Clearview wins fridge-slide legal battle

Melbourne-based Clearview Accessories is celebrating a 'win' in a drawn out legal battle with rival MSA 4x4 around alleged patent infringements in regards to its Easy Slide drop-down fridge slide product.

In 2021 MSA 4x4 took legal action against Clearview Accessories, over alleged patent infringements against its MSA Drop Slide which like the Easy Slide is designed to make accessing food and drink from the back of a 4WD wagon or ute easier.

However, the Federal Court this week ruled that Clearview Accessories had not infringed on MSA's Drop Slide patent by manufacturing and selling its Easy Slide.

“We are extremely pleased with the Federal Court’s decision as it demonstrates that Clearview Accessories was right to fight the lawsuit," Clearview co-founder Mike Cowan said in a statement on the company's website.

"It is a shame that MSA 4X4 and Shane Miles decided to take this action; the last two years has cost us over $1M in legal fees alone to defend our patented product. The time and money we’ve spent defending our position could have been better spent elsewhere, supporting our customers and dealers," he said.

In the Clearview statement, it says that Black Widow Enterprises was awarded a patent for a drop-down fridge slide in 2013, and a year later this patent was purchased by Clearview Accessories. This led to the introduction of the Easy Slide, which is now among a number of drop-down fridge slides offered by the Craigieburn, Victoria based business.

Clearview Accessories kicked off more than 10 years ago, specialising in factory-style extendable towing mirrors for the Australian caravan market, before expanding into other outdoor adventure products and off-road accessories.

Based in Queensland, MSA 4x4 sells a large range of off-road and camping related aftermarket products including fridge slides, towing mirrors and storage drawer systems.