Man sues company over light-up fishing pole

By Brett Nauman
bnauman@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- A Heyworth man says he had a great idea for an invention five years ago … a fishing pole that lights up at night.

Jim Fisk had given up on the nighttime fishing rod after submitting a proposal to a Florida-based marketing company without any success.

That is until July when a friend called and congratulated Fisk after seeing the fishing pole on sale for $38 at a local sporting goods store.

Read the whole article at:
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/09...22df220079513.t

I am not familiar the exact fishing pole in question, but I have to wonder if the plaintiff was ever made aware that there is an entire US patent subclass dealing with illuminated fishing poles and the like, with patents that go back a long time...

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?...3%2F17.5&d=PALL

A few years ago i submitted an idea to Invent tech,they done a good job of supplying me with B.S. Info. and kept wanting more and more money with big promises and hurry up and lets get this done.I had a problem with a drawing that they were supposedly working on and they connected me to the V.P of the company.He acted mad as a hornet that the employee done this.But im glad this happened,i contacted a private firm to work on this then called Invent tech and told them that i wanted my money back and no longer needed there services.They kept trying to talk me out of this and finally put someone higher up to talk to me.I told him that i wanted the Attorney Generals # of that state.They immediately told me that they would refund the money,and they did,but i think i came close to getting screwed for sure!

I introduced a whole line of light up fishing equipment to Zebco 20 years ago they sent back a letter saying it wasn't marketable. I knew better I could sell 50 at the lake per day.
Later I went to visit some releatives in a different part of the country there it was on the shelf!

Oldestmage...The saying is true "Loose lips,sink ships",if you think that you've got idea then make sure you get that patent.

hi,
I found this on the www.inventorshelpline.com under the testimonial section under the inventorshelpline. I've copied the testimonial here because the link enclosed isn't connecting. You can find the actual testimonial under the testimony section at inventorshelpline.com

http://www.inventorshelpline.com/pages/testimonials.htm

V. Bell

As you know, my invention is called the "Fisherman's Bite Light". I have built a working model which I use with my friends when we go fishing (which is as often as possible). From the moment I contacted your company I was comfortable and pleased with the way you have conducted yourselves. I would recommend you to anybody that has an invention idea. I am very thankful to you for all that you have done to help get my light produced and out to the public. I know it will go over and be a very big seller. Thanks again!



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my question is, where does this fit in with the above mentioned issue?