RBC Bearings Inc., Oxford, CT, international manufacturer of precision plain, roller and ball bearings for the industrial, defense and aerospace industries, announced the Federal District Court of Connecticut has issued an injunction against SKF USA Inc. in connection with the sale of Nice radial ball bearings.
 
The Federal Court found that SKF USA Inc.’s use of its current price list and other advertisements created confusion in the marketplace about whether SKF USA Inc. was still an authorized distributor of NICE products. The Federal Court found that SKF USA Inc.’s 2008 price list was missing a significant portion of RBC’s product line,”making its distribution by SKF USA Inc. “more likely to create confusion.”
 
The Federal Court’s injunction prohibits SKF USA Inc. from distributing the current versions of its 2008 price list and product interchange document. The Federal Court’s injunction also prohibits SKF USA Inc. from suggesting to consumers that SKF USA Inc. is an authorized distributor of Nice products.
 
To comply with the injunction, SKF USA Inc.’s price lists, advertisements and similar documents must “clearly disclaim any authorized affiliation with the NICE brand and clearly disclaim any status as an authorized distributor of Nice products.”The injunction is effective on Monday May 12, 2008 at 5pm (EDT).
 
RBC Bearings is the manufacturer of the complete line of genuine Nice precision ground, semi-ground, and unground bearings and bearing assemblies available directly from RBC Bearings or from authorized distributors.
 
RBC Bearings currently employs 2,145 people and operates 22 manufacturing facilities in four countries.