It is unfortunate, but you have to realize at the end of the day GOBI is a business, they spend a lot of money on patents trademarks ect to protect what they started and to fend off people trying to undercut them. Id much rather purchase a rack from josh thats handmade than a factory rack from gobi.

I'm assuming josh didn't think his business would blow up this big and didn't do his due diligence to cover his ass when he started mass producing. Id take it as a valuable learning experience

What gobi is doing is justifiable when you look at it from a business aspect. Joshs business was a direct competitor to gobi which is an accomplishment in its own. They aren't trying to be personal and honestly if i were josh i would see it as compliment. Gobi is obviously threatened by josh and his business and josh is an incredibly talented metalworker. With that being said after its all said and done, i think josh will bounce back just fine.

It won't end up selling because I wouldn't take less than what I paid for it minus the line-x and whoever got it would still need to pay for shipping. I through it out there for the hell of it but I've had it 2-3 months so it's not like I'd sell it for $400 like a crappy rack on the current market.

Where do I even begin to explain how I feel about this mess? Most of you may not know but I have a pretty bad anxiety problem, and a lawsuit is the last thing I needed to worry about and add to my plate! Since the thread has been created, I may as well say my piece and then leave it be.

First, I never expected to still be building racks. The fact that I still am is largely due to the support I've received from the T4R.org community and I'm truly thankful for it.

When I decided to build a rack for myself, I looked at what was available on the market and figured I can build a better low-profile roof rack, so I came up with my 3rd gen design. I still have the very index card I wrote all of my bend measurements on 3 years ago, I use it on every build. I have no idea how a piece of paper has lasted so long with so many trips through a greasy, gloved hand and hasn't been set on fire from grinder sparks or welding spatter.

I had no knowledge of patents or the ins and outs thereof, I wasn't planning to build the same product so who cares, right? Eventually the 4th gen rack came to be; basically a wider version of the 3rd gen rack with a different mounting setup. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when my mother called me at work late one night. Thinking that's pretty odd I give her a shout and she lays the news on me...a lawsuit had been filed. Anxiety through the roof! No sleep, no eat, no smiles, bad times. We look at the lawsuit, we see their patent, and it's immediately apparent that it's different from every angle. They're as similar as one brand of pickup truck is to another brand of pickup truck. They're different from the top, from the side, from the front, and from the back. Reading into patent law has tought me that's there's a lot to patent law I'll never understand. One thing that sucked to learn was how ridiculously expensive patent litigation is. As all of you are aware, I'm a one-man operation. This is very much a David and Goliath situation and basically, just fighting this, right or wrong, will put me so far under the table it's crazy. I have my own theories as of to why exactly the suit was brought, many of you share those same ideas. For obvious reasons, I can't divulge specifics of the issue until all the dust settles and I can see what's left. The lawsuit itself is a matter of public record and it makes me so sick I get tired of seeing my own name in print. I'm doing my best to keep going and keep the shop lease paid. Who knows, I may finally have time to play with bumpers or something... Everyone is welcome to their own opinion and once again, I appreciate the support I've received from this forum. If you're the praying type, keep me in your prayers as this is a very stressful time for my family and I.

To all those who's orders I had to forego: please feel free to email at any time. If or when I'm able, I'll gladly work with any of you again.

I'll definitely have you in my prayers. Kinda off subject but my anxiety has gotten progressivley worse over the last year and it's getting difficult to handle. My mom wants me to go in and get some meds but I'm not a big fan of that. Do you take anything or just find a way to deal with it.

Josh, you will be in my prayers, and I am behind you 100%, support small business!

Also like Josh stated, a big company like Gobi has a generic patent on their rack, although the Whitson rack is similar, even if it doesnt enfringe on their patent, small companies will still need to put money into lawyers and court to fight back. Most small companies dont have the money or resources to fight back even when their product is not enfriging on the actual patent and have to resort to just standing down without even a fight.

I understand business is business but that is not in any way respectable to me and I will never support a company that has to resort to these kinds of BS tactics.

My amazing wife usually talks me down. Every now and then I need a dose of fly-fishing too

Hang in there buddy! You know i am always around to vent

Sucks to see this happen. I will be keeping ya in the prayers. Hopefully you will come out on top.

I am sure that I am not the only one that will say this but if I can help in any way, feel free to reach out. I know we don't know each other but I like to stick up for the little guy wherever I can.

Wow and I was going to order a Gobi.... Forget that sh_t!!!!

Yeah, who do we go to now?

Sorry to hear this and hopefully you come out on top. Coke should start suing Pepsi for making cola.

Time for some calvin peeing on gobi stickers.

Keep your head up. Your talented. Things will figure themselves out. You single handedly competed with the Lamborghini of roof racks!

I remember when high end dual suspension mountain bikes were first becoming popular and Specialized started to sue everyone for patent infringement. The small manufacturers couldn't go to court, so they gave their patents to Specialized...

I've had my eyes on the WMW 4th gen rack for a while now. It really is one of the best looking racks out there, on any vehicle for that matter, and clearly Gobi couldn't take the heat. Praying for ya, hope things go as smoothly as possible.

A WMW rack for my truck would have been preferred but since a 5th gen version isn't out, I too had planned to go with Gobi. I will call them tomorrow and let them know they've lost my business over this.