Inventor Sues Because His Invention Is Being Used As a Sex Toy

Inventor Jiro Takashima had a simple dream. He wanted to create the world's most perfect hemorrhoid massager. He realized his dream with the invention of the Pro-State massager. It wasn't long however until it became obvious that people were using his design for pleasure instead of legitimate medical purposes. He and his company, High Island Health, are now suing a British company known as Pleasure2Me and others claiming infringement of his patent of a plastic massager designed to massage a man's prostate without the use of electrical power. From the article: "'Our business took a major detour when men started using our prostate massager for recreational purposes,' said Amy Sung, executive director of High Island Health, a Houston company named for a translation of her inventor father Jiro Takashima's Japanese name."

Summary wrong?

[Anonymous Coward]

Inventor Sues Because His Invention Is Being Used as a Sex Toy

Reading TFA, sounds more like "Inventor Sues Because His Patent Is Being Infringed." The fact that the alleged infringers are marketing it with a different spin is not relevant.

I know this is idle, but...

[Protoslo]

If you read TFA, you will see that

Sung said once they realized in around 2003 that the product was selling more as a toy than for medicinal purposes she started advertising it to both markets, despite her father's initial reluctance. One of their slogans is, “The sex toy that's good for you.”

They just have a problem with other companies selling similar products that compete with their own line of sex toys, allegedly infringing their patent.

The real news here is that the daughter (in the picture) is actually 35. Who would have guessed?

Sour Puss

[Anonymous Coward]

Judging from the look on his face he needs to use his invention more himself.

Looking at the big smile on his daughter she appears to be using it already.

Re:

[freddled]

You remind me of my ancient great aunt who had to have every disease worse than anyone else. Someone in the family developed prostate issues and she said 'for sure, I've had that and what's more, I've had to have them both out and I couldn't swallow for a month'.

How does it work and other must-ask questions...

[freddled]

How does it work if it has no electricity? Does it have a solar panel? A wind-up handle? Perhaps a compressed air line powered by foot or other pedal devices? Can I obtain similar results by removing my bicycle seat and cycling over rough ground? Is it designed for solo use or by a qualified practitioner? What is the training and certification regime? How was it tested and by whom. On whom. Was it under laboratory conditions or ... no never mind. If it has theraputic claims was it tested by the FDA or ot

Re: Sex toy

[confuto]

I think the inventor is just being anal about this.

Re:

[hedwards]

Goatse man is not amused.

Gere's First Law

[PatPending]

Apparently Takashima-san never heard of (Richard) Gere's First Law:

"If it can be inserted into an orifice, it will."