Is Earthquake ripping off SVS & B&W?

[Thomas_Berg]

The new Earthquake 'SWS' subwoofer system logo looks kinda sketchy to me. You decide: Earthquake's "new" SWS subwoofer system.

And what about this blatant rip of B&W's Nautilus Series? Earthquake is looking really shady to me here...

 

[John Garcia]

B&W has already successfully sued a few companies over the design of their tweeters, as it is a patented design, I believe. Just because it looks good or the same, doesn't mean it will sound good.

I don't think SVS is a registered trademark (which now that they are growing might be a good idea if it is not already in the works), so similar looking logos would not be illegal.

 

[MichaelDDD]

Not sure if I agree on the SVS-logo thing; yeah,it is similar...but just that.

However their "Nova" line is a blatant ripoff of the Nautilus' series.

 

[Matt_Smi]

Even that site looks similar to SVS's with the red and black color scheme!

 

[Lew Crippen]

IIRC, it is not a patent issue, but one of ‘trade dress’. The point of contention was the top-mounted tweeter. I don’t know how this was resolved or if it was. For sure the Swan models that may have had this issue are still being marketed and sold.

 

[John Garcia]

They must have come to some agreement, because I do still see those Swans being sold, even with the new line out. There are other companies out there who also use the same tweeter apperance, so I know it isn't a simple matter of how it looks.

 

[Tim Hoover]

I believe B&W and Norh also got into a little spat over the bullet-tweeter enclosure...

 

[Thomas_Berg]

Don't forget KEF's Reference line. But B&W cant say jack to KEF about the styling & tweeter placement on their speakers because KEF has been doing it since before the Nautilus line was out.

 

[ScottCHI]

kef's are quite a bit different, actually