Malibu pays $20M to settle lawsuit
 

Malibu pays $20M to settle lawsuit, restates earnings.

http://www.knoxnews.com/business/mal...nings_74881444

Ouch.

I'm sure that won't affect new boat prices.....

Phil from Kicker posted this link on another site that talks about the patent issue a little more:
http://www.theordinaryobserver.com/2...lds-ltd-v.html

and the latest:
http://www.theordinaryobserver.com/2...nightmare.html

Just another example of how US litigation and patent laws on vague designs gave approached the ludicrous. It's unbelievable that the entire boat profit, not just cost of windshield is up for grabs.

I know, right? How could anyone mistake Malibu's design for this patented version?

http://www.pcmw.ca/site/wp-content/u.../Vent-Wing.jpg

Hey, that looks like a Malibu windshield! :D

Maybe that explains the lawsuit against Nautique anyone can see the NSS is an exact copy of the surf gate.

Eh, that's only 200-225 boats give or take

That just sucks. that a patent can be so general.

I never understood why Malibu abandoned the ~2005 windshields that were curved with no supports/vents. They were beautiful and gave a full line of sight. These vented windshields took away the beautiful lines, look like a cheaper patch job, and apparently are going to cost Malibu 20M. Yikes.

Who needs vents on an open boat? I'd much prefer no vents for warmth. I'm somewhere between cool and freezing while driving on a plane probably 50% of the season. I don't think I've ever been too hot while on a plane (idling sure, but the vents don't help there).

The Malibus are soo smoking hot you need the vents to cool off. JK

Couldn't agree with Adam more. Such great lines ruined by "progress."

That is very dependent on where you live. Adjustable vents would be the ticket. I would not think of running without my bimini 95% of the days or having a dark colored boat or dark colors on my seats. Ouch, way too hot.

hmmm i fail to see the logic in a stock going up the day after backtracking earnings and reporting a loss like this. somethings fishy there.

You guys think Malibu going public had anything to do with raising funds to pay that 20m settlement?

I hope this is sarcasm :eek:

J, it may have , although this is bad for everyone. Now that this has set the stage for patent infringement law suits (that have been successful), it could open the door for more pressure from other builders. Only means slower competitive development and higher prices. 20 mil is a ton of money for such a small company.

They should always break this down into the actual lawsuit payment and the lawyers fees.

I'm sure the settlement amount doesn't include malibu's attorneys' fees, and probably is a lump sum payment to PCMW, so they will pay their lawyers from the fee (to the extent their lawyers haven't been paid already along the way).

The most likely scenario is Malibu pays PCMW $20m. Malibu pays its attorneys separately and in addition to the $20m. PCMW pays its attorneys (which can be from the $20m settlement).

Malibu owns the patent for surfgate systems. started filing it in 2012. Patents are written to be very general so that they encompass as much of the industry as they can unless the opposition wants to fight it in court, costing them money.