ThumbPRO®: Protecting Innovation in Baseball

ThumbPRO®, established in 2019, is a family-owned company based in Concord, Massachusetts, dedicated to enhancing baseball and softball players' performance with high-quality thumb guards. Designed for comfort, protection, and improved grip technique, ThumbPRO’s products have earned recognition, including the 2020 ABCA Best of Show award.

The Problem

As ThumbPRO® gained popularity, counterfeit versions of their innovative thumb guards began appearing in key marketplaces in both the U.S. and Japan. The company struggled to identify the source of these unauthorized copies, which were infiltrating major online platforms and even standalone Japanese websites.

With a U.S patent, ThumbPRO® knew it was time to take decisive action against these copycats. Without intervention, the continued presence of counterfeit products risked diluting the brand, misleading customers, and diverting revenue away from the original, high-quality product.

The Solution

IP Moat’s machine-learning technology traced the root source of the counterfeits to an overseas supplier, a critical breakthrough in ThumbPRO’s fight against infringement. By swiftly removing this unauthorized supplier, IP Moat effectively cut off the counterfeit supply at its origin, preventing further knockoffs from entering key marketplaces.

Additionally, using their Japanese patent, ThumbPRO®—assisted by IP Moat—successfully removed infringing listings from standalone websites in Japan, a process that would have been difficult to handle manually.

Immediate Impact

Partnering with IP Moat led to significant benefits for ThumbPRO®, including:

• Counterfeit Elimination: By removing the root source, IP Moat stopped new counterfeits from reaching major platforms.
• Brand Integrity Restored: Customers could confidently purchase authentic ThumbPRO ® products without risk of receiving a low-quality imitation.
• Revenue Protection: With counterfeit competition drastically reduced, ThumbPRO ® regained lost sales and safeguarded future earnings.
• Long-Term Protection: IP Moat continues to monitor for new infringements, ensuring ThumbPRO ® maintains control over its brand and intellectual property.

Craig First, Founder of ThumbPRO®, shared his experience:

“They say that ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,’ but, in actuality, it is straight-up stealing. We have been very happy to have IP Moat on our side to help battle counterfeiters and copycats. IP Moat's platform is incredibly effective, and their customer service is top-notch. We consider them a very important part of our team.”

Conclusion

With IP Moat’s expertise, ThumbPRO® successfully defends its patented designs and protected its growing brand from counterfeit threats. By proactively enforcing its intellectual property rights in both the U.S. and Japan, ThumbPRO® is now in a stronger position to continue innovating and supporting athletes with confidence.