Sanchez Machine Taken Out By Smart Parts

[lord1234]

Sanchez Machine has recieved a C+d order from smart parts for infringement....and guess what its infringing on...the fact that SM barrels have "windows" which i guess is a SP patented design

Sux to have a great barrel manufacturer get taken out by these losers!

[Xyxyll]

::Gardner brothers throwing darts at a dart board:: "I'm bored. Hmm, lets knock somebody out of business. Hey! Here's a splendid idea? These guys' barrels have windows. We'd better stop them."

[WARPED1]

Never heard of them.

[lord1234]

they are a barrel manufacturer(relatively small) who are based in SoCal

www.sm1paintballbarrel.com

PS i am also a dealer of them.

[Fixion]

Sanchez Machine should just call it a large porting hole :D. Whats SP gonna do next, patent the paintball barrel or port holes :mad:.

[Miscue]

Sanchez Machine should just call it a large porting hole :D. Whats SP gonna do next, patent the paintball barrel or port holes :mad:.

Your barrel has a hole at both ends! We're gonna get you now!!!

[Duck Hunt]

Thats the stupidest thing I've ever heard...

Sean

[1stdeadeye]

Didn't they use the same argument against the original Powerlyte scepter and force the redesign of that as well?

[DK1]

so just quit milling the hole in the side...

DK1

[pjammaman]

i am starting to wonder if the gardner brothers used to play a lot of the game monopoly when they were younger and got obsessive :confused: I mean this is starting to get stupid, next they will be going after anyone who makes anything that uses any type of propellent ( got a patent on gasses) :eek:

[BobTheCow]

i am starting to wonder if the gardner brothers used to play a lot of the game monopoly when they were younger and got obsessive :confused: I mean this is starting to get stupid, next they will be going after anyone who makes anything that uses any type of propellent ( got a patent on gasses) :eek:Bring on the blowguns, baby. :D

[electriceel125]

DK1 looks like theyre doing something like that. On their site they say there will be a substitue out soon. I think they will just change the hole in the side.

[thecavemankevin]

Didn't they use the same argument against the original Powerlyte scepter and force the redesign of that as well?


thats exactly right. The orginal scepters had a "window" that allowed you to see what insert was installed at that time....like the freak kit. But SP served them with a C&D order and they had to redesing them to their current "window-less" form. So it is not like sanchez can't keep making barrels, they just have to do a little less milling/drilling.

[Head knight of Ni]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! :mad:

Mobilize the resistance force Viva le AO Army!

Whats next custom 'Mags that newbs confuse for 03 shockers. Wouldn't surprise me.

Sanchez Machine should just mill the window into a different shape and let SP b**** about it. :D

[jdaniels]

Can SM just sell their barrells with out the windows and then have the owner send it back to them had modify the barrell to put windows in it. They could call it custom milling or something like that. Just a thought.

[Fred]

Sanchez Machine also manufactures the Kaner kit for WGP...

Big deal, its a frickin window. yes, its dumb for SP to get their panties up in a bunch over it, but their day will come... K2 is now looming on the horizon...

---Fred

[deathstalker]

Sanchez Machine should just call it a large porting hole :D. Whats SP gonna do next, patent the paintball barrel or port holes :mad:.
I believe they do hold a patent for certain porting designs (spiral?).

[Ov3rmind]

This is just flat out retarded.

[the_next_guy_]

K2 is now looming on the horizon...

Help us K2, you are our only hope...

[gc82000]

I wonder when the order was received, for i have been looking to buy a SM barrel system for nearly two months and cannot find a place that sells any. And it is truely sad for they make some of the best barrels on the market from what I read of. :(
Down With SP :mad:

[SpecialBlend2786]

This is getting rediculous.

[acropilot19]

(In my best Ross Geller voice)
Just for that, I'm gonna order a brand new set of SM Barrels & go out of my way NOT to buy any Smart Parts Crap...ANYMORE, EVER!!!!!
***Stomps off in a Hissy fit***
:(
But seriously though, how did these other businesses let these Wonks get away with filing patents on everything under the sun?

You guys ever hear of Microsoft? They did the same thing to Apple & IBM. Do you think Microsoft invented the "Windows" software concept? Nope- they just laid claim to the idea before anyone else was smart enough to.

S'why Mr Gates is got all that free cash lyin around. I'm thinkin those SP Dudes got the same visions in mind- Hmmmmm?

[Konigballer]

Damn SP :mad:...I'm never buying anything from them again, well, after I buy a sweet Max Flo that is... :p

[Brett23]

It's not like they havent sued someone for patent infringment on barrels before. Anyone remember the Boa barrel. Yep, that guy was sued by SP because his barrels porting matched SP's to much (over simplification of the story). So basically thay do have a patent on porting :mad:

[coolcatpete]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! :mad:

Mobilize the resistance force Viva le AO Army!

Whats next custom 'Mags that newbs confuse for 03 shockers. Wouldn't surprise me.

Sanchez Machine should just mill the window into a different shape and let SP b**** about it. :D
Actually my dumb friend was telling me his mag looked like a shocker. I was about to pimp slap him.
Pete

[Gabriel]

Help us K2, you are our only hope...

Yeah, so then we can switch one juggernaut company for another one... like when east germany switched from Hitler to Stalin. Did alot of good here...

Gabriel

[TheTramp]

Looks like I'll have to grab a "large" set of backs for my kit before they're gone! :(

[Buff]

You guys ever hear of Microsoft? They did the same thing to Apple & IBM. Do you think Microsoft invented the "Windows" software concept? Nope- they just laid claim to the idea before anyone else was smart enough to.

honestly, I think microsoft was just doing good business. They killed netscape, wow.......its not like netscape was anygood.........apple isn't real big on my list either......neither is IBM......

o, and SP is just being stupid now.

[cphilip]

Didn't they use the same argument against the original Powerlyte scepter and force the redesign of that as well?

That is correct. They were stopped from showing the insert through a window as well.

[~WarpedRT#2~]

honestly, I think microsoft was just doing good business. They killed netscape, wow.......its not like netscape was anygood.........apple isn't real big on my list either......neither is IBM......

o, and SP is just being stupid now.


I just cant believe that Apple didnt patent the mouse. They would have had a gold mine in royalties ready for them around every turn if they had. Thats stupid.

[Lohman446]

Sanchez Machine should just call it a large porting hole :D. Whats SP gonna do next, patent the paintball barrel or port holes :mad:.

Knowing SP the answer is yes.. they have probably read this and revised an old patent to do just that.

[hunter100]

You guys should calm down a little. SP actually has a valid patent on their freak design, which includes the window to view the insert size. As far as I know, they have had this patent since the barrel was introduced. Any company should be aware of previous patents and I believe it is Sanchez Machine's fault for violating SP's patent. SP is simply acting in their best interests. While some of the prior actions of SP are a little on the shady side, this new act is perfectly legit in my book. Everyone is so eager to jump on the band wagon these days, and even the title of this thread suggests this(you should be able to see why the title is purposefullly misleading). People need to remember that the goal of any company, even AGD, is to make profits.

[SlartyBartFast]

I just cant believe that Apple didnt patent the mouse. They would have had a gold mine in royalties ready for them around every turn if they had. Thats stupid.

Apple tried suing Microsoft over the "look and feel" of windows. It looked like they were going to win and they dropped the whole thing.

Know why?

Apple stole EVERY IDEA from Xerox.

Somebody smart realised if Apple proved their case in court, Xerox could use that very decision against Apple and sue them for everything they were worth. :p

Now for really interesting legal action, check out the fight between Apple Computer (makers of the Mac) and Apple Corp (the Beatles record company).

[shivors]

SP just sux wankers. LONG LIVE KINGMAN!

[spantol]

If by "stole" you mean "purchased," you're spot on. Apple exchanged a good chunk of stock for the chance to raid PARC. Xerox's top brass had no interest in developing that technology.

Here's a another account of how things went down:

http://www.mackido.com/Interface/ui_history.html



Apple stole EVERY IDEA from Xerox.

[Plazmic]

If by "stole" you mean "purchased," you're spot on. Apple exchanged a good chunk of stock for the chance to raid PARC. Xerox's top brass had no interest in developing that technology.

Here's a another account of how things went down:

http://www.mackido.com/Interface/ui_history.html

AH ha ha ha!

Man! If you have ever heard someone use the term "revisionist history" and didn't know what they were talking about, THIS is it! Holy Crap!

[dansim]

Didn't they use the same argument against the original Powerlyte scepter and force the redesign of that as well?


so thats why my first edition scepter had the hole and my new one doesnt, those bastards

[dansim]

You guys should calm down a little. SP actually has a valid patent on their freak design, which includes the window to view the insert size. As far as I know, they have had this patent since the barrel was introduced. Any company should be aware of previous patents and I believe it is Sanchez Machine's fault for violating SP's patent. SP is simply acting in their best interests. While some of the prior actions of SP are a little on the shady side, this new act is perfectly legit in my book. Everyone is so eager to jump on the band wagon these days, and even the title of this thread suggests this(you should be able to see why the title is purposefullly misleading). People need to remember that the goal of any company, even AGD, is to make profits.

back under the rock, until someone asks you

[BunkerRat]

I will never buy another SP's product.To me they are hurting the sport to make a buck and Im sure they arent hurting for money.So all of you who still buy SP products are knocking a little chunck of AGD and paintball out when you do hehe.I mean honesly what more could you want in a marker that AGD dosent offer.The owner of the company acually comes to the forums and looks at the like and dislikes and tries to make a product the way we want it.He acually values what the customer wants not just to make the dollar and then see yah later you bought it.OK sorry Ill get off my soap box.Tom Kaye is Elvis brought back but now hes the king of paintball hehe

[spantol]

It's definitely a pro-Apple account. If that's too biased for you, I'd invite you to spend some time researching the facts on your own. The deal reduces to two key points:

- Xerox had a bunch of IP that they weren't going to market
- Apple traded a buttload of stock for that IP



AH ha ha ha!

Man! If you have ever heard someone use the term "revisionist history" and didn't know what they were talking about, THIS is it! Holy Crap!

[Lohman446]

I am so sick of "its just business" lets not respond attitude.

Certain things that would have hurt this sport, its advancement, its safety were never done (patenting of HPA tanks as an air source, the PIN valve, etc.). SP has the audacity to come into this sport riding the coattails of other manufactures with barrels made for their guns and upgrades for their guns. At the same time their own guns have a "proprietry" design for their barrel threading that is protected (not sure on this, correct me if Im wrong, but I doubt it). Even if I am wrong, now they use basic technology, tack onto it, make upgrades and allow others to to the point the electronics are part of the game, then they patent it.

Screw SP, I don't care about busines, I dont care if it was legally right, it was a detriment to this sport... it went against what many of the founders of this sport did.

Now you want to express your outrage - I'm done with SP products - none on the field, none in my hands. I will not have any of the newer players look at me, see me using anything SP, and want it. I don't care about quality (lacking) - SP is not the company I want to see leading paintball into the future.. I'd sooner run behind BE... with the aquisition of WGP (by K2) this is not that bad of an idea.

[Gabriel]

I am so sick of "its just business" lets not respond attitude.


what the hell

As much as I am against the 'electro-pnuematic' patent, this last action is legit. A little hissy-fit, but legit.

[Lohman446]

what the hell

As much as I am against the 'electro-pnuematic' patent, this last action is legit. A little hissy-fit, but legit.

No offense meant here but
Thats the attitude that bugs me - I'm not a lawyer, I'm not going to judge if they were legally in the right or not. I simply don't care if it was legal or not. What they are doing is not right for the industry the are in. This single action - probably no big deal. But the whole SP "attitude" annoys me. This action alone - well frankly who cares if I can see the insert or not, its not a big deal, its just another action of SP flexing its corporate muscle that annoys me.

[tjmpaintball06]

guess what, everyone is out to make money. Smart Parts is just doing that, making money. They dont care how many people they have to crush before they become leaders of the industry. It is totally legitimate. Capitalism is based on monopolies and making money. Communists are all for the community and furthuring the industry. YOU ARENT A COMMUNIST ARE YOU?? :p j/k Smart Parts is totally legit. They are just doing what they have the power to do.

[robdamanii]

guess what, everyone is out to make money. Smart Parts is just doing that, making money. They dont care how many people they have to crush before they become leaders of the industry. It is totally legitimate. Capitalism is based on monopolies and making money. Communists are all for the community and furthuring the industry. YOU ARENT A COMMUNIST ARE YOU?? :p j/k Smart Parts is totally legit. They are just doing what they have the power to do.

Capitalism is based upon COMPETITION, not MONOPOLIES! That's why Roosevelt created the anti-trust organizations he did. Railroads were monopolies, defeating the true competitive spirit of capitalism, therefore they were split up in anti-trust litigation. Monopolies are inherently the worst thing for a capitalist market, because once every industry becomes a monopoly, we become a socialist society.

SP is a bunch of pains in the asses. I still like their barrel, but hell, I'm not going to buy any of their markers. Their business ethics are about as good as the ethics of a two dollar vietnamese hooker with the clap; anything for a few bucks.

If SP wants to make money, build a marker that doesn't suck and stop suing everyone in the damn industry. Or just go after BE/WGP/K2 and get your *** handed to you in court.

It figures, you put a patent attorney at the head of a company and they think they are god or something...

[GA Devil]

What I found interesting is that the were reviewed on Warpig right before this hit.

[logamus]

so has everyone ripped their intel chips out of their computer and refuse to buy intel stuff? remember the c& agd got about the lvl 10 sticker? a patent/copyright you dont enforce is worthless. sanchez machine is the guilty party here. they should have known that the window was sp's property and should not have made it. if they didnt know, its their own fault for not looking into it.

this is just another excuse for the sp haters to hate some more. if you step back for a second you will reaize that sm was pretty dumb to do this in the first place. besides, i dont think preventing others from making barrels with windows cut out will set the sport back or prevent others from being creative.

[arsonpaintball06]

y cant any1 get SP for trying to monopolize the market? they are gettin pretty damn close IMO......granted there are still alot of other guns and stuff......but if they keep this up, who knows

[logamus]

sp is a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way from being a monopoly.

[Plazmic]

What has Intel got do with this? They are not sueing AMD for copying their design or anything.... What is your point there.

Yes, Sanchez Machine is at fault for not being aware of the patent on the "window." You'll notice that as soon as they received a C&D from SP that they stopped producing the windowed barrels and are in the midst of a redesign to correct it.

What you need to see with SP is the larger picture. They are sueing everyone in the industry that has a design even a little bit close to theirs. SM's window didn't look anything like the one on the Freak, but they didn't take it to court they just let it go. What we have here in SP is a bully trying to push around the smaller kids.

[The Deacon]

This cease and desist on a barrel window is no big deal. Why? It's a FRIGGIN' WINDOW. How many times have you stopped in a game and said, "Whoa, what size of insert do I got in there?" :rolleyes: A stupid barrel window isn't going to hold the industry down. They haven't sued anyone over it, just cease and desists. DYE issued them for Matrix parts, and there's no massive amounts of DYE hate threads or people burning DYE clothing (because you paid 100+ bucks for pants, you psycho! :p :D).

What IS holding the industry is their other patent which violates every code of business ethics imaginable. Then again, not a lot of companies have ethics, which is what made the paintball industry so awesome. Gone are those glorious days, I guess.

[Plazmic]

Well, that is exactly why people are so upset! The things SP does violates most of our beliefs in ethics and distrubs the image we have of our sport. We like to work together! We congratulate the other player for a nice shot when we get tagged by a nice shot. We don't like people who taunt on the field and we don't like companies that act unethically. There is a big gap between what it legal and what is ethical.

[billmi]

They haven't sued anyone over it, just cease and desists. DYE issued them for Matrix parts, and there's no massive amounts of DYE hate threads or people burning DYE clothing (because you paid 100+ bucks for pants, you psycho! :p :D).

What IS holding the industry is their other patent which violates every code of business ethics imaginable. Then again, not a lot of companies have ethics, which is what made the paintball industry so awesome. Gone are those glorious days, I guess.


But it's not hip to complain about and threaten to boycot other companies. C'mon get with the program, all the cool kids are doing it.


Really....

If all the companies that have either charged another company a royalty, stopped or attempted to stop another company from making a product based on intelectual property rights, were boycotted, who would you buy from? The companies that get listed as having patents but not enforcing them have all used intellectual property to either stop competing products from entering the market, or to draw royalties from them.

[The Deacon]

I'm all for enforcing patents, just not extending them.

I was simply using the DYE analogy to show that C&D on Matrix parts won't repress the community and same with this window thing.

[logamus]

What has Intel got do with this? They are not sueing AMD for copying their design or anything.... What is your point there.


my point was that agd once made a level 10 sticker that was a rip of the "intel inside" logo. intel sent agd a c&d to agd but ao didnt form a posse to go after intel.

i dont like what sp has done with the electro patent, but these days all someone has to do is imply the words "smart parts" and you get two and a half pages of why smart parts is the devil.

[FigMenT]

couldnt agd sue SP cuz the new shockers bolt system is basically like the lvl10; i dunno just trying to find little things here and there to go back and bite SP in the ***.

[The Deacon]

couldnt agd sue SP cuz the new shockers bolt system is basically like the lvl10; i dunno just trying to find little things here and there to go back and bite SP in the ***.

Yeah... no. It's a spool valve, WHOLE different thing. The only way it's like a mag is that it's a single tube design.

[Plazmic]

Ah, I didn't konw about that Level 10 sticker. Well, if they knew they were borrowing the Intel Inside idea and just doing a parody, then they were probably not surprised by the C&D. If the rip was obvious then of course AO didn't get all up in arms. The thing with SP is that they patented a design that was already in existence and now want to make other people pay for it. Their idea is that NOBODY can make ANY kind of electro marker without their okay. It's not something like copying their design for an electro trigger, it's the use of an electronic trigger, whether it resembles their own or not, that they want to own. So if you were to design a completely new gun that worked in a whole new way, but used an electronic device to fire the ball, they would say they own your idea and sue you for the rights to it.

[hunter100]

Nobody will dispute the fact that smart parts took advantage of the patent system for the solenoid thing, but this thread is about their barrel system patent. I think it is important to keep this thread on the topic at hand, and not on smart parts' previouse patent litigation, which has nothing to do with this new cease and desist order.

[Deep Sixx]

- Xerox had a bunch of IP that they weren't going to market
- Apple traded a buttload of stock for that IP

If I remember correctly, Xerox didn't believe what they had would be profitable. LOL! Nobody would ever use a mouse or need a GUI!

sixx

[Deep Sixx]

Yeah... no. It's a spool valve, WHOLE different thing. The only way it's like a mag is that it's a single tube design.

Yeah, internally it's a Matrix!

sixx

[logamus]

Ah, I didn't konw about that Level 10 sticker. Well, if they knew they were borrowing the Intel Inside idea and just doing a parody, then they were probably not surprised by the C&D. If the rip was obvious then of course AO didn't get all up in arms.
exactly, it is that point that makes this thread seem like a major overraction. sm knew (or should have) that their "window" would violate the patent sp had on their freak. why are people up in arms about this, because hating on sp is the in thing.



The thing with SP is that they patented a design that was already in existence and now want to make other people pay for it. Their idea is that NOBODY can make ANY kind of electro marker without their okay. It's not something like copying their design for an electro trigger, it's the use of an electronic trigger, whether it resembles their own or not, that they want to own. So if you were to design a completely new gun that worked in a whole new way, but used an electronic device to fire the ball, they would say they own your idea and sue you for the rights to it.
you see, this proves my point about hating on sp. this thread is about the c&d to sm and you bring up the elecrto patent. everyone who hates sp always come back to the electro patent, regardless of what the topic at hand is.

[RetroEclipseMan]

We've all hear and said that what SP is doing with their electronics patent is wrong and hurting the industry,and how we should boycott them blah,blah,blah. I think it's just the fact that it's on such a big scale that it's getting all this attention. Legally they're just protecting a patent just like any company and I'm sure this isn't the first time a paintball company has gone after another one.

Most may not know this if you don't live in the NW and I still haven't been able to get all the detail outta Ron but a few years ago AKA went after one of our local Shops (Splatt Attack) for design infringement over the Revenge Cockers they were producing.Keep in mind AKA was still relatively small then. Like I said I'm not totally positives on the details since it was kept on the DL so to not hurt either side but I think it over the inline ram design or something that Splatt Attack was using. And then I didn't see people saying they weren't gonna ever buy AKA products again just because they sueing another company. Heck Splatt Attack is now a big endorcer of AKA and all their sponsored teams shoot Vikings. The big deal these days is everyone just getting all pissy over a "Mr. Corporate" going after the little guy.Ethically or not, from what I've read it still seems legal and until BE or K2 decides to put out the cash to actually fight it I don't see anything changing. I don't notice any fewer people playing because of this and I doubt it's going to stop people from buying products.

Honestly even if electros were totally eliminated because of this whole ordeal I still think the sport would grow since in my opinion people don't just play because they like shooting a fast gun but because they have fun playing the sport.

Sorry for the rant but my point was that SP is not the first paintball company to try and protect their patents.

[Slimm Jimm]

Could they mill a slot into the barrel, and color the sleeves by bore, and then the sleeves would slide in, would always sit in the barrel the exact same way, and make sure that the piece of the sleeve that was in the slot would be visible to the eye.

[FigMenT]

oo yea forgot that sp used a spool valve so they copied off the matrix instead. :D

[robdamanii]

my point was that agd once made a level 10 sticker that was a rip of the "intel inside" logo. intel sent agd a c&d to agd but ao didnt form a posse to go after intel.

i dont like what sp has done with the electro patent, but these days all someone has to do is imply the words "smart parts" and you get two and a half pages of why smart parts is the devil.

If they've made any bad bsiness decisions (electro patent) people will use any chance they can to extend that "evil reputation". That patent has characterized SP as being greedy a**holes, so anytime their name touches the news, nazi will be written all over it.

[billmi]

a few years ago AKA went after one of our local Shops (Splatt Attack) for design infringement over the Revenge Cockers they were producing.Keep in mind AKA was still relatively small then. Like I said I'm not totally positives on the details since it was kept on the DL so to not hurt either side but I think it over the inline ram design or something that Splatt Attack was using.

In short the case was not between AKA and Splatt Attack. They were both defendants in the same case.

In long.... AKA was the first major company to start building Autococker compatible bodies without permission of Worr Game Products. Splatt Attack was one of their customers, and Splatt Attack used the bodies to build the Revenge paintguns. Worr Game Products filed suit against both AKA and Splatt Attack. Since the Autococker wasn't patented, they filed claiming trade dress infringement (i.e. it looked and operated so much like an Autococker that paintball players seeing them usually thought they were Autocockers.) After back and forth between both parties, the judge agreed with AKA/Splatt's motion that the case was filed in the wrong jurisdiction and threw the case out, so the case was never tested on its actual merits. WGP chose not to pursue the case further, saying it had become too cost prohibitive. In the years since, a number of other companies have produced unauthorized 'cocker clones, once the road had been paved.

[Plazmic]

Nobody will dispute the fact that smart parts took advantage of the patent system for the solenoid thing, but this thread is about their barrel system patent. I think it is important to keep this thread on the topic at hand, and not on smart parts' previouse patent litigation, which has nothing to do with this new cease and desist order.

Yes, well, in that case, they are certainly within their rights.

DOWN WITH THE MAN!!! :rolleyes:

[spasticsquirrel]

Jeeze, Sp is B****ing over a stupid window. Its not the fact the sanchez was taken out, to me its the deal that sp is making such a big deal over a little thing.

[tony3]

Wow, who cares, you people just hate SP because the person above you hates them. Who really cares if they are making them take the window out? They had it in and SP had it patented, SP wins and SM doesn't. Not a big deal AT all.

[ProX9]

Wow, who cares, you people just hate SP because the person above you hates them. Who really cares if they are making them take the window out? They had it in and SP had it patented, SP wins and SM doesn't. Not a big deal AT all.

I don't hate SP because the person above, I formed the thought all by myself. Dont go around saying everyone hates sp because its the thing to do. The stupid thing about this is a window offers no performance advantage at all and sanchez machine certainly didnt advertise it as a huge selling point, yet smart parts goes after it anyway. If they truly had the first insert view window and patented it then sure, they have every right to go after them. It does infact make the freak barrel fit its name better, "Completely ****ty, with ****ty features like no other, freak barrels."

[RetroEclipseMan]

In short the case was not between AKA and Splatt Attack. They were both defendants in the same case.

In long.... AKA was the first major company to start building Autococker compatible bodies without permission of Worr Game Products. Splatt Attack was one of their customers, and Splatt Attack used the bodies to build the Revenge paintguns. Worr Game Products filed suit against both AKA and Splatt Attack. Since the Autococker wasn't patented, they filed claiming trade dress infringement (i.e. it looked and operated so much like an Autococker that paintball players seeing them usually thought they were Autocockers.) After back and forth between both parties, the judge agreed with AKA/Splatt's motion that the case was filed in the wrong jurisdiction and threw the case out, so the case was never tested on its actual merits. WGP chose not to pursue the case further, saying it had become too cost prohibitive. In the years since, a number of other companies have produced unauthorized 'cocker clones, once the road had been paved.

Ah, thanks for the clarification Bill.