs is part of HLS. What part of that do you not understand, so I can clarify?
 
Gato_Solo said:
Hate to say this, again, but customs is part of HLS. What part of that do you not understand, so I can clarify?


I know that ,but noting had been violated Copyright wise or other .Selling a knockoff "rubiks cube " is patent infringement,selling a "Magic Cube" even if it looks eactly like a Rubiks isn't.My point is HLS was involved why?,shouldn't they have checked to make sure some law had been broken before they acted(time/resources).
 
Oh I get it. You want the government to act efficiently. Right?
 
A.B.Normal said:
I know that ,but noting had been violated Copyright wise or other .Selling a knockoff "rubiks cube " is patent infringement,selling a "Magic Cube" even if it looks eactly like a Rubiks isn't.My point is HLS was involved why?,shouldn't they have checked to make sure some law had been broken before they acted(time/resources).

Actually, no. The government doesn't have the manpower to check everything, so they go with a blanket approach.

BTW...did you know it is illegal to buy, or sell, knock-off products, but it is legal to own them? :confused:
 
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