News In Brief

Frisbee maker in patent dispute

Tess Vigeland Jul 7, 2011

And this final note. If, like me, you’re heading to the park to play with your spunky black lab tonight, and you’re taking along maybe some tennis balls and a frisbee or two, take a moment and look around the edge of that Frisbee. See a patent number on the side? Well unless it’s a reeeeally old Frisbee, it’s not supposed to be there.

Today a federal appeals court in D.C. heard arguments in a case involving Wham-O, maker of Frisbee. The lawsuit accuses the company of keeping patent labels on items long after the patent has expired. Wham-O argues the so-called false marketing law on which the lawsuit is based is unconstitutional.

Just like its Frisbees, it wants the suit tossed.

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