As a proud Obea Orca owner, I can say that I’m really disturbed by this. I paid good money for good design. If that design is a forgery, then I paid too much.
This is why we do Patents and why we keep designs under-wraps until production. It seems like the seatpost collet would be protectable with both a Design and a Utility patent. Did Kestrel get these?
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But if consumers are confused about who should get the credit, and profits are affected, then it’s time to lawyer-up!