hey BD ! i've got yer bondage AND yer discipline

i'm sure some of y'all have seen that black diamond has issued a demand that all free pivot tour mode tele binding mfgs. pay them a royalty. i have not read all the blog chatter from this, but i am outraged ! BD's patents seem to practically claim invention of the 3-pin binding... whether or not bd was first to employ the free pivot idea is debateable ( i say they were not). whoever was first stole the idea from AT(quit smirking, you still can't tele...) !!!

well fine! these 200 kg gorillas can do whatever the bleep they want. but you talk about pissing all over the spirit of backcountry travel !!! use the little bit of weight you have to 'lanche your competitors under a legalise wet slab... i am never buying another peice of BD anything !!! there is nothing they make for which a reasonable replacement cannot be found.

i feel better now... keep your tips up !

Calm the outrage a bit if you don't know the details. BD's patent claims don't come anywhere near the "invention of the 3-pin", but this:

whether or not bd was first to employ the free pivot idea is debateable

Is closer to what the argument is about. They claim that they hold the patent on a switch-activated tour binding and that HammerHead, G3 and Voile should pay them a license fee. All the other details? Nobody but the HH folks and the BD folks really know, so it's speculation at best and manufactured outrage at worst.

I think I would echo Marcus' sentiment. However, I can understand the dissappointment of some to realize that even 'out there, away from it all' we are immersed in high energy commercialism. I try to pick and choose the things that I let bother me, and this isn't one of them, although I respect a differing position. I generally support the folks that bring the game. The market place and the courts (sorry), if neccessary, will sort out the relevant issues but fact is, BD brings game, so they are on my approved vendor list along with many others, including HH. The choices can get a bit dicey when you factor in the social, envirnomental and fair play issues that concern you. It's good to know that you cast a vote each time you open your wallet.

But I'm ok with BD. A gal told me recently "You dance with the fella what brung ya". Makes sense to me.

" Free your heel.... or I'll sue you." It thought all you telemarkers sorted out your problems in drum circles not courts?

Big plastic boots and heavy bindings have blurred the lines, Scotty. The last person to hallucinate in the sweat lodge has to pay the other guy's attorney fees.

G3 brought theirs to market first, I know, I got one of the first 5 in Seattle, got em for a rando race in Whistler a few springs back. Also, Tele gear is a big money loser, or at least not a big money maker. I am impresses that anyone makes tele gear, let alone innovate.
BTW, I have tried the G3 ascent, Voile and BD, in fact owned all 3. Destroyed 2 pair of the G3s, great customer service on the replacments, however, have yet to break the BD. When I am far from road, I am trusting the stuff that does not break first to market or IP ownership not withstanding.
Jimmy Buffet tried to own the word Margarita, so what?