October 29, 2004

•  

  
  

  

  
  

  Feds create puzzle not found on toy shelf

  
  

   

  
  

  Thursday, October 28, 2004
  

  ASHBEL S. GREEN

  
  

  Nothing about running a small store called Pufferbelly Toys prepared Stephanie Cox for a cryptic phone call from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

  
  

  Two men arrived at the store and showed Cox their badges. The lead agent asked Cox whether she carried a toy called the Magic Cube. She said yes. The Magic Cube, he said, was an illegal copy of the Rubik's Cube. He told her to remove the Magic Cube from her shelves, and he watched to make sure she complied.

  
  

  After the agents left, Cox called the manufacturer of the Magic Cube, the Toysmith Group. A representative told her that the Homeland Security agents had it wrong. The Rubik's Cube patent had expired, and the Magic Cube did not infringe on rival toy's trademark.

  
  

   Homeland Security routinely blocks shipments of products from overseas that violate intellectual property rights.

  
  

  After gaining assurances from Toysmith officials, Cox put the Magic Cube back on the shelf .

  
  

   

  • 5:02 am
  • 8 Comments