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McDugan

Confusion re: Lightspeed Edge

By McDugan, in Ice Hockey Equipment

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McDugan    89

McDugan
Posted

Can someone with firsthand knowledge please help me clear up my confusion re: the Lightspeed Edge holders and what steel is compatible with them?

Listings for the higher-end skates (on Hockey Monkey and I think elsewhere) in the new Vapor line say that they have Edge holders and LS2 runners.

However, I've seen posts to the effect that only LS3 steel fits the Edge holders.

I'm looking to buy Vapors (probably the new X 60 or X 70 - I'd like a more flexible boot but want excellent steel), and would like the convenience of switching out steel myself, easily, but not if it comes at the expense of being able to use aftermarket steel. If they won't be compatible with the good 3rd-party offerings, I'll just get a pair from the "old" line on clearance and deal with steel-changing being a bit more of a hassle.

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jsykes    35

jsykes
Posted

There is LS2, LS3 and Fusion available for the Edge, but they are Edge specific versions.

The X60/70 will come with LS2 in the Edge holders.

At this point there is nothing aftermarket that fits Edge holders and it remains to be seen as to whether that will happen as Bauer has supposedly pattented the shape of the steel so no one else will be able to make steel for it.

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Tyler Roy    86

Tyler Roy
Posted

Those brands cant make the shape of steel that works for the EDGE holder. Bauer owns the shape. Bauer was very adamant in a power point during a product meeting, "NO STEEP STEEL".

Along with Step Steel, Blackedge, etc that are made for those holders.

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jimmy    194

jimmy
Posted

Those brands cant make the shape of steel that works for the EDGE holder. Bauer owns the shape. Bauer was very adamant in a power point during a product meeting, "NO STEEP STEEL".

I don't think this will last long, in the US anyway, a company cannot prevent aftermarket replacement parts from the market. Not sure about Canada.

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Chadd    916

Chadd
Posted

I don't think this will last long, in the US anyway, a company cannot prevent aftermarket replacement parts from the market. Not sure about Canada.

You keep saying that, but the stuff that I have been able to find doesn't entirely agree with that.

He said automakers have increasingly applied for design patents on replacement parts in the past decade, seeing a lucrative market as revenue from auto sales dwindle, he said.

http://www.law360.com/articles/435591/bill-introduced-to-shorten-term-of-auto-part-design-patents

http://www.icaew.com/en/library/subject-gateways/law/intellectual-property/legal-alert/case-law-repairing-or-replacing-a-part-on-a-patented-product-can-infringe-the-patent

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jsykes    35

jsykes
Posted

Jimmy is right to a certain extent. There are rules in place that allow for aftermarket replacement parts for items which are patented. There is a lot of backing and lobbying in the auto industry for this kind of thing so they have a strong force to fight it.

This thing with Bauer mirrors this to some extent, the question is how much will Step fight it and what will their arguments be?

For instance, a car manufacturer cannot patent the shape of their alternator thereby making you have to replace it with only theirs, an aftermaket company can make an alternator to fit exactly the same since its only a part of the whole and an item that needs to be replaced to keep the whole in working shape.

The second link in Chadd's post speaks much to this, saying that the aftermarket company must make sure that the part they're replacing does not constitute "making" the patented item.

In the car example, replacing an alternator does not constitute "making" an entire copy of the car. Its only a replaceable part of the entire car, so its OK.

In the case of the skate, what constitues "making" the skate? Does replacing just the blade "make" the skate? I'd say no, but that is a question for the courts to decide should Step want to persue it. I'd say making a copy of the boot would be wrong. Technically, its just a part of the skate (boot, holder, blade), but its a significant enough part that creating a new aftermarket boot that is exactly the same would be "making" the skate. The blade I'm not so sure.

I'd imagine if Step wanted to fight it enough and spend the money doing so, they'd be found in the right and Bauer's patent would not hold up as the blade is a replaceable part of the skate and for that matter, is the most likely part on the entire skate to need replacement. Its a wear part that is expected to need replacement at some point. Ironically, the idea that Edge is designed to make that replacement easier and faster, thereby encouraging replacement, actually would give more weight to Step's argument. Just like tires on your car. But it may take deep pockets to fight and Step would have to weigh how much money is worth spending fighting it where if they win they'll recover all of it, plus make a profit on the sale of the steel.

My guess is it wont be worth it and the patent is more of something to discourage aftermarket production rather than something firm that would ultimately hold up to close scrutiny should someone decide the cost to fight it is worth it.

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