Remember when Titleist was sued by Callaway for patent infringement with the ProV golf ball? Callaway had purchased Top Flite (as I remember) and Titleist had ignored Top Flite using patents held by Top Flite in the manufacturing of the ProV, because they knew they were in financial difficulty. I suspect Titleist had planned to buy Top Flite as they went into bankrupcy, but Callaway acquired Top Flite and its patents. Callaway sued because the ProV infringed on 4 patents held by Top Flite, then the legal property of Callaway.
That law suit went on for 6 years and was finally settled, but the settlement was never disclosed. Rumor was that Titleist settled by agreement to share patent rights it held with Callaway in other areas of golf ball production. Now Titleist is seeking to stop Costco from marketing a ball produced by a third party in South Korea. I wonder if the actual manufacture of the ball for Costco has acquired its rights from Callaway. Costco has marketed golf balls and golf equipment for Callaway and SM Global was also involved with Callaway.
O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!