It's not been long since the release of the 2023 RockShox fork range and already the brand is in hot water from its main rival. Fox is claiming copyright infringement over one particular detail found on the new forks. Here's everything you need to know.

• Your complete guide to the Fox Shox fork range
• Your complete guide to the Fox Shox rear shock range
• 9 tips to keep your suspension running sweeter for longer

The tech in question is the new Pressure Relief Valves found at the very top of the fork lowers, below the seals. These are designed to equalise pressure in the lowers at high altitudes or after lengthy descents. These can be found on 2023 RockShox Pike, Lyrik, and ZEB Ultimate and Select + models. 

However, such tech or at least valves designed to do the very same thing, were first introduced by Fox back in 2020 on the brand's 38 enduro fork and have since been included on the 36 and 40 ranges.

As such, Fox is claiming that RockShox has included this tech, which works in the exact same way as Fox's bleed valves, with complete disregard to existing patents. Now, the bushy-tailed suspension brand is seeking actual and punitive damages, asking courts to demand that SRAM (owner of RockShox) stop selling the forks and destroy any undelivered stock.

This isn't the first time the two brands have butted heads as Race Face (owned by Fox) has had to license the narrow-wide chainring design first found on SRAM's chainrings. So it could come that RockShox would do the very same with Pressure Relief Valves if it is found to be guilty of copyright infringement.

• www.ridefox.com
• www.sram.com

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