Ya know, I am about "over it".....

[DevilMan]

P.S. The asterisks were put there by a moderator

Actually they were put there by an automated swear filter that keeps it from showing the cuss words.

And a mod can temp/perm ban you for doing so. Even though it's "bleeped" out it still shows that you typed the cuss word in a sense.

Just tryin to keep ya here and not get the boot.

DM

[Lohman446]

It's not being stretched at all, pretty much any company that has an electronic marker pays royalties, and it's bogus because they don't deserve the patent.

The problem is what everyone, most of whom have VERY limited knowledge, states as so obviously "illegal" has been upheld repeatedly by the courts. There have been some modified agreements but it seems that the patents still stand. If it was as cut and dry as some people seem to think it is the issues would have been resolved by the courts differently.

[Beemer]

P.S. The asterisks were put there by a moderator

Umm NO us Mods do not do that. You are new here please read the rules.

Here...http://www.automags.org/forums/showthread.php?t=165017

[trippleRipple]

Umm NO us Mods do not do that. You are new here please read the rules.

Here...http://www.automags.org/forums/showthread.php?t=165017

Fair enough, corrected.

[Dirge]

It's because of problems like this that the USPTO now has a prior arts submission program, where you are able to look at patent applications, and submit what you believe is prior art for their scrutiny in deciding the validity of the patent. Some people on MCB actually talked to the primary person at the USPTO responsible for sporting goods patents, and he was supposedly rather thankful at being shown some of the resources that the nerds in the sport have compiled - because he frankly had no idea where to look for paintball prior art, and was surprised at the amount that was out there.

Did anything come of this?

[mostpeople]

Did anything come of this?

srsly.... did anything come of that?

[y0da900]

I haven't seen anything about it since shortly after they got in contact with the guy at the USPTO, so I don't think so in a direct sense. But like I mentioned, the new prior art submission acceptance has happened since then, so hopefully it can be prevented more in the future. Sadly, it isn't like we can talk to the guy and have him retract the patent having been awarded, no matter how convinced he may be that it was done in error. But the main individual responsible for reviewing paintball patents is now aware of some of the compiled and readily available information we have demonstrating prior art.

[cockerpunk]

I haven't seen anything about it since shortly after they got in contact with the guy at the USPTO, so I don't think so in a direct sense. But like I mentioned, the new prior art submission acceptance has happened since then, so hopefully it can be prevented more in the future. Sadly, it isn't like we can talk to the guy and have him retract the patent having been awarded, no matter how convinced he may be that it was done in error. But the main individual responsible for reviewing paintball patents is now aware of some of the compiled and readily available information we have demonstrating prior art.

well the patent genie is out of the bottle so to speak. now im doubting anyone can pull a fast one the way SP did with the shocker patent, but i guess that all depends on the USPO's dealings with the assumed proposal for renewing the shocker patent i think in 2010 ...

[y0da900]

well the patent genie is out of the bottle so to speak. now im doubting anyone can pull a fast one the way SP did with the shocker patent, but i guess that all depends on the USPO's dealings with the assumed proposal for renewing the shocker patent i think in 2010 ...

Any other time and patent, they would be able to just pay the maintenance fees on the patent, and it would stay valid. I'm interested to see how it will be handled since the new ruling that the addition of electronics or electronic controls to an otherwise unpatentable system is no longer grounds for a patent. Not that the Shocker itself wasn't patentable, but I wonder if the electronics crap and the way it is worded will prevent the maintenance, or if it is grandfathered in.

[malJohann]

I have a SP All American barrel and a SP Max-Flo Inline adjustable regulator on my Automag and think nothing of it. Yes, they killed some companies with their business practices, but that won't stop me from using some of their products.

For example, IMO the internal design of the Max-Flo Inline is ingenious, no expensive regulator seats to be found anywhere, just o-rings. That means I'll be able to rapid-fire my mag for longer than with other regulators, because I'll be able to service it in future.

I'll be damned if I get caught by SP with the same bag of tricks when I start my company though.

[mostpeople]

Mmmm new impulse... I <3 smart parts

[devildog]

I also love smart parts. Single handedly brought so many new people into the sport, makes playing fun again.

[Frizzle Fry]

AKA had options available to them that many companies chose and have benefited from it...

...what? Pay royalties for something they created to another company who didn't create it? Regardless of "benefits" that's just silly.

That said I use the SS Freak barrel system and it's worked wonders for me. They created that system and style and it works for me so I don't complain. I'm not opposed to SP products, just to the lies told by the owners and employees. Remember the big LUXXE scandal over on PbN? Or all the false claims about LP markers and range? Or patenting the gasthru grip when companies like Tippmann and the company that made the Badger did it and patented designs with it decades before?.

I won't bash SP products until I've tried them. Shockers have always handled well for me. Ions have always handled like crap and required too many upgrades and too much maintenance for me. That's opinion based on experience.

If there's a lot of people mad about SP about quality, honesty, legal issues and patents, then why shouldn't they have the right to complain?

[mostpeople]

I think AO should boycott SP completely, and make a campaign about it. It should start here.

[deathbypaint1213]

...what? Pay royalties for something they created to another company who didn't create it? Regardless of "benefits" that's just silly.

That said I use the SS Freak barrel system and it's worked wonders for me. They created that system and style and it works for me so I don't complain. I'm not opposed to SP products, just to the lies told by the owners and employees. Remember the big LUXXE scandal over on PbN? Or all the false claims about LP markers and range? Or patenting the gasthru grip when companies like Tippmann and the company that made the Badger did it and patented designs with it decades before?.

I won't bash SP products until I've tried them. Shockers have always handled well for me. Ions have always handled like crap and required too many upgrades and too much maintenance for me. That's opinion based on experience.

If there's a lot of people mad about SP about quality, honesty, legal issues and patents, then why shouldn't they have the right to complain?

I agree, most of the people on PBN that bash smart parts probably did not even purchase single product from them. I use a freak barrel on my autococker pump, and it is a phenomenal barrel system - especially useful for preventing roll-outs. You barely see shockers at fields these days because of all of the ego and dye matrix hypes. I have heard people say shockers suck, but guns mainly "suck" because of user error/neglect.