Not guns or hunting related - but interesting anyway

gelandangan

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..

Vince

You hit the nail squarely on the head mate...legalese, the legal fraternity, bottom feeders...only interested in making money.

slimjim

comical but not funning in many ways.

gelandangan

Ok, today there is surprising development!!

Fluke is offering to GIVE Sparkfun a bunch of their GENUINE Fluke multimeters to cover for their loss..
LOL!!

slimjim

and that helps the situation how? I will have to check when I'm in Home Depot if their yellow multimeters are made by Fluke.

gelandangan

Nope doesnt help a whit..

2000 brand new multimeters are still on schedule to be destroyed.
DHS 1, human 0 earth 0.