Well I knew it would happen eventually. But I have my first build shop copying my patented idea. Which sucks. What should I do? Send an email?
I hold 4 patents. This is my first copy. I also do wholesale pricing for build shops. I bet they send close to what I would charge making their own poorly made copies.
Let me start by saying I have your Bumperlifts, and they are an excellent product that I would recommend to anyone!
That said, there are a few things to consider in this situation. While I believe your design is the best, similar approaches have likely existed for a while. For example, in photo #149 of that listing, it’s clear they’re using spacer tubing with a longer bumper bolt—a completely different approach from your solid-piece design. Additionally, the second Bronco with the 2” bumper lift uses a distinct design involving rectangular tubing with a spacer to contain the bolt, further differentiating it.
I’m sure this is frustrating, but it might be worth evaluating how distinct their design truly is from yours. From what I’ve seen, I seriously doubt a patent expert would classify this as copying.
On another note, I’m pretty sure the seller is an active member of this forum under a different username than the BaT listing. From what I’ve seen, they seem to put out a couple of builds a year at most, rather than operating as a full-fledged build shop.