Champion Bow Company out of business

[WOOKIE]

I was just reading that Champion Bow Company is no longer in business. Apparently, they had a multi million dollar law suit filed against them and lost, forcing them to close the doors. Too bad really.

[petew]

Where is the article about this bad news?Is there a link to it?

[WOOKIE]

No article yet. Just read it on a post from one of their pro staffers. I will try to dig something up.

[scooter]

That's too bad. I'm sure they will come back though...

[BlueNorther]

I heard that thier cam on the bows was a patent rip off,serves them right.

[Shanman]

This really sucks. I bought my Champion Storm last summer and love it. Hopefully the proshop where I bought it will help me in any way if I have problems. I know that Champion had issues with PSE and copyright issues before. Do we know which company presented the lawsuit?

[scooter]

I heard that thier cam on the bows was a patent rip off,serves them right.

It's all hear say it this time. Let's wait till we get all the facts.

[BlueNorther]

Actually I heard about this about 6 weeks ago and it's not the first time Champion has been in trouble.

[tecspec]

:crybaby: :roll:
Well, that really sucks.
I'm always sorry to see one of the archery family fail.
It's a lot like losing a relative.
Hopefully, they'll make a comeback.
If not, I hope all the people who bought their products will still be able to get their bows serviced.
Kind of disturbs me that it may have been from hassles with PSE, being a dyed in the wool PSE person.
Maybe it'll all work out in the end.

[toxo1cjb]

Why does it have to be this way? Why can not companies settle amiably out of court and agree on a settlement............Corporate lawyers are almost as bad as politicians!!!!!!!! :twisted:

[Gumby]

I've got a Storm too Shanman and really like it. Hope Champion keeps going. Tough to make a go of it nowdays with lawsuits being dropped left,right and center over stuff that should be sorted out amicably. Hope we can still get stuff serviced when we need it.

[WOOKIE]

I read this on another site regarding the Champion story

Here are the facts, straight from the top. Champion lost a suit over the mods. The damages were $400,000. They were then assessed $800,000 in penalties. Total was $1.2 million. They simply shut it down. PSE has a suit pending, I did not ask what it is for but it is moot since the company is insolvent.

As for warranties, etc., I have no idea since the company no longer exists. I do think this would be a good time to get one heck of a deal on a quality bow. Dealers will probably be discounting them big time to get them off the shelves. I have six and have never had a warranty problem.


__________________
Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.

[macdonpe]

I shoot a 2004 Diablo and love it. I just confirmed through my dealer that Champion has closed it's doors. The result of an ex-emplyee who also worked for PSE and won a law suit over a patent. Apparently this guy is going after PSE next.

However my dealer friend also told me to watch for a new company called Darton of Canada who will pick up where Champion left off and honour all Champion warranties...

Peter... :(

[macdonpe]

I shoot a 2004 Diablo and love it. I just confirmed through my dealer that Champion has closed it's doors. The result of an ex-emplyee who also worked for PSE and won a law suit over a patent. Apparently this guy is going after PSE next.

However my dealer friend also told me to watch for a new company called Darton of Canada who will pick up where Champion left off and honour all Champion warranties...

Peter... :(

[scooter]

So, here's what I heard at the Nationals about this.

1. There's a company in Calgary that holds the patent on modular cam bows.

2. Champion used the modular cam design on their bows.

3. They were brought into court under patent law and a penalty was assessed in a bulk sum as well as a $$ amount for every bow sold.

4. It totaled over 1 million $$.

5. They shut down.

There are a bunch of stories going around but this is it in a nut shell.

[swamper]

The way I understood this was that there were several companies involved, all being sued. My understanding is that there are several companies using module style solo cams and no one ever filed a patent on this technology. Several years after the fact along comes a fellow that realized that a patent did not exist and filed one. He then went after the companies using the technology. Some of the bigger companies are in a position to fight this, or just pay it out, but not Champion. Myself, if I was a judge, I would have thrown out such a bogus law suit. Anyway this is how I heard this whole thing shook out.

[scooter]

The way I understood this was that there were several companies involved, all being sued. My understanding is that there are several companies using module style solo cams and no one ever filed a patent on this technology. Several years after the fact along comes a fellow that realized that a patent did not exist and filed one. He then went after the companies using the technology. Some of the bigger companies are in a position to fight this, or just pay it out, but not Champion. Myself, if I was a judge, I would have thrown out such a bogus law suit. Anyway this is how I heard this whole thing shook out.

This is my understanding too. This company is going after all manufacturers that have used and are using the modular cam design. They are going down the list by the looks of things....

[canada_stevo]

hey, I shoot a champion in thunder bay ontario canada, and my sponsor tells me the champion bow company has been bought out and somewhat combined with the darton company . it will still be the same factories and peaple that make the bows but it might be called "darton of canada". in winnepeg "factory" so thats wut ive been hearing and oo ya theres one more thing darton is combining champions top 4 bows into the darton line up!! and darton will be giving the champion bow owners full warranty just like as if it was champion.........i am currently shooting a 2004 scorpion through my sponsor....exxxxellent wow shes a beeeeaaauuuty i cant wait till the canadian dartons come out maybe this september.... just wanna se them.[/img]