Following a request to the police, products violating intellectual property rights were seized at the 2019 ProLight & Sound show in Frankfurt. Terming the action ‘a determined offensive against product piracy’, the initiative was prompted by Neutrik and has resulted in warnings to cease and desist been sent to the companies concerned with further legal action in process.

‘We want to generate real customer added value with our products and to protect that value. That requires maintaining global patents and trademarks, which, while very costly, form an important part of our innovation culture. If our competitors now ruthlessly flout these intellectual property rights, we shall consistently take all the legal measures at our disposal to stop this,’ says Neutrik Group CTO, René Kleiner.

Many Neutrik products are based on technical innovations and are protected by patents. In addition, design features and brand names have been registered to ensure that original Neutrik products are easily and clearly recognizable. Among the most frequently imitated or copied products are the XLR plugs of the XX series (such as the compression ring patent) as well as the speakON, powerCON and etherCON cable connectors. 
In addition to patent infringements, Neutrik must also respond to imitations of protected design elements (sinus wave) or the misuse of registered brand names.

The company maintains that: ‘Customers and users must be able to identify original Neutrik products in a simple and straightforward way – and must be able to rely on functionality and product quality. Consistent action against product piracy and copiers is essential and forms part of Neutrik’s corporate strategy in order to secure and justify investments in research and development.’

In order to protect Neutrik’s existing patent and trademark rights, further action is already planned for trade fairs in addition to the instigation of legal proceedings in China.

More: www.neutrik.com