The Price Is Wrong

Filed in archive Golf Equipment on August 8, 2007

Courtesy: Mike F. Campbell

My blogging colleague, patent lawyer David Dawsey, has unearthed another nugget in his daily gold-mining expeditions.

David writes Golf-Patents.com in which he documents what's going on legally in the ever-changing world of golf equipment.

And the landscape is peppered with litigation.

Take, for instance, the ongoing battle between Bridgestone and Acushnet. Bridgestone is suing Acushnet for patent infringement, citing numerous violations in which Bridgestone claims Acushnet has been using Bridgestone technology in golf ball construction.

Enter one Nick Price to testify on behalf of the plaintiff. Bridgestone asked Price to provide "expert testimony" on Bridgestone's balls and how they perform on the golf course.

Price, who plays Bridgestone balls, of course, did just that.

Now Acushnet is arguing that Price's testimony is irrelevant since Price is not an expert in golf ball construction or golf ball physics.

This is a case that has been going on for several years, according to David, and it matters not a whit that Price has, as David points out, won 18 PGA Tour victories, three majors and is a former world number one player.

All of which proves my long-standing view: the rich get richer...and they're all lawyers (no offence, David!)

And you thought theatrics happened only on the course.