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Design changed, says Avon, Hero not convinced
In a legal battle to protect its design, bicycle maker Hero on Monday refuted the claims of business rival Avon that it had made the required changes to its model.
In a legal battle to protect its design, bicycle maker Hero on Monday refuted the claims of business rival Avon that it had made the required changes to its model.
Hero Cycles, which has sued Avon for violating the Intellectual Property Rights Act, said these changes to Avon X-Track were “minor” and the bicycle still seemed a replica of Hero RX-1. The next hearing is on May 31. Hero’s counsel Yash Paul Ghai said the rival had only tweaked the colour or texture of the product a bit. “We have sought a full account of the sales figures from Avon and an injunction imposed on the sale of Avon X-Track,” he said.
Ghai said: “An average buyer is attracted to design first and then specifications,” to imply that design piracy has a serious effect on business.
At the first, Avon had claimed to have not received any design or lawsuit documents. On Avon’s deciding to settle it out of court, Ghai said: “It is advisable.” Avon Cycles managing director Onkar Pahwa said: “We did make all the required changes but if Hero is still not satisfied, we have no option but to fight it out legally.”
