Yihua similarity to JBC and considerations regarding selling Yihua - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: HSPalm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2024, 08:34:40 am
content: Hi,It's not hard to see where Yihua (https://yihua-gz.com/) gets their inspiration from in regards to design, functionality and naming of their products. Even the handles are named with the same numbers (C210 vs T210 and C245 vs T245).https://yihua-gz.com/products/yihua-982d-iiihttps://www.jbctools.com/t210-a-microhandpiece-product-48.htmlhttps://www.jbctools.com/t245-general-purpose-handle-product-45.htmlAre anyone aware of any patent infringement cases between the two companies or any information to why Yihua chose to blatently copy the design when obviously they are also able to make proffesional products? I'm considering reselling but don't want to risk an injuction order or anything because we have local distributors of JBC.If it shows that Yihua is only heavily inspired by JBC I wouldn't mind buying or reselling, but not if it's a clear case of copying. But I'm not a patent lawyer or specialist in this field.

author: krish2487
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2024, 09:02:40 am
content: I wouldnt call Yihua as professional product manufacturer... I dont own any of their products.. but from the reviews I have seen, they fall well short of the performance of JBC.Thats not to say there is no place for Yihua..I m just saying the market that Yihua would play and have strength in.. is not a segment that JBC would be interested in..Plus, they are based in China.. It would take a lot of resources to fight patent infringement and even blatant copying of designs when the PRC govt does not bother about non Chinese companies in these sort of violations..

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2024, 12:01:42 am
content: There were many brands that came before Yihua's clones and many will come after. I think you'd have to dig deep into the trademark and importing laws of your country to find the truth.There was this famous case from Sparkfun a while ago:https://www.sparkfun.com/news/1428You can search and find JBC:https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=75831949&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearchbut nothing for C245 or T245 or similar that I see. I only see two listings at all:https://trademarks.justia.com/owners/jbc-soldering-s-l-1044622/Fluke list is here:https://trademarks.justia.com/owners/fluke-corporation-2465672/As discussed in other threads, Thermaltronics uses Metcal part numbers to advertise their products compatibility with Metcal, and I have not heard of any issues there.I would suspect there would not be a problem..

author: HSPalm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2024, 01:00:10 pm
content: Thanks for valuable input from both of you.I hadn't heard of Thermaltronics before. My first impression is that they are going for the Metcal-look.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2024, 01:22:24 pm
content: Quote from: HSPalm on November 18, 2024, 01:00:10 pmAIUI Thermaltronics was started by some ex Metcal people when Metcal's patent expired.