Grabbed this from the MWA
"
Warning: Watch out for fake Chinese made Werner paddles
I
pulled this from the Bluegrass Wildwater Association's forum and they
got it from boatertalk. I just wanted to make sure it made it to every
paddler in the US and beyond.
Werner Success Breeds Illegal Competition
A Chinese manufacturer has stolen Werner Paddles intellectual
property and is attempting to use Werner paddles images and names to
sell their own paddles into the US and other markets.
"Theft is the sincerest form of flattery, I suppose. However, we
want to alert our dealers to this activity and warn them about whatever
scam these guys are up to," says Werner President, Bruce Furrer.
UC Sports [www.ucsport.cn] is a Chinese manufacturer who has stolen
the look and feel of Werner Paddles web site. They are using Werner
Paddle model names and images to create interest in their sub-standard
offerings. They have even gone so far as to copy the Werner mission
statement. "We are pursuing legal recourse, to whatever degree it
exists, to get this group to stop using our logo, images and names,"
says Furrer.
Werner has no licensing agreements with any manufacturer to produce
Werner paddles. "All Werner paddles are hand built in the United
States, in Sultan Washington and we are very proud of our heritage and
reputation. To have this type of identity theft is a serious violation
to us and our dealers who represent us so well," says Furrer.
Werner Paddles is the leading manufacturer of high quality kayak,
canoe and stand up paddles, operating near the banks of the Skykomish
River in Sultan, WA. For more information call 800.275.3311 or visit us
at
www.wernerpaddles.com
[www.gopaddle.org]"