Clark Scamp

The Clark Scamp was a moped manufactured by a mast-making business, AN Clark (Engineers) Limited, Isle of Wight, England, from March to November 1968.^[1][2] It combined a proprietary cycle frame, obtained from the Co-operative Wholesale Society who sold the bicycle as the "Commuter," and an innovative 50cc two-stroke engine transmitting its power to the rear wheel by friction.

Unfortunately for the manufacturer, the innovation in the power unit was not theirs. It had been devised by a Mr Coco, who had been in discussions with Clarks for several months before being informed that his design caused unacceptable wear to the rear tyre and would not therefore be used. By the time the machine appeared on the market, it was apparent that the power unit was closely related to the Coco design, and the designer sued for breach of confidence. The resulting case, Coco v AN Clark (Engineers) Limited,^[3] remains a fundamental statement of the principles of law in this area, despite being an application for an interlocutory injunction to prevent manufacture pending trial, which was refused (the defendants undertaking instead to pay 5 shillings per engine into a joint account). The trial never took place, the machine was discontinued, and the company went into administration. (The original mast-making business was taken over by a new company.)

Notes

1. ^ http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0234.htm
2. ^ http://www.icenicam.ukfsn.org/articles/art0005.html
3. ^ [1969] FSR 415, [1069] R.P.C. 49 (Ch)