Outdoor USA Magazine

Hydrapak has been granted a summary judgement of non-infringement in a lawsuit filed by Source Vagabond Systems in August 2011. The suit was dismissed in its entirely and the associated motion for Rule 11 Sanctions against Source Vagabond was also granted to deter future such action.

The lawsuit had contended that the top closure system used in Hydrapak's Reversible Reservoir II infringed upon Source Vagabond's patent. Hydrapak was awarded its own patent on its closure method last year.

Columbia Sportswear was charged with a Stop Sale Order and $22,880 fine by the Environmental Protection Agency for selling and distributing mislabeled pesticide-treated clothing in violation of federal pesticide rules.

The EPA found that the labels on Columbia's Insect Blocker products lacked the required EPA pesticide registration number, a proper ingredient statement, a proper storage and disposal statement, and the line "it is a violation of Federal Law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling." The Stop Sale Order will end when the products are labeled in accordance with these standards.

The North Face Korea (distributed by Goldwin Korea) has been fined 5.2 billion won ($4.6 million) by the nation's Fair Trade Commission (FTC), according to a recent article in the Korea Herald.

The company was charged with coercing retailers to maintain prices at a level 10 to 15 percent higher than competitors by limiting discount rates and punishing violators with suspended or canceled contracts. Additionally, the company has refused to sell through e-commerce channels. The FTC claims that this is in violation of Korean laws that protect retailers' rights to compete freely.

Rossignol has chosen to end its apparel licensing agreement with the French company Sports et Styles. The agreement began in 2009 to maintain the apparel business while the company's new ownership focused on the ski market.

Going forward, the Sports et Styles staff based at the Rossingnol headquarters in Moirans will be employed directly by the ski company.

Icebreaker is opening a new TouchLab store in San Jose, CA. The store will be located in Santana Row, a local destination for shopping, dining, apartment living and nightlife.

The San Jose TouchLab store will feature Icebreaker Merino wool apparel, with a Tactile Gallery including garments that explain the functional benefits of the material.

Boreas has unveiled their showroom with a launch party held at the end of March. The adventure travel gear brand's showroom is shared with Alite Designs in the Mission of San Francisco. For more information or to book an appointment, contact Mary Liberatore at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Keen has purchased the Pearl building at the corner of 13^th and Glisan in Portland that will serve as the company's new headquarters. The 50,000 square foot office is just a few blocks from the brand's current headquarters.

2XU has announced the acquisition of its U.S.-based distributor, Sports Multiplied. Following a successful six-year relationship with the west clast-based company, Australian-owned 2XU has elected to invest directly in the U.S. market and will spearhead all business operations from this point forward under a new U.S.-based entity: 2XU North America.