I'm not sure what I think about this...

http://theskateboardmag.com/blogs/templeton-elliott/2010/03/05/element-and-plan-b-united/

It seems like every year we have another skateboard company put underneath a company that is probably more concerned with profit than the actual art and action of skating.  We hear that the company's not gonna change and everything will still be the same.  But it never is the same....

In 2010, we have long time skateboarding stalwarts controlled and owned by outsiders.  Zoo York - Echo unlimited, Plan B and Element - Billabong, Alien Workshop and Habitat - Burton, mean while Rocco sold Dwindle so long ago it doesn't even seem like the sell-out ever happened.  While all these brands are all still great, push great teams and still make great product, it's no wonder that skater run distributions like Girl and Deluxe continue to grow and grab market share.