SparkFun: We Hear You

#1

Post by surge » Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 8:40 PM UTC

Re: SparkFun: We Hear You

#2

Post by seszett » Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 9:26 PM UTC

It's a bit of a shame that Fluke uses Facebook for publishing official statements.

Other than that... well, good reaction from Fluke. I'd say all events, from seizing the multimeters to the resolution today, unfolded in the best way possible.

Re: SparkFun: We Hear You

#3

Post by ubercore » Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 9:27 PM UTC

This is a great response, as far as I'm concerned. I especially appreciate them explaining why this issue could be more than just "trademark gone awry".

Re: SparkFun: We Hear You

#4

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 9:34 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: SparkFun: We Hear You

#5

Post by lrem » Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 9:37 PM UTC

seszett wrote: post #2

It's a bit of a shame that Fluke uses Facebook for publishing official statements. Other than that... well, good reaction from Fluke. I'd say all events, from seizing the multimeters to the resolution today, unfolded in the best way possible.

Apart from the part where the law turned out to be so broken to make it happen...

Re: SparkFun: We Hear You

#6

Post by skeletonjelly » Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 9:42 PM UTC

Had to look it up myself.

Context: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7428799

Re: SparkFun: We Hear You

#7

Post by sisk » Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 9:45 PM UTC

[deleted] wrote: post #4

[deleted]

Summary of events leading to this response:

SparkFun has been selling a type of inexpensive digital multimeter since 2008.

About two weeks ago, they were informed that a recent shipment of 2,000 units (a $30,000 value) was seized by customs due to a trademark owned by Fluke (granted 2003). Specifically, their units violate Fluke's branding (gray face, yellow border).

The Chinese manufacturer won't take them back (prohibitively expensive due to import tax) so SparkFun has to pay to have the units warehoused ($150/day) and—very shortly—destroyed ($150/hour).

Moving forward, SparkFun will change their DMMs to be red instead of yellow.

Re: SparkFun: We Hear You

#8

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 9:49 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: SparkFun: We Hear You

#9

Post by mindcrime » Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 9:49 PM UTC

lrem wrote: post #5

seszett wrote: post #2

It's a bit of a shame that Fluke uses Facebook for publishing official statements. Other than that... well, good reaction from Fluke. I'd say all events, from seizing the multimeters to the resolution today, unfolded in the best way possible.

Apart from the part where the law turned out to be so broken to make it happen...

Indeed. But given that the law is what it is, this is a fairly good response from Fluke. More than I expected, TBH.

Re: SparkFun: We Hear You

#10

Post by servowire » Thu, Mar 20, 2014, 9:49 PM UTC

sisk wrote: post #7

[deleted] wrote: post #4

[deleted]

Summary of events leading to this response: SparkFun has been selling a type of inexpensive digital multimeter since 2008. About two weeks ago, they were informed that a recent shipment of 2,000 units (a $30,000 value) was seized by customs due to a trademark owned by Fluke (granted 2003). Specifically, their units violate Fluke's branding (gray face, yellow border). The Chinese manufacturer won't take them back (pro…

Thanks.