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The Gorge's Orange Screw fighting against Chinese knockoffs

Company founder Kirby Erdely said crooks stole pictures of his product from the company website, made knock off screws in China and sold them online.

BINGEN, Wash. — A company in the Columbia River Gorge that spent months fighting Chinese crooks who knocked off its product is winning.

Orange Screw in Bingen, Washington, makes a rugged plastic screw used to anchor tents and tarps to keep them from blowing away

It's wildly popular—nearing $1 million in sales a year.

Company founder Kirby Erdely said crooks stole pictures of his product from the company website, made knock off screws in China and sold them online.

Erdely has a patent—so he sued. And he won.  

Erdely said he has a temporary court injunction against 85 different sellers. It froze their PayPal accounts and those companies are now negotiating with Orange Screw lawyers to reach a settlement.

“It’s a feeling of relief,” said Erdely.

At one point he worried the counterfeits would destroy his company. 

“I am thankful to be connected with a law firm and able to get results quickly,” he said. The Ference law firm is representing Orange Screw.

Erdely said since the counterfeiters were blocked, his company has had a dramatic increase in sales.

RELATED: Chinese counterfeiters ripping off Washington company that makes tent, tarp anchor screws

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