Acushnet Recalling Nonconforming ProV1s

by Ryan Ballengee on Dec 31, 2008 11:34 AM EST

Geoff Shackelford's site pointed me in the direction of this piece in the Providence Business News. Acushnet - on the heels of losing its appeals against court-mandated injunctions stopping sales of ProV1s that violate patents owned by Callaway - is recalling the golf balls that don't conform to its new standard of manufacturing the ball in a way that does not conflict with the Callaway-owned patents.

Acushnet Co., the golf business of Fortune Brands Inc. (NYSE: FO), is asking retailers to exchange any “nonconverted” Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls that remain on their shelves after tomorrow.

The voluntary recall is related to the company’s ongoing legal dispute with Carlsbad, Calif.-based Callaway Golf Co. (NYSE: ELY), which claims that Acushnet’s Pro V1 balls violated Callaway patents for multilayer golf-ball technology. “Callaway Golf believes it is time for Acushnet to accept its losses in court,” Steve McCracken, the company’s senior executive vice president and administrative officer, said in a statement last week.

The recall really isn't voluntary. The balls will have to be destroyed in some fashion no matter what. May as well enjoy it at Acushnet.

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and the next story will be...

“environmentalist wackos in SoCal join hands to sing and chant in protest as Titleist balls are buried” :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 31, 2008 2:56 PM EST reply actions

So what if...

a Pro-shop or retailer decides to sell the balls anyway – are there Callaway police out there checking inventories?

by red tees on Dec 31, 2008 3:15 PM EST reply actions

inventory codes...

…it’s all electronic these days. They were ordered to not be sold a while back, so they shouldn’t be on the shelves, but if Ma and Pa sell a dozen here or there, they won’t make a big stink of it. The new balls are supposed to be out already or almost ready to ship.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Dec 31, 2008 3:23 PM EST up reply actions