Cub Crafters Sue Over Colors, Name
A bright-yellow taildragger with a black lightning-bolt stripe means “Cub” to many aviators, but with a kit industry awash in Cub-a-likes just who has the right to use those colors and that name for production aircraft has come into dispute. Cub Crafters, of Yakima, Wash., has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Texas against American Legend Aircraft Co. , claiming that Cub Crafters has rights to the names “Cub” and “Legend,” plus the yellow-with-black design. Cub Crafters builds the Sport Cub light sport aircraft (LSA) and the Part 23-certified Top Cub, and has been rebuilding Cubs since at least 1986. Legend Aircraft, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, builds the Legend Cub LSA that went on the market just this year. In a 10-page complaint, Cub Crafters asks the court to stop American Legend from infringing on its trademarks, and stop it from competing unfairly with Cub Crafters and “diluting the distinctive quality of Cub Crafters trademarks.” Further, Cub Crafters wants American Legend to pay over all profits from selling the disputed merchandise, plus pay damages and attorneys’ fees.
