"Most Innovative Toy" Wins Court Battle Against Knockoff in Prime Holiday Season
Air Hogs Zero Gravity® Laser Zaps Imitation
TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2019 /CNW/ - Spin Master Ltd. maker of Air Hogs Zero Gravity® Laser, had its patent rights enforced by a Federal Court in the Southern District of New York, which has issued a preliminary injunction preventing Defendant E. Mishan & Sons, Inc. (Emson) and anyone else acting in concert with them, from selling, offering to sell, or making in the United States, or importing into the United States, Emson's "Radical Racers" toys. Spin Master Ltd. is a subsidiary of Spin Master Corp. (TSX: TOY; www.spinmaster.com), a leading global children's entertainment company.
In a decision handed down during the critical shopping period three weeks before Christmas, District Judge Denise L. Cote found that Spin Master is likely to succeed on its patent infringement claims. As stated in the Judge's Order: "through its development and marketing of an innovative toy car that climbs walls and races over ceilings, Spin Master has achieved significant market recognition and success. The exclusivity promised by its patented technology has been threatened by infringers, most recently Emson."
Based on its exclusive rights to sell these products in the U.S., Spin Master has made significant investments in developing, utilizing, and marketing the innovative Zero Gravity® wall climbing technology. The timing of the injunction is critical in view of the Christmas buying season. Spin Master's Global President, Ben Gadbois, said: "Spin Master aggressively defends its Intellectual Property, and we have always been particularly proud of the uniqueness of the Zero Gravity wall climbing technology. It has been frustrating to have to endure threats to our business from the many counterfeits in the marketplace." Earlier this year, Spin Master successfully obtained a federal court order enjoining 55 entities that had been infringing Spin Master's trademarks and selling counterfeit Zero Gravity products. Spin Master has asserted its patent claims against the one remaining defendant in that action as well.
Named "Best Toy" by Popular Mechanics at Toy Fair 2019, Spin Master's Zero Gravity® Laser toy vehicle delights kids by driving on walls and ceilings and is guided by a hand-held laser controller. Products in the Zero Gravity® line have won numerous awards over the years such as Good Housekeeping's "Best Toy Awards," "Most Innovative Toy," and PopSci's "Pick of the Month," along with multiple media accolades. The Zero Gravity® Laser Vehicle is protected by several US patents and is available at all major U.S. retailers including Walmart, Target and Amazon.
About Spin Master
Spin Master (TSX:TOY; www.spinmaster.com) is a leading global children's entertainment company that creates, designs, manufactures, licenses and markets a diversified portfolio of innovative toys, games, products and entertainment properties. Spin Master is best known for award-winning brands including Zoomer®, Bakugan®, Erector® by Meccano®, Hatchimals®, Air Hogs® and PAW Patrol®. Since 2000, Spin Master has received 110 TIA Toy of The Year (TOTY) nominations with 30 wins across a variety of product categories, including 13 TOTY nominations for Innovative Toy of the Year. To date, Spin Master has produced nine television series, including the relaunched Bakugan: Battle Planet and current hit PAW Patrol, which is broadcast in over 160 countries and territories globally. Spin Master employs over 1,800 people in countries around the world including Canada, United States, Mexico, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Russia, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam and Australia.
SOURCE Spin Master
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