Legal Theater: SRAM sues Princeton Carbonworks, Absolute Black blocks Hambini video in UK

Triathlon Forum
1

Well, at some point, I am sure someone is going to make us wish we have the good old specialized bike’s legal team back. (reminder that Specialized issued an ultimatum of a small moms and pops type Cafe named Cafe Roubaix for infringing on their Roubaix trademark)

SRAM vs. Princeton Carbonworks

SRAM Files lawsuit against Princeton Carbonworks for patent infringement in the US, probably to no one’s surprise, and makes us wonder why it took so long
https://cyclingtips.com/...patent-infringement/

Absolute Black vs. Hambini

Hambini (Controversial youtube personality for sure, but this is not about him) makes fairly logical and specific points on why the Absolute Black hollowcage pulley is flawed. Absolute Black responds by getting youtube to take down the video (so far it’s blocked, but only in the UK). You’d think the sensible thing is to respond to performance inquiries (no matter how vitriol) with lab test results, but it looks like Absolute Black went to the PR school of Barbara Streisand

https://www.youtube.com/...6XF-geqCekd-l4AaABCQWondering what claims Absolute Black used for a video take down. Seems like UK is far more censorship prone than other countries -Some seemingly objective point of view on the topic from someonehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMITs-9BIPo-Alas, GC Performance (Absolute Black Enthusiast, and who got the product for free from Absolute Black) is sending Hambini his pulley for testing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yzrp5eKSS8

2

The SRAM case “may” have some merit but the Absolute Black case is ridiculous. Their pully is just a bearing with teeth attached to it. They look “bling” but performance they are no better (and probably worse when it comes to longevity) than pull wheels that come stock on a detailer.

Absolute Black created new “snake oil”, marketed it, and is throwing a hissy fit because they have been called out over it now.

3

Well, at some point, I am sure someone is going to make us wish we have the good old specialized bike’s legal team back. (reminder that Specialized issued an ultimatum of a small moms and pops type Cafe named Cafe Roubaix for infringing on their Roubaix trademark)

SRAM vs. Princeton Carbonworks

SRAM Files lawsuit against Princeton Carbonworks for patent infringement in the US, probably to no one’s surprise, and makes us wonder why it took so long
https://cyclingtips.com/...patent-infringement/

Absolute Black vs. Hambini

Hambini (Controversial youtube personality for sure, but this is not about him) makes fairly logical and specific points on why the Absolute Black hollowcage pulley is flawed. Absolute Black responds by getting youtube to take down the video (so far it’s blocked, but only in the UK). You’d think the sensible thing is to respond to performance inquiries (no matter how vitriol) with lab test results, but it looks like Absolute Black went to the PR school of Barbara Streisand

https://www.youtube.com/...6XF-geqCekd-l4AaABCQWondering what claims Absolute Black used for a video take down. Seems like UK is far more censorship prone than other countries -Some seemingly objective point of view on the topic from someonehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMITs-9BIPo-Alas, GC Performance (Absolute Black Enthusiast, and who got the product for free from Absolute Black) is sending Hambini his pulley for testing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yzrp5eKSS8

Not to pull COVID into this, but this is basically the same practice that’s being used. They’re pulling down any information that may go counter to government recommendations, even when the person is backing up their claims with data from recently published studies. So the company tells Youtube that this guy is wrong, and they take it down? Easy to see how that overreach step is made after you implement such a policy. So you can’t be apply criticism of a product anymore?

4

Well, at some point, I am sure someone is going to make us wish we have the good old specialized bike’s legal team back. (reminder that Specialized issued an ultimatum of a small moms and pops type Cafe named Cafe Roubaix for infringing on their Roubaix trademark)

SRAM vs. Princeton Carbonworks

SRAM Files lawsuit against Princeton Carbonworks for patent infringement in the US, probably to no one’s surprise, and makes us wonder why it took so long
https://cyclingtips.com/...patent-infringement/

Absolute Black vs. Hambini

Hambini (Controversial youtube personality for sure, but this is not about him) makes fairly logical and specific points on why the Absolute Black hollowcage pulley is flawed. Absolute Black responds by getting youtube to take down the video (so far it’s blocked, but only in the UK). You’d think the sensible thing is to respond to performance inquiries (no matter how vitriol) with lab test results, but it looks like Absolute Black went to the PR school of Barbara Streisand

https://www.youtube.com/...6XF-geqCekd-l4AaABCQWondering what claims Absolute Black used for a video take down. Seems like UK is far more censorship prone than other countries -Some seemingly objective point of view on the topic from someonehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMITs-9BIPo-Alas, GC Performance (Absolute Black Enthusiast, and who got the product for free from Absolute Black) is sending Hambini his pulley for testing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yzrp5eKSS8

Not to pull COVID into this, but this is basically the same practice that’s being used. They’re pulling down any information that may go counter to government recommendations, even when the person is backing up their claims with data from recently published studies. So the company tells Youtube that this guy is wrong, and they take it down? Easy to see how that overreach step is made after you implement such a policy. So you can’t be apply criticism of a product anymore?

I think if you look at the videos that Hambini did which were pulled it is likely to be defamation, ie boardman, kingdom, pinarello, orbea, canyon etc…that’s lying for the express purpose of damaging someone else and benefiting yourself.

With absolute black (I haven’t seen the video) I think he’s just having a go…and what he’s saying isn’t anything outside of what people have said here over the years here except he appears to enjoy the c-word and drama (appeals to his subscribers)

Pretty sure it’s not banned in the UK (YouTube has general terms of service) and he’s jus making that up for the sake of clicks/eyeballs/revenue.

Maurice

5

I think if you look at the videos that Hambini did which were pulled it is likely to be defamation, ie boardman, kingdom, pinarello, orbea, canyon etc…that’s lying for the express purpose of damaging someone else and benefiting yourself.

With absolute black (I haven’t seen the video) I think he’s just having a go…and what he’s saying isn’t anything outside of what people have said here over the years here except he appears to enjoy the c-word and drama (appeals to his subscribers)

Pretty sure it’s not banned in the UK (YouTube has general terms of service) and he’s jus making that up for the sake of clicks/eyeballs/revenue.

Maurice

It’s definitely viewable here in the US. But if youtube were to pull it because of “defamation”. I would think they’d need a court order as part of lawsuit to do so. Unless we’re jut going wholesale into editorial control, then there’s a whole lot of other stuff that shouldn’t be on youtube.

6

Maurice, it’s definitely banned in the UK ‘due to an allegation of defamation’.

Unless the UK is imaginary and I’m back in an Australia with warm beer and REALLY old buildings.

7

Maurice, it’s definitely banned in the UK ‘due to an allegation of defamation’.

Unless the UK is imaginary and I’m back in an Australia with warm beer and REALLY old buildings.

Fair enough, he must really be off his A game to be unable to meet the lower standard of global defamation.

Maurice

8

Maurice, it’s definitely banned in the UK ‘due to an allegation of defamation’.

Unless the UK is imaginary and I’m back in an Australia with warm beer and REALLY old buildings.

Having watched more than a few videos of Hambini’s where I thought he was completely full of it. Absolute Black flagging this for “potential defamation” is hilarious. He called out their “aero-testing” method. And also said that the bearings are likely suspect since they won’t tell you even the country where they get manufactured is.

9

You watch Hambini?!

10

I am not familiar with absolute black’s products, but this new ($700 !) pulley mech is, to put it mildly, very problematic.

Using this kind of bearing in a RD pulley is really dumb, the main issue is that the friction on it is going to be quite considerable and the energy loss from that will outweigh any other consideration (well, other than looks I guess).

Kind of reminds me of this crazy front wheel design from years back. Sure, it looks wild, but it was still slow as a slug:

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ODxvSeT-7Ag/XCUeMxz2RFI/AAAAAAABXtM/zcLloPThHzolNyyTM88tONHHZyUG6vaqACLcBGAs/s1600/s-l1600%2B%25283%2529.jpg

Everything old is new again …

11

You watch Hambini?!

x2. No one should ever click on a Hambini link.

12

x3. Hambini tries to be the Russel brand of bike tech and with equally toxic half truths filled with dangerous voids and awful belief tolerances. The spin test for derrailleurs is classic though.

You watch Hambini?!

x2. No one should ever click on a Hambini link.

13

Wow I remember the Black Hole advertisements in Inside Triathlon back in the day. Never saw one mounted on a bike like in your picture or at a race.

14

You watch Hambini?!

I have watched a grand total of two videos, this one and something I don’t remember, but the thread was on here about it. I think he slagged Princeton Carbonworks?

15

You watch Hambini?!

Do you even have to ask that question? See the below re-quote.

Not to pull COVID into this, but this is basically the same practice that’s being used. They’re pulling down any information that may go counter to government recommendations, even when the person is backing up their claims with data from recently published studies.

And as for this, the LR is thataway…https://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Lavender_Room_F4/

Did you seriously try to compare censorship of a boutique cycling product’s review to a government not wanting influencer youtube types killing folks with their online dribble? Lol. Ok then.

16

You watch Hambini?!

Do you even have to ask that question? See the below re-quote.

Not to pull COVID into this, but this is basically the same practice that’s being used. They’re pulling down any information that may go counter to government recommendations, even when the person is backing up their claims with data from recently published studies.

And as for this, the LR is thataway…https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...C1/Lavender_Room_F4/

Did you seriously try to compare censorship of a boutique cycling product’s review to a government not wanting influencer youtube types killing folks with their online dribble? Lol. Ok then.

Censorship is censorship, that’s all this boils down to.

17

SRAM vs. Princeton Carbonworks SRAM Files lawsuit against Princeton Carbonworks for patent infringement in the US, probably to no one’s surprise, and makes us wonder why it took so long
https://cyclingtips.com/...patent-infringement/

Absolute Black vs. Hambini

Hambini (Controversial youtube personality for sure, but this is not about him) makes fairly logical and specific points on why the Absolute Black hollowcage pulley is flawed. Absolute Black responds by getting youtube to take down the video (so far it’s blocked, but only in the UK). You’d think the sensible thing is to respond to performance inquiries (no matter how vitriol) with lab test results, but it looks like Absolute Black went to the PR school of Barbara Streisand

https://www.youtube.com/...6XF-geqCekd-l4AaABCQWondering what claims Absolute Black used for a video take down. Seems like UK is far more censorship prone than other countries -Some seemingly objective point of view on the topic from someonehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMITs-9BIPo-Alas, GC Performance (Absolute Black Enthusiast, and who got the product for free from Absolute Black) is sending Hambini his pulley for testing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yzrp5eKSS8

Has the SRAM vs. Princeton Carbonworks action developed in the last 6 months? H ambini commented at the time of this thread’s OP.

The PCW wheels were used with spectacular effect in the summer/autumn by people who could and would choose to ride them if, after testing, they offered performance advantage (or equity at worst). https://www.cyclingnews.com/...s-at-tour-de-france/
A PCW thread has been raised from the dead elsewhere. https://www.princetoncarbon.com/uncategorized/filippo-ganna-ineos-le-tour-oh-my/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95mP8CfDvM

18

No idea. these cases, as far as I know can drag on for a while. I think they usually result in settlement (an friend of mine who was an IP lawyer indicated that companies don’t like to bring these cases to a juror). You can see public filings @

https://dockets.justia.com/docket/florida/flsdce/9:2021cv80581/589277

Also, surprised that the case is brought to South Florida. Pretty sure SRAM and Zipp are based out of Chicago / Indianapolis, and that Princeton Carbonworks is based out of CT somewhere.

19

Looks like the Sram/Princeton case is going to a 2 week jury trial starting Feb 13
.

20

Don’t forget the Specialized doesn’t even own “Roubaix”. They license it from Fuji if I remember correctly, which made the Cafe Roubiax sorry even more sad/comical/PR nightmare material.