Strange behaviour from eBay

[Cantallian]

I know these things are covered by a patent and that brands not respecting the patent may not be sold. I regularly see eBay removing Skyrunners from their listings but, what is their game when they pull perfectly legal stilts?

2 days ago I was bidding on a pair of 7's on eBay Germany. Then yesterday eBay sent me a notice to say they had pulled the auction for breach of their terms and policies. Nothing in the ad itself breached any of their terms so I can only assume the patent owner made a complaint. But why? These were 2nd hand and a patented brand made in Austria.

Another owner sent me a copy of a mail he received from the Bocks in which they claimed that their patent applied to used stilts also. Come on now, if the royalties were paid when they were new they can't claim them a second time on the same pair. That's just ridiculous!

[Locky]

As far as I can tell if the Boecks dont like the auction or suspect in some far stretched way that the stilts are not legal or being sold through an authorised seller then they tell ebay to pull the item. Ebay do it swiftly, no questions asked.

[MCTom]

To be honest the Boecks just seem to like to stretch their patent-based muscle and to try and claim that they have some magical patent which covers anything which could ever possibly be used within the same day as looking at a picture of a drawing of a pair of Powerbocks. 

And Ebay just don't want a fuss so go along with it

[Dark Knight]

Car manufacturers would love a patent like the one Bock claims to have !
People and even now are making "better" straps,bearings,hoofs,cuffs,springs and frames.
Will Bock jump on these people and stop them developing thing for Bocks ( Car manufacturers don't ) !?
Best way to kill Bocking off if you ask me !?

[Athoul]

People and even now are making "better" straps,bearings,hoofs,cuffs,springs and frames.

Thats what happened to Pinhead, the boecks were demanding royalty payments from his knee straps because they were made for use on the stilts

[scousybouncy]

People and even now are making "better" straps,bearings,hoofs,cuffs,springs and frames.

Thats what happened to Pinhead, the boecks were demanding royalty payments from his knee straps because they were made for use on the stilts

So does pinhead not do the straps no more? my friend wanted a pair yasee as he's just ordered his bocks.

[ricky35]

make your own- i did....... their actually not that hard to do

[XarnuSonci]

the boecks will keep doing this until someone takes a stand legally, which most of us or random ebayers aren't going to have the time or finances to do so.  Its easier just to sell stuff here which they don't seem to care about for some reason.

[Sprog]

People and even now are making "better" straps,bearings,hoofs,cuffs,springs and frames.
Will Boeck jump on these people and stop them developing thing for Bocks !?

YES. They did to Pinhead because he labelled them as for bocks. However, once he renamed them utility straps or something, and simply hinted at the use of them on bocks, they dropped the case as they were not specifically designed for bocks.

[XarnuSonci]

just because some straps are designed for bocks doesn't mean their patent covers them.  They're just being asses and apparently don't like innovation in the sport unless they're getting paid.

[Dark Knight]

just because some straps are designed for bocks doesn't mean their patent covers them.  They're just being asses and apparently don't like innovation in the sport unless they're getting paid.

Watch this space !
People may say my first MOD Stilts are stupid but the next pair don't have ANY standard Bock parts on them !?
Their custom built, so what Fcuk will they make of that !?

[darfgarf]

...well i suppose then they could get you for infringing the copyright they have...though if that only covers selling or advertising of said stilts then don't think they can do anything, as long as you don't refer to their patent, or use the term jumping units or whatever they originally named the things

[XarnuSonci]

dk a patent is on an idea not an implementation.  The Boecks have a patent on stilts with leaf spring propulsion basically, so just by making the frame yourself and having 2 leaf springs, that'll fall under their patent.  Something like pin's straps or tire socks, has nothing to do with leaf spring stilts, just makes them better, they're patent wouldn't cover that (even though they seem to think it would)

[Dark Knight]

The next pair will have only one spring ( custom made for me ).
The "L" shape frame isn't the same there's some differences !?
The front profile would like a bock bar the thick foot surports.
Non-bockers would call them a bock ?
I'm not making a "Bock" ? I contacted them and they said they don't make one the size I'm after.
So if they don't make one ( don't even plan too ), how could the claim my stilt is a copy of a bock ?

[XarnuSonci]

as i said, the patent covers an idea not an implementation.  It uses the same principle of a leaf spring stilt to make you jump and run.  Just cause you made it differently doesn't mean its not the same idea.