Ex-NBA Ref Says Whistle That Stops Game Clock Infringes Patent

A former NBA referee sued the makers of WhistleStop, alleging the product infringes his patent for an invention that stops the game clock when a referee’s whistle is blown and restarts it when a button on a referee’s belt pack is activated.

Michael Costabile alleges he began working on the invention after he blew a whistle on a foul in the last moments of an NBA game in 1990 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, resulting in Charles Barkley making two free throws and winning the game for the 76ers by a single point, according to the complaint filed ...