Inventor Mark Berta Alleges Industry Giants of Copying Revolutionary Trolling Mount—Causing Business Damages and Confusion among Consumers

KEY LARGO, Fla., Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sea Swivel Inc., a Florida-based marine innovation company represented by EPGD Business Law, has filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida against three companies — Rhodan Marine Systems of Florida, Dream Machine & Prototyping LLC (d/b/a T/6 Marine), and ShuttleSlide LLC — for allegedly infringing on Sea Swivel's newly issued U.S. Patent No. 12,258,111 covering its pioneering swiveling trolling motor mount system.

At the heart of the lawsuit is the—Sea Swivel—invented in 2023 by Florida Keys entrepreneur Mark Berta. A former marine technician and lifelong fisherman, Berta is known for constantly prototyping new gear, including a line of titanium marine accessories sold under the name "Ti TACKLE."

The Sea Swivel is designed to safely and efficiently stow and deploy bow-mounted trolling motors without forcing boaters to dangerously climb onto the bow of the boat — a common safety hazard in offshore conditions. It has also proven valuable for people with disabilities, allowing them to operate trolling motors independently—and, in many cases, to fish on their own again.

Now industry standard on high-end boats and distributed by major retailers like West Marine, the Sea Swivel has become the market-leading trolling motor mount in the U.S.

But according to Sea Swivel's complaint, its success has attracted widespread imitation. The company claims that the defendants are manufacturing and selling "copycat" versions of the Sea Swivel design without authorization and are "reaping the rewards of innovation they neither conceived nor earned."

"Enough Is Enough"

"For months, Mark witnessed one company after another attempt to rip-off his invention," said Albert Sabater of EPGD Business Law, lead counsel for Sea Swivel. "But when Rhodan—one of the country's biggest trolling motor manufacturers—blatantly ripped off the Sea Swivel with an identical mounting bracket, Mark knew he had to act. This was not a matter of healthy competition—this is a clear case of intellectual property theft." Sabater added. "To see larger corporations now try to muscle him out of his own market is exactly why patent law exists."

Anthony Bruno, corporate counsel for Sea Swivel at Millennial Law, Inc., said, "From the start, we recognized Sea Swivel's flagship product as a genuine breakthrough. We fully expected that larger marine companies would try to copy it—and that's exactly what we're seeing now."

Sea Swivel is seeking:

• A preliminary and permanent injunction to stop the defendants from producing or selling the infringing mounts;
• Monetary damages, including lost profits, royalties, and an accounting of all infringing sales;
• Treble damages and attorneys' fees for what it calls willful and egregious infringement.

The lawsuit compares the defendants' products — including Rhodan's SRQ Bracket and T6 Marine's BOSS 360 — to Sea Swivel's patented design and argues they are "colorable imitations" intended to confuse consumers and trade on the reputation of the original.

Case Information

Case: Sea Swivel Inc. v. Rhodan Marine Systems of Florida, LLC et al.
Filed: August 8, 2025

Case No.: 1:25-cv-23581
Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

About EPGD Business Law

EPGD Business Law is a full-service law firm dedicated to providing comprehensive legal services and strategic counsel for businesses, corporations, entrepreneurs, and individuals.

From our headquarters in Miami, Florida, EPGD's team strives to guide, protect, and advocate for its clients across local and global landscapes. With a team of highly trained attorneys, assisting clients in 7 languages, EPGD's practice areas include Corporate Law, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Trusts and Estates, and Entertainment Law.

Since 2013, our mission is to be a trusted partner, offering tailored solutions and proactive guidance to help clients navigate complex legal landscapes, protect their interests, and foster sustainable growth. EPGD Business Law is recognized by Chambers and Partners and is a member of Legal Netlink Alliance, a global association of independent law firms.

For more information, visit www.epgdlaw.com.

EPGD Business Law is located in beautiful Coral Gables. Call us at (786) 837-6787, or contact us through the website to schedule a consultation.

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SOURCE EPGD Business Law