Amusement park ride manufacturer sued over knockoffs

Sales brochures distributed at IAAPA trade show in Orlando spark suit

ORLANDO, Fla. – New Jersey-based amusement park ride manufacturer Zamperla Inc. is suing Italian manufacturer IE Park for patent infringement and unfair competition.

[PHOTOS:  Amusement park rides]

Zamperla says on Tuesday at the IAAPA trade show at the Orange County Convention Center, a salesman for IE Park was distributing "sales brochures containing confusingly similar knockoff versions of Zamperla's amusement rides."

Specifically, the company says its  "Jump Around" ride was being marketed as IE Park's "Beach Safari," "Rockin Tug" as "Rocking Submarine," "Happy Swing" as "Seesaw" and "Samba Balloon" as "Balloon Tower."

Zamperla says a private investigator obtained the business card of IE Park salesman Roberto Dall'Aglio, who Zamperla says was offering the rides for sale in the United States and Canada.

Zamperla says the defendant's conduct has damaged Zamperla's "goodwill and reputation" as well as caused "lost sales due to the deceptive practices engaged in by the defendant."

Zamperla's attorney that filed the lawsuit is former Orlando Congressman Ric Keller.


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