During this week’s Asian Attractions Expo in Beijing, Antonio Zamperla SpA issued lawsuits against two Chinese ride manufacturers – the Italian company’s latest attempt to get tough on intellectual property (IP) infringement.
The suits, issued via Zamperla’s US counsel Tom Sheehan, asserted that Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment and Zhongshan Golden Dragon Amusement Equipment “wrongfully engaged in unfair competition and patent infringement in violation of Federal law, and deceptive trade practices under Florida law.”
According to the United States District Court of the Middle District of Florida, both companies are now forbidden from selling or attempting to sell counterfeits, copies or “confusingly similar rides” to the Zamperla’s popular Disk’O, Moto Coaster, Power Surge, Rockin’ Tug and Jump Around.
“We invest a great deal of time, money and creativity in order to visualise, engineer and bring to market beautiful, innovative, safe and thrilling rides,” notes Alberto Zamperla. “We will not and cannot tolerate other companies infringing on our works. We will continue to protect our company and the public from rides which appear to be Zamperla equipment, but which were not engineered or manufactured to our standards.”
Pictured: Zamperla Disk‘O – the real thing
