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<blockquote data-quote="John_E_Janowitz" data-source="post: 5641892" data-attributes="member: 550657">This was the frame design Thilo did back in late 90&#039;s originally.&nbsp; We started using it in 2000 for our HE15&#039;s, shortly after Thilo gave exclusive car audio rights to Eclipse.&nbsp; The catch was that we weren&#039;t allowed to actively promote our woofers to the car market.&nbsp; Once Eclipse moved on an was no longer working with TC, the frame became public domain for everything.&nbsp; The tooling has been in China for years and was supposed to be exclusive to TC. However, when you don&#039;t pay your bills in China, your exclusive rights disappear.&nbsp; Most anyone could purchase the frames from China, but the design patent Thilo owned in the US prevented anyone from selling the drivers in the US without paying royalty.&nbsp; The design patents were sold off in the bankruptcy auction.&nbsp; From my understanding Matt Overpeck (anyone still remember him from audiomobile?) bought the design patents.&nbsp; Regardless, the frames are available, but can&#039;t be sold in the US without paying royalty to the holder of the design patent.&nbsp; I believe that patent is a 10 year and was granted on Dec 4, 2001.<a href="http://www.google.com/patents?id=B-MIAAAAEBAJ&amp;amp;dq=thilo+stompler" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/patents?id=B-MIAAAAEBAJ&amp;amp;dq=thilo+stompler</a>John</blockquote>

[QUOTE="John_E_Janowitz, post: 5641892, member: 550657"] This was the frame design Thilo did back in late 90's originally. We started using it in 2000 for our HE15's, shortly after Thilo gave exclusive car audio rights to Eclipse. The catch was that we weren't allowed to actively promote our woofers to the car market. Once Eclipse moved on an was no longer working with TC, the frame became public domain for everything. The tooling has been in China for years and was supposed to be exclusive to TC. However, when you don't pay your bills in China, your exclusive rights disappear. Most anyone could purchase the frames from China, but the design patent Thilo owned in the US prevented anyone from selling the drivers in the US without paying royalty. The design patents were sold off in the bankruptcy auction. From my understanding Matt Overpeck (anyone still remember him from audiomobile?) bought the design patents. Regardless, the frames are available, but can't be sold in the US without paying royalty to the holder of the design patent. I believe that patent is a 10 year and was granted on Dec 4, 2001. [URL="http://www.google.com/patents?id=B-MIAAAAEBAJ&dq=thilo+stompler"]http://www.google.com/patents?id=B-MIAAAAEBAJ&dq=thilo+stompler[/URL] John [/QUOTE]

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