What happened to K Line and how it died.

While K-Line probably violated it's settlement agreement, it's statement about not developing copies of Lionel technology was probably true.

Most employees than design technology and electronics often have to sign an agreement with the employer that they forfeit claim to the intellectual property that is related to the business of the company.

So when K-Line employed one of Lionel's engineers as a consultant, he was probably bound by said agreement, and therefore any tech he created was the property of Lionel.

He should have made this agreement known when K-Line employed his services. He may have not even known he signed such an agreement though, as employers often bury new hires with lots of paperwork and don't properly inform them of the rights they are signing away.

Very true. I remember when I was first hired by Carter Wallace, (Rise Shaving Cream, Arrid Deodorant, etc.), I signed an agreement that any technology I developed would be theirs and was given a check for signing. Then when I worked for AMOCO, I had to make sure anything I came up with, wasn't something that would infringe on my previous employer sole holders of patents. In fact I had a list of ideas I came up with and used previously. I remember one idea were patent searches were done for months to make sure we could use it, we did and I got another patent.
Sometimes it is a judgment call made by a judge that can destroy even works of arts, but not done today as much as in early years of movies and TV. Back then if you made an entertainment movie similar to one put out by another studio, it could cost millions. Back in early 50s, Cliff Robertson got his start in an early Sci-Fi Saturday morning show. After the first season, Rockhill enterprise took his series to court saying it was similar to their production. Judge saw it that way and ordered all prints destroyed and a hefty fine to be paid to Rockhill. Today, except from some publicity shots, not a single episode exists.
So even slight infringements can be costly and close an unsuspecting company down.


What I always wondered about is MTH infringing on their controllers being able to control Lionel engines to an extant? Where Lionels can't control MTH. 

I don't have alot of nice things To say about Maury. He surly did not know how to talk to people especially his own employee's. Although K-line made some nice stuff I refused to buy any of it because of his attitude. I never bought one K-line item, maybe it was me but I didn't mind K-line going out of business. It was his own fault!!

Dave

When I first returned to O-Gauge and was trying to decide between MTH, Lionel and K-Line.
My first choice was K-Line, but somehow I ended up going MTH for 11 years before I purchased my first Lionel engine.
Somehow, K-Line got lot in the shuffle.

I wholly agree what David has said, they kept Lionel in check. Too bad nobody is around to do it again. The absurd pricing Lionel has today will lead them to where K-line is today. 

David