So I kinda get whats goin on...

[mostpeople]

Regarding E-mags/X-mags but can someone spell it out plainly for me? Why arent they being produced anymore?

[neppo1345]

Regarding E-mags/X-mags but can someone spell it out plainly for me? Why arent they being produced anymore?

Long story short:

Smart Parts began sending C&D letters to other gun manufacturers producing electronically operated guns. Giving them three basic options: 1. Stop making your guns. 2. Keep making guns and pay us loyalties. or 3. Keep making guns, we sue you.

Tom saw what was happeneing and decided to halt production.

To my knowledge AGD was never given a formal C&D letter.

/in b4 "thats wrong"

[Rudz]

Long story short:

Smart Parts began sending C&D letters to other gun manufacturers producing electronically operated guns. Giving them three basic options: 1. Stop making your guns. 2. Keep making guns and pay us loyalties. or 3. Keep making guns, we sue you.

Tom saw what was happeneing and decided to halt production.

To my knowledge AGD was never given a formal C&D letter.

/in b4 "thats wrong"

I think he did get the letter, everyone did

[Papa_Smurf]

there is a little blurp on it on xmagworld.

[mostpeople]

Since the e-mag is so different that pneumatic solenoid operation most markers use how could they C&D AGD?

[angrysasquatch]

The patent was on any painball gun that used an electronic switch to fire the gun.

[craltal]

2. Keep making guns and pay us loyalties.

I think you mean "royalties", but I'm just being picky...

I believe the decision was made with the added fact that the profit margin wasn't very high on them to begin with so discontinuing wasn't seen as a major financial blow.

[mostpeople]

Interesting..

How did SP get a patent on something that they didnt invent? Or did they?

[McMahon]

I dont think it actually matters if they have the patent or not, all that really counts is that by threatening a lawsuit they may be able to make a few companies leave the market, and less competition is always a good thing, at least for the companies trying to make money.

[mostpeople]

So this all begs the question..

Would it be possible to (like what Rogue did for sluggos) to do a limited run of brand new X-mags?


or is that a pipe dream?

[craltal]

the patent issue is for the electronics not the bodies.

[Mechanic79]

ideals

this suggests, "Majority rules, but the majority is usually not right!"

Who first invented "eating"?

[SR_matt]

the patent was for a paintball marker that the cycle was started by an electronic tripping means.

you dont have to be the first to invent it you jstu have to be the first to patent it, but if you can prove proof of concept before the person with the paten's proof of concept you can at least contest it well. hence one of the reasons the SP stuff has gotten mostly over ruled (a long with, IIRC, the fact it was to broad of a concept and that the original proof of concept was split between 3 individuals/companies at the time of the court cases)

-matt

[custar]

Sorry Matt, but SP hasn't lost a case yet on the merits of the electro patents. Then again, the only case that went to a judicial decision was between SP and WDP over ownership of the patent, not the validity. SP lost, so WDP has partial ownership of the blasted patent. No other company has taken the SP electro patent dispute all the way to a decision on the merits. I hoped KEE would in the last such lawsuit filed by SP, but KEE and SP reached an agreement to resolve their fight. Reading between the lines, it looks like KEE received enough concessions from SP to make it unattractive to incur the costs of to-the-bitter-end litigation.

custar

[SR_matt]

im pretty sure that because of the fact that wdp had partial ownership all the C+D orders were voided since both parties would have to agree to want it, or at least at this point they have to both agree to it. i remember a big thing about the ordres being null and void but it was a while ago

-matt