Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Dyson sues rival Vax over vacuum cleaner design
Dyson has launched legal action against rival manufacturer Vax, claiming the design of its Mach Zen vacuum cleaner is an infringement of the registered design of its first "bagless" Dyson cylinder vacuum, launched 15 years ago.

The company's founder and inventor James Dyson – who revolutionised the domestic appliance market with the product – said the Chinese-owned rival had "flagrantly copied" Dyson's iconic design and pledged to set a precedent on behalf of all designers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/27/dyson-sues-vax

CarmineD wrote:

Speaking of laughable.  How do you think CR got the name of Clown Reports ?

HARDSELL wrote:

Because it is called:  The bible of the car-buying public and now rates Ford's quality higher than toyota's?  Source: Paul Ingrassia.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Gee, a bad rating after a problem is known by the world.  Such genius.

Keep the thread on topic.   That  does not mean inserting the word "vacuum" in a post about cars.

Mike_W wrote:

How about fans?  Do they qualify for a vacuum forum?

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Let me see if I understand correctly.  If Mike can't honestly answer a question for concern that it might incriminate him, he locks the thread?  Ah  Got my answer.  Thanks Mike.

Carmine D.

Vax's popular Mach Zen vacuum cleaner IS different to anything else you can buy

http://www.vax.co.uk/pr/dyson-vs-vax

M00seUK wrote:

Hi M00seUK,

I'm not looking to pick a fight but this article reads awfully like yet another Dyson press releaase.  If there is indeed an actual lawsuit, this looks like a put up job.  I didn't feel much informed of by way of a news article's required "who, when, where and what" and came away wondering why the author invested so many words regarding Dyson's "back story" AND a photo of the irrepressible Jimmy D holding a Dyson Ball.  Could this be a photo op?  Whatever it is, the story stinks on hot ice.  Personally I think the guy's looking for a little extra free cash so that he can put the new boat in dry dock and have it painted a different shade.

By all means -- and I insist --  please do take my feeling on the matter with a grain of salt as I do not love Dyson product in the first place.  YET, there is one small point.  The Zen vacuum quite obviously does not closely resemble any canister vacuum that Dyson actually put out on the market.

Please inform me of, save for an actual, documented break-in into Dyson's vaults and theft of plans that it might have but never used, of the illegalities here.

That said, and I again am wont to be corrected, I still maintain that certain things once on the market are going to develop variations on a given theme to such a degree that all the whining over small and moot points is not going to get you anywhere.

Dyson did not itself invent cylonic vacuum cleaners.  The idea was already there by way of central vacuum systems and dust collection systems.  Dyson only came up with an idea of how to compact the technology for use in what would be considered a standard-sized portable household vacuum. And, even in light of that, there were still pre-Dyson vacuums claiming or alluding to whirlwind force and virtue.

I wonder who sued American Electrolux for finally shedding its long used metal runners for wheels other tank-type and canister vacs had been using all along.  I wonder who Electrolux sued for using sled-like runners.  This suit, or promise of it, is all more like an airplane manufacturer suing another airplane company because its product has wiing too.

Judges are not product designers nor are product designers the best judges in this case.  The issue is whether there was genuine intent to steal a manner of design and commit fraud.  What else is copyright infringement?  That will be hard to prove.

Venson

Hello Venson,
Copyright designs are an emotive issue. It must be frustrating for a company to create an individual, recognised style and then watch as competitors try to erode their market share by bringing out copycat designs that look much the same. As flattering as it might be, they should be competing on features and reinforcing their own style / reputation.

In the same vain, I'm not over-fond of companies (Partially in software, partially in the US) getting patents for very broad technologies which stifle competition.

Like many, I can see that the Vax design is very similar to Dyson's canisters. It's hard to imagine that the design brief was anything other than 'make it look similar to the Dyson'. What I don't know is where the line gets drawn on registered designs. If the high court has ruled that it doesn't infringe, that's where it stands... at least for the moment.

Dyson have said they'll appeal and are trying to win the heart + minds of the general public:-

"Dyson says it is baffled by the result: “There are plenty of other shapes that TTI could have chosen…Large round wheels, the angle of the clear bin, the line of the handle; does TTI’s Vax-badged machine resemble Dyson’s design?”

http://electricpig.co.uk/2010/07/29/dyson-loses-case-against-vax-design-infringement-but-what-do-you-think/

A spokesperson for Dyson added: “We’re disappointed, but we want to throw it out to people to see what they think.”

It's true to say that Dyson didn't invent cylonic vacuum cleaners as such, but they did invent and patent a dual-cyclone vacuum cleaner, which made the process much more feasible and consequently, sellable.

Dyson really do have a cheek, because this isn't the first time Dyson have taken other brands to court and won. It is true that the DC02 have been copied in several areas by Vax. but then so have other brands. Im quite happy for once that another brand has actually won a court battle against Dyson. The courts must be pretty fed up with Dyson taking companies to court.

Also the DC02 isn't made anymore so its a bit crazy of Dyson to take Vax to court over a latest design. It's not as if its going to hurt Dyson sales.