Imitation is the highest from of...

MRP will be releasing there new fangled chainguide at CrankWorx, named the “G2”

Dejavu?

I am constantly amazed at all the companies that produce some of the most innovative and advanced products available. They burn the midnight oil to solve some of the more pressing issues that we encounter on these bikes of ours. The chainguide in particular has come along way. Many companies have come and gone and our jaded memories are filled with these products. The spotlight and focus has shifted from company to company, AC, Mr. Dirt, MRP, E13 and Gamut are a few of those popular names. Lets face it as new products are devised and created many companies are quick to jump on the wave of success of a competitor and rake in some profits for themselves, such is business. Imitation is the biggest form of flattery? That’s what they say at least.
There is no question that in the pursuit of building the most efficient component possible engineers are bound to travel down the same path and that each answer to the problem will at times be very similar. One brand will adopt characteristics of another brands solution, which can be seen as a polite nod to the fellow engineer and or designer. That is an ever-fine line that gets crossed quite often. Enter patent law, a quagmire of the kings English that only the most seasoned esquire can decipher. He also charges by the hour, making the pursuit of justice an expensive one. So I ask, when have they gone too far?