CASE Lawsuit

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:26 pm

In today's paper it was reported that a federal lawsuit was filed in nearby Erie PA. CASE is suing a gentlement from Georgia for making custom additions to CASE knives and not giving any profits to them. It appears that they frown upon this pracitice. Although I don't own any myself, I know that it is a growing collectable hobby. I Have returned from major surgery and hope to be able to contribute to the forum while off a couple of weeks.

JOE62 · Post by **JOE62** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:12 pm

paknives,
I hope your surgery went well and your recovery goes even better.
I have not heard of the lawsuit by Case. I would think that once Case sells the knife the buyer could do what they want to with it. But I'm no legal expert.

CCBill · Post by **CCBill** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:37 pm

Hi, paknives..
I, too, hope your recovery is swift and easy. If you feel like it, can you give us the particulars on this law suit? I'll bet Case had a good reason for doing it.
...CCBill...

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:39 pm

Hey pa,

Hope you heal (not heel, like dog talk

) up real well.

Did the article mention any names? Hope it isn't this fellow.....

http://www.casecustomknives.com/

.....as he does some great aftermarket work in my opinion. Maybe it's someone totally different.

Bill

skip · Post by **skip** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:11 pm

Hang in there PA, Hope all goes well for you
Skip

Bryan · Post by **Bryan** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:55 pm

I'm thinking of you too PA... Hoping you have a speedy and thourough recovery!

Bryan

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:59 pm

El Lobo,

Yes this is the company that CASE is angry at. They want all profits from CASE knives. They feel that since they have altered the knives, then it is no longer a CASE. Therefore should not be marked as such and contain its' parts. interesting and some what sad I think. I never really thought it hurt anyone and was a tribute to CASE to use their knives, obviously CASE doesn't think so.

What the news.

TKC · Post by **TKC** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:40 am

Paknives: I hope your surgery went well, and the your recovery is speedy!! I hadn't heard of the suit either. Interesting

agteacher2 · Post by **agteacher2** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:38 am

Here is a link to the story, you may need to log in

To view the contents on GoErie.com, go to:
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art ... 6601030336

Jeff

Bryan · Post by **Bryan** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:26 am

Oh boy... Thanks for the link Jeff,

I just read the article. I think Case is making a mistake here. I'm not going to boycot or anything just yet, but it is dissapointing IMO and I am going to write a letter to Case expressing my views on the subject.

I can see how one could rationalize what Case is doing, but the company doesn't seem to be looking at the big picture lately (with this and a few other issues that I will not get into here).

I believe the W.R. Case & Sons corporation became the most collectible brand on earth because they did the best job of meating the needs and wants of the users and collectors of knives. I think this lawsuit flies right in the face of that. I don't think the collector market will appreciated being told what can and can't be done to their knives.

This is only my opinion.

Bryan

JOE62 · Post by **JOE62** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:13 am

I don't agree with Case.
It would be like Harley-Davidson suing chopper builders for customizing their bikes. Or Colt suing Les Baer for customizing 1911's.
I could see Case doing it, if that web site were saying Case authorized them or that they are affiliated with Case, but I didn't see anything like that on there.
But what do I know, I could be missing something that Case thinks is relevant.
I have nothing against Case. This is just my view on this subject.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:15 am

As most of you know, I'm not a Case collector, although I do have some nice Case knives. I will say that aftermarket mods have been going on for a LONG time, and these are very nice, IMO.

If Case pursues this, I will have lost much respect for Case over this "ISSUE".

JMO.

Bill

Bear Claw Chris Lappe · Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:48 pm

Is this part of the article a possible motive for all this?

"It also wants Prater's company to transfer the Internet domain name "casecustomknives.com"to the Case company."

This whole thing is a bad idea by Case, once the knife is sold a person can do whatever they want with it.

CCBill · Post by **CCBill** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:42 pm

I should probably just keep my big mouth shut, but here I go. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION( and we all know what they say about opinions).
I am not a lawyer. If there IS a lawyer in our Club, I hope that he, or she, will speak up.
I cannot and will not, condemn W.R. Case and Sons on this matter. It appears to me, that they are citing the gentleman in question, on a registered trademark issue. Case has their own custom shop and possibly his "casecustomknives" is just a little much to their "legal department" I don't know.
I agree that you should be able to do what you want to, with a Case knife, after you buy it, but not if you are going to use their name as a part of your business. I don't feel like the offending party is trying to do anything illegal, I think he is just a victim of using the wrong wording. I don't think they are trying to ruin him, just trying to get him to play by the rules.
I have, for many years, had a great respect, for the folks at Case and still do. I feel like all they are trying to do, is protect their LEGAL interests, much as you would probably do, if you were in the same position.
Like I said before...THIS IS JUST MY OPINION...
CCBill...

9ball · Post by **9ball** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:23 am

I am not a lawyer, but I am sure in is the name also. We made a design for fans of a certain "school" and they got on us because a certain font was copyrighted. They wanted money up front to use it plus a percentage of sales.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:09 am

Well, it appears as though the Prater's now have a redirect on the old website...to http://www.pratercustoms.com

Maybe this will satisfy Case and end the lawsuit?

Bill

wt3l · Post by **wt3l** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 3:48 am

Hi All, First off P. A. I too send best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery. On the Case law suit... I can almost see both sides of this coin. So I will hold off supporting a boycott of Case at this time. I'd like to hear more info. I only hope the judge in this case (no pun intended) is a woman. How many alterations are made to wedding gowns across this country each day? Later wt3l

Bryan · Post by **Bryan** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 9:36 pm

El Lobo wrote:Well, it appears as though the Prater's now have a redirect on the old website...to http://www.pratercustoms.com

Maybe this will satisfy Case and end the lawsuit?

Bill

I hope this does end the lawsuit.
I feel like it probably will...
If not, this whole thing gets closer to being out of hand IMO.

...I'm still waiting on more details to come out before getting too dissapointed in W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery.

Bryan

RealMontanan · Post by **RealMontanan** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 11:01 pm

Greetings!

I just got off the phone with Mr. & Mrs. Michael Prater..... of Prater Customs. Michael is the fellow that the giant corporation CASE is taking action against for customizing CASE knives that Michael owns himself or other knife owners send their knives in to be customized by Michael.

Mrs. Prater reported to me moments ago that even though they have taken the name of their website down, it used to refer to CASE KNIVES, the law suit is still on.
I told her I would gladly write Michael Prater a personal letter of support. And I have. Michael has treated me like a brother. He has done favors for plenty of folks and he and his wife are just plain folk. Nothin' uppity or assuming about them at all.
I can't encourage you strongly enough to write them your letters of support. You don't have to fawn over his work or speak out against CASE but a short letter to let them know how you feel and that you are behind them will do wonders. It can be pretty lonely out there when you stand alone against a giant business like they are.......

Put yourself in their shoes and just imagine.......... for my two cents worth, they've done nothing wrong and are good people. And to boot, this is the great America isn't it? Where people chase the American Dream? Michael's work speaks for it's self. And just because he has come up with a successful business out of his own ideas, shouldn't mean that Corporate Greed take him down........ so show your support with any kind of a letter, note, or word or encouragement.... You can address your letters to:

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Prater
81 Sanford Lane
Flintstone, Georgia
30725

Mine is on the way......... realmontanan

HickoryNut · Post by **HickoryNut** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:36 pm

pa knives wrote:El Lobo,

Yes this is the company that CASE is angry at. They want all profits from CASE knives. They feel that since they have altered the knives, then it is no longer a CASE. Therefore should not be marked as such and contain its' parts. interesting and some what sad I think. I never really thought it hurt anyone and was a tribute to CASE to use their knives, obviously CASE doesn't think so.

What the news.

Does this mean if we put an after market part on our Ford or Chevy they have the right to stop us because its not a vehicle in original condition. I dont think Case has much of an argument. I have altered alot of Case knives in my day. Just the other day I dropped on in the garage. Broke the blade right off...ooops, I guess Case is going to sue me for not keeping it in original condition. If thats the case, just send everyone a new knife that has a broken blade.

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:48 am

HEY!

Being this mess is being held in the Federal court in Erie Pa, About 15 minutes from my home, I will be watching very closely. I may even attend the hearings if it gets that far. I won't be carring my CASE knife in the court room though. wouldn't want to be found in Contempt for not having a pure knife in hand. Come on CASE, we all love you guys, don't spoil things now.

Blade Runner · Post by **Blade Runner** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:54 pm

Hello pa knives,
Since you live so close to where this is all going on will you keep us up to date on what's in the local news? Even though Prater lives in my home state there is very little information pertaining to Case's lawsuit here.
Take Care
Blade Runner

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:00 pm

I'm on it! I will keep my eye's open and hopefully be able to report further.

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