Montana Cans

Montana Colors is an aerosol paint company that manufactures specialty paints for graffiti artists.

History

Montana Cans was founded in 1996 as distribution company L&G by Ruediger Latz and Tim Latif. In 1997 L&G became the exclusive distributor of the graffiti aerosol paint brand Montana Colors for Germany. Shortly afterwards, L&G also gained the rights to distribute their product throughout several other countries in Europe. During this time, L&G conspired with international corporation Dupli-Color to manufacture and label spray paint cans for L&G and target Montana Color’s customers. Dupli-Color made an offer to buy Montana Colors, that was rejected. Soon after, L&G and Dupli began producing copies of Montana Colors cans labeled as Montana Hardcore, and began to distribute them throughout Montana Color’s established market. Dupli-Color started a propaganda campaign, spreading inaccurate rumors that Montana Colors contained lead and other poisons. L&G also contended that product ideas given to Montana Colors during their business relationship entitled L&G to an equal share of the brand name “Montana”. L&G and Dupli-Color initiated a process which resulted in inspectors coming to Spain to examine Montana Colors products. In 2001, L&G and Dupli-Color made a patent search for the name “Montana”, which turned up a company named “Farbo S.A.” in Switzerland. They had the name “Montana” already licensed throughout Europe, so L&G and Dupli-Color then offered to pay a royalty for using the name “Montana” from Farbo, to which they succeeded. L&G had now gained what they needed to file lawsuits and attempt to take away the name and market that Montana Colors had created. Lawsuits are still pending in several courts throughout Europe. In 2002, L&G released the “Montana New Generation” can. In 2003 they released the Montana “GOLD” can and the Montana “Platinum” can in 2004.

At the same time in 2004 Montana Colors began to brand some of their cans as “MTNMTN” to try to relieve some confusion the customers are having between the two companies. The differences between the two Montana’s remain unresolved. L&G reports to have about 20 employees involved in its distribution operation. Montana Cans also claims to have the same devotion to quality and aerosol art culture as its competition. L&G spray cans are made with automated machines at the Dupli-Color facility as they have been since the beginning.