Vegas firm in patent dispute

Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2001 | 10:46 a.m.

A Las Vegas hand-held security detector firm -- accused of infringing a Dallas rival's trademark designs -- has disputed the allegations and filed a lawsuit to protect its business.

Minelab USA Inc., which said its detectors are typically marketed to law enforcement agencies and security companies, sued Garrett Electronics Inc. in U.S. District Court.

Minelab said the lawsuit was a preemptive strike to protect its business because Garrett -- which claimed Minelab's detectors infringed its trademark and violated the Federal Trademark Dilution Act -- had threatened legal action against Minelab if it refused to comply with Garrett's demands to stop selling the detectors by Aug. 15.

Garrett could not be reached for comment.

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