According to a lawsuit filed last October in United States District Court in Columbia, S.C., Tightlines UV Technology alleged that Pure Fishing, Inc. is manufacturing, marketing and selling products under the Berkley brand name that infringe on a patent held by Tightlines.
In its complaint, Tightlines alleges that the 4-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow in the Blue Back color and the 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General in the Blue Pearl Black Hologram color infringes on United States Patent No. 8,667,728, awarded to Tightlines founder Brett Ware on March 11, 2014.
The patent relates to the manufacturing process Tightlines uses to incorporate reflective properties into its baits. The patent abstract reads as follows: “The body is integrally molded with a material which reflects at least one peak wavelength between 300 and 400 nanometers through the semi-transparent body which reflects at least one peak wavelength between 401 and 800 nanometers. The reflective material may either be a fluid dye and/or a reflective particulate.”
In its initial filing with the court, Tightlines included spectral analysis data of both MaxScent baits that illustrate their reflective properties in relation to what’s protected by the patent.
Pure Fishing, in its response, denied the allegations and asked the court to dismiss the complaint.
A Pure Fishing official declined comment.
A scheduling order issued by Chief U.S. District Judge Terry Wooten on Feb. 14, 2019 indicates that the discovery portion of the case is to be completed by Oct. 23 and that jury selection and a trial would not begin until Jan. 6, 2020.
