American wrench fights Chinese knockoff

Dan Brown, inventor of the Bionic Wrench, is defending his patent rights against the Max Axess, made in China. John Gress for The New York Times

When I met Dan Brown I really empathized for him. Being a generator of creative works myself, it always hurts to see others make money off of your intellectual property.

By SHAILA DEWAN, The New York Times

Last Christmas, Sears had a brisk seller in the Bionic Wrench, an award-winning, patented tool with spiffy lime green accents. This holiday season, though, Sears has a special display for its own wrench, in the red and black colors of its house brand, Craftsman.

One customer who recently spotted the new Craftsman tool, called the Max Axess wrench, thought it was an obvious knockoff, right down to the try-me packaging. “I saw it and I said, ‘This is a Bionic Wrench,’ ” recalled Dana Craig, a retiree and tool enthusiast in Massachusetts who alerted the maker of the Bionic Wrench. “It’s a very distinctive tool,” he added.

The tools have one significant difference, Mr. Craig noted. The Bionic Wrench is made in the United States. The Max Axess wrench is made in China… Read More