A Quebec-based helmet designer is suing Chinese helmet manufacturer MHR Helmet Co. and it’s U.S. distributor Allwin Powersports, for refusing to pay royalties for helmet designs that will be shown at the 2011 Dealer Expo in Indianapolis this coming weekend.
Dion, who has been designing helmets for 25 years and whose designs have been used by companies like ZOX, KBC and others, says that MHR will be displaying helmets designed by Dion Designs under contract, at the Indianapolis expo, but those designs have not been paid for.
Dion claims that he submitted those designs in March 2010, weeks before MHR severed its business relationship with Dion Designs.
The helmets, to be distributed by Allwin Powersports under the LS2 brand name in the U.S., are supposed to be on display this weekend in hopes of garnering sales with powersports dealers worth about a quarter of a million dollars.
Dion has requested a court injunction to prevent Allwin Powersports from displaying the helmets at the Indianapolis show that he claims he designed.
According to a report on indystar.com federal court magistrate Tim Baker will recommend today that Dion’s request be denied, saying, “You [Dion] may have a breach of contract claim, but I don’t see much else,” adding, “But by no means is your case over."
Good luck with that…