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[[File:Duncan.png|thumb]]
 
[[File:Duncan.png|thumb]]
   
'''Duncan''' is a [[yo-yos|yo-yo]] company that makes a line of professional grade yo-yos like the [[Duncan Freehand 1|Freehand]] line of yo-yos. They also produce a line of classic yo-yos such as the [[Duncan Imperial|Imperial]] and the [[Duncan Butterfly|Butterfly]]. The company was named after the founder [[Donald F. Duncan]], but the company is now owned by [[Flambeau Inc]] after a bankruptcy in the 1960's in which the goodwill and products were sold to Flambeau and the equipment to [[Medalist|Strombecker Toys]]. Flambeau is owned by Nordic Industries.
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'''Duncan Toys''' is a [[yo-yos|yo-yo]] company that makes a line of professional grade yo-yos like the [[Duncan Freehand 1|Freehand]] series. They also produce a line of classic yo-yos such as the [[Duncan Imperial|Imperial]] and the [[Duncan Butterfly|Butterfly]]. The company was named after the founder [[Donald F. Duncan]], but the company is now owned by [[Flambeau Inc]] after a bankruptcy in the 1960's in which the goodwill and products were sold to Flambeau and the equipment to [[Medalist|Strombecker Toys]]. Flambeau is owned by Nordic Industries.
   
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For a long time Duncan had maintained the word "yo-yo" as a trademark, which led to their marketing slogan "If it isn't a Duncan, it isn't a yo-yo".
For a long time Duncan had the word "yo-yo" as a trademark which led to their slogan "If it isn't a Duncan, it isn't a yo-yo". In 1962 Duncan sued [[Royal]] and [[Dell]] over the use of the word ''yo-yo''. The latter company stopped the production of their yo-yos, and a 3 year court battle between Duncan and Royal started regarding the trademarked word. The Supreme Court put the word "yo-yo" in the public domain, stating that the well-known Duncan slogan defined the name of the toy as a "yo-yo". This landmark decision is is still referenced in copyright court cases today. This long, costly court battle led to Duncan filing bankruptcy that led to the buy-out by Flambeau.
 
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In 1962, Duncan sued [[Royal]] and [[Dell]] over the use of the word ''yo-yo''. The latter company stopped the production of their yo-yos, and a three-year court battle between Duncan and Royal started regarding the trademarked word. The Supreme Court put the word "yo-yo" in the public domain, stating that the well-known Duncan slogan defined the name of the toy as a "yo-yo". This long, costly court battle led to Duncan filing bankruptcy, leading up to the buy-out by Flambeau. This landmark decision is is still referenced in copyright court cases to this day.
 
==Duncan Professionals==
 
==Duncan Professionals==
   
Duncan Professional is the name most often associated with yo-yo demonstrators who are making a living demonstrating for Duncan yo-yos. Duncan Professionals have been at the core of most of the Duncan yo-yo promotions it has done in its over 80-year history. Some of the most well-known yo-yo companies in the industry have been started by previous Duncan Professionals and now compete directly with Duncan (e.g. [[Russell]], [[SuperYo]], and [[Spintastics]]). The Duncan Professional is an icon in the yo-yo industry.
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Duncan Professional (not to be confused for the yo-yo) is the title most often associated with yo-yo demonstrators who are making a living demonstrating for Duncan. Duncan Professionals have been at the core of most of the Duncan yo-yo promotions it had done in its over 80-year history. Some of the most well-known yo-yo companies in the industry have been started by previous Duncan Professionals and now compete directly with Duncan (e.g. [[Russell]], [[SuperYo]], and [[Spintastics]]). The Duncan Professional is an icon in the yo-yo industry.
   
===Notable Onetime Duncan Professionals===
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===Notable One-time Duncan Professionals===
 
*[[Bob Allen]]
 
*[[Bob Allen]]
*[[Barney Akers]]
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*Barney Akers
 
*[[Steve Brown]]
 
*[[Steve Brown]]
 
*[[Arnie Dixon]]
 
*[[Arnie Dixon]]
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== Steve Brown and Freehand ==
 
== Steve Brown and Freehand ==
Duncan employed yo-yo pro [[Steve Brown]] as a marketing expert and yo-yo designer for a period from late 1999 to early 2006. During this time Steve developed and patented freehand yo-yoing. The patent (patent number 6,371,824), which only covers the USA and Germany, is owned by Duncan and Steve receives a 1.5% royalty for it.
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Yo-yo pro and former Duncan demonstrator [[Steve Brown]] is a marketing expert and yo-yo designer for a period from late 1999 to early 2006. During this time, Steve developed and patented the Freehand (5A) playing style. The patent (patent number 6,371,824), which only covers the USA and Germany, is owned by Duncan and Steve receives a 1.5% royalty for it.
   
 
== Legal Threats==
 
== Legal Threats==
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* [[Duncan Ignite|Ignite]]
 
* [[Duncan Ignite|Ignite]]
 
* [[Duncan Lime Light|Lime Light]]
 
* [[Duncan Lime Light|Lime Light]]
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* [[Duncan Black Widow|Black Widow]]
 
* Lil' Champ
 
* Lil' Champ
 
* [[Duncan Midnight Special|Midnight Special]]
 
* [[Duncan Midnight Special|Midnight Special]]
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* [[Duncan ProYo|ProYo]]
 
* [[Duncan ProYo|ProYo]]
 
* [[Duncan Wheels|Wheels]]
 
* [[Duncan Wheels|Wheels]]
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* [[Duncan World Class|World Class]]
 
* Special
 
* Special
 
* [[Duncan Professional|Professional]]
 
* [[Duncan Professional|Professional]]
 
* Gold Award
 
* Gold Award
 
* Sportsline
 
* Sportsline
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* String Pak Butterfly
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* [[Duncan World's Smallest Imperial|World's Smallest Imperial]]
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* [[Duncan Satellite (light-up)|Satellite (light-up)]]
   
 
===Hardcore series===
 
===Hardcore series===
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* [[Duncan Freehand 2|Freehand 2 (FH2)]]
 
* [[Duncan Freehand 2|Freehand 2 (FH2)]]
 
* [[Duncan Freehand Zero|Freehand Zero]]
 
* [[Duncan Freehand Zero|Freehand Zero]]
* [[Duncan Freehand Pro|Freehand Pro]] (upcoming)
 
 
* [[Duncan Featherhawk|Featherhawk]] (canceled)
 
* [[Duncan Featherhawk|Featherhawk]] (canceled)
 
* [[Duncan Featherhawk#Firehawk|Firehawk]] (canceled)
 
* [[Duncan Featherhawk#Firehawk|Firehawk]] (canceled)
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*[[Duncan MetalBullet|MetalBullet]] (''Hyper Yo-Yo'')
 
*[[Duncan MetalBullet|MetalBullet]] (''Hyper Yo-Yo'')
 
*[[Duncan Despicable Me Giggling Yo-Yo|Despicable Me Giggling Yo-Yo]]
 
*[[Duncan Despicable Me Giggling Yo-Yo|Despicable Me Giggling Yo-Yo]]
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*[[Duncan Grasshopper|Grasshopper]]
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*[[Duncan Bassacuda|Bassacuda]]
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*[[Duncan Jo-Jo Speed Ring|Speed Ring]]
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*[[Duncan Jo-Jo Imperial|Imperial (Jo-Jo)]]
 
*[[Duncan Freehand Pro|Freehand Pro]]
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*[[Duncan Freehand (2016)|Freehand (2016)]]
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*[[Duncan Origami|Origami]]
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*[[Duncan Haymaker|Haymaker]]
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*[[Duncan Eagle 1|Eagle 1]]
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*[[Duncan Orbital|Orbital]]
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*[[Duncan Pandamonium|Pandamonium]]
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*[[Duncan MKT|MKT]]
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*[[Duncan Grasshopper X|Grasshopper X]]
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*[[Duncan Wind Runner|Wind Runner]]
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*[[Duncan Barracuda Jr.|Barracuda Jr.]]
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*[[Duncan Orbit|Orbit]]
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*[[Duncan Haymaker X|Haymaker X]]
   
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==

Revision as of 01:09, 26 July 2018

Duncan

Duncan Toys is a yo-yo company that makes a line of professional grade yo-yos like the Freehand series. They also produce a line of classic yo-yos such as the Imperial and the Butterfly. The company was named after the founder Donald F. Duncan, but the company is now owned by Flambeau Inc after a bankruptcy in the 1960's in which the goodwill and products were sold to Flambeau and the equipment to Strombecker Toys. Flambeau is owned by Nordic Industries.

For a long time Duncan had maintained the word "yo-yo" as a trademark, which led to their marketing slogan "If it isn't a Duncan, it isn't a yo-yo".

In 1962, Duncan sued Royal and Dell over the use of the word yo-yo. The latter company stopped the production of their yo-yos, and a three-year court battle between Duncan and Royal started regarding the trademarked word. The Supreme Court put the word "yo-yo" in the public domain, stating that the well-known Duncan slogan defined the name of the toy as a "yo-yo". This long, costly court battle led to Duncan filing bankruptcy, leading up to the buy-out by Flambeau. This landmark decision is is still referenced in copyright court cases to this day.

Duncan Professionals

Duncan Professional (not to be confused for the yo-yo) is the title most often associated with yo-yo demonstrators who are making a living demonstrating for Duncan. Duncan Professionals have been at the core of most of the Duncan yo-yo promotions it had done in its over 80-year history. Some of the most well-known yo-yo companies in the industry have been started by previous Duncan Professionals and now compete directly with Duncan (e.g. Russell, SuperYo, and Spintastics). The Duncan Professional is an icon in the yo-yo industry.

Notable One-time Duncan Professionals

Steve Brown and Freehand

Yo-yo pro and former Duncan demonstrator Steve Brown is a marketing expert and yo-yo designer for a period from late 1999 to early 2006. During this time, Steve developed and patented the Freehand (5A) playing style. The patent (patent number 6,371,824), which only covers the USA and Germany, is owned by Duncan and Steve receives a 1.5% royalty for it.

Legal Threats

Duncan letter

Nordic Industries' letter

Yoyowiki response

Josh's response

In March 2007, Nordic Industries sent letters to a number of prominent yo-yo sites (including the yo-yo wiki) and at least four yo-yo stores objecting to the usage of the terms "Freehand", "Imperial" and "Butterfly". The yo-yo community reaction was overwhelmingly negative, with a number of people parodying the "Duncan = Love" slogan with the alternative "Duncan = Lawsuit". Duncan later sent a letter, which conceded that Freehand is not a trademark in the USA although says little else.

As Duncan's letter did not comment on the usage of the other trademarks, Wilfred sent to following email to Duncan and received a response 7 weeks later.

Wilfred email

Wilfred's email

Duncan letter

Duncan's response

The question as to whether the yo-yo community at large actually changes the terminology it uses remains to be seen. Greg Cohen, another recipient of these letters was simply asked to use a © after the words Duncan claims trademarks of. Jaco Greeff also received a letter and responded by taking his store down, although it seems to be back up. As the letters were not true cease and desist letters the chances of any actual legal proceedings seems low.

Yo-Yos Produced

Vintage and Unpromoted Lines

Wooden & Vintage

Fixed Axle

Hardcore series

"A Fistful of Fury" - Advertising slogan.

De-Luxxe series

Screaming Eagle series

Other

External Links