Kevin Van Dam Forums

This is probally old news to you guys, but I think it’s going to have an impact on those of us who like chatterbaits.  Zman will probally go after Booyah and other manufacturers and make them stop selling their types.  One of my friends gave me a bucket full of broken/bent spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and other stuff.  I’ve been putting together some baits with these parts.  One of them is a Nichols 5/8 spinnerbait w/ a chatterblade.  I slapped on a some reflective stickers and a Strike King skirt.  I gave him the first one and he’s been outfishing me with it.  Luckily,  I had more broken Nichols spinnerbaits left in the bucket!  Anyways,  I’m probally going to order a bunch of blades from Jan’s (before Zman stops mfgr’s from selling them) so I can keep my old spinnerbaits going. 

Zman announcement:

http://www.zmanfishing.com/cms/squad_detail.php?Z-Man-Announces-Issuance-of-Patent-for-Innovative-ChatterBait-reg-Line-18

It wont happen, Zman does not have the cash to sue booyah, strike king, and all the rest.. it would bankrupt zman in the process.

I don’t think they’ll be able to stop all the companies from making their versions, but I could see them getting a small percentage for every bait that infringes on their patent in a settlement. That’d probably be better than trying to stop the others from making them anyways.

I don’t have a package handy… if anyone does, look and see if there is a “patent pending” on it. If so they have the right to sue for full compensation for all profits made by other companies using their design while the patent pending was issued. Patent pendings last for 1 year.

He will probably get a piece of everyone’s action. Doesn’t pay to sue. It would take years and a lot of $$$$. He’s better off making a deal to get a percent of sales. BH

Well if Zman does make a deal with all the other companies to make a small percentage of their sales on their chatterbait type lures, lets look for a price increase on those.

Zman would have a better chance going after all the small custom guys.