What is wrong with SP?

[MaGSkEr]

I haven't really been paying much attention to paintball recently, however after browsing the boards over the last few days I've noticed strong hatred expressed towards SP. What happened? I always liked them.

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

sp is patenting electronic markers.

[sneakyhacker420]

absolutely nothing, they have yet to take action on anything besides threatening to TAKE action


my impy will still pwn j00!

[MaGSkEr]

Wow that is low. One thing I've noticed about this industry, or am just ignorant to the logistics, is how laid back it is as far as modeling goes. When a marker comes out, all these after market companies jump all of its interchangable parts. It makes things interesting. But yea that is low, where can I read up on it?

[WARPED1]

"What is wrong with SP?"
Nothing.

[Grasshopper]

Try searching. I know theres at least a couple hundred topics on it.

[Xyxyll]

Originally posted by sneakyhacker420
absolutely nothing, they have yet to take action on anything besides threatening to TAKE action


my impy will still pwn j00!

Taking legal action is more than absolutely nothing.

[FutureMagOwner]

ive dislike smart parts for a while so coming to the conclusion that they are jerks based on this lawsuit business wasnt a stretch for me.

i basically dislike them for their products mostly but i also dislike the gardners as people in general from the attitudes ive seen from them and the actions they take.

[E-mag-uy]

Originally posted by WARPED1
"What is wrong with SP?"
Nothing.

What is wrong with SP? um lets c they are robbing alll electro gun comnies, they sued icd and are suing suing angel, yep nothiing is right....

[Branchvillian]

The reason most people hate them is because other people they see hate them. Half the kids never bought SP stuff to begin with, so I'm not quite sure what there boycotting. As far as suits go, I have heard nothing, but hearsay about them actually bringing suit apon these companies. Don't bielieve everything you hear guys.

[spantol]

The search button is your best bet to get an in-depth answer, but here's the gist of it:

Back in '96, Smart Parts filed for and received several patents that covered the operating principles of their Shocker. Since then, as you're no doubt aware, tons of other markers have come out that use some sort of electronically-controlled firing process. This year, Smart Parts was able to file an "extension" to one of those '96 patents, essentially rewording it to cover the very idea of an electronically-controlled firing process. With that new and improved patent, they sued ICD for violating their newly-granted IP. The merit of the extended patent is questionable, and there's little reason to believe that SP will stop at ICD.

In short, they played fast and loose with the US patent process, and are in the process of screwing over more ethical manufacturers.

[WARPED1]

For gods sake, it hasn't done a thing to any company. ICD settled out of court, because by the letter of the law SP was in the right. This has not increased the price of ICD's guns, and it won't to WDP either.
And this boycott the AO zombies are doing will do nothing. Fine, you don't buy SP stuff, but for those that want a sweet new BKO, that puts money in SP's pocket.

[spantol]

Honestly, Warped1, is your last name Gardner? Every time this issue comes up, you act personally offended that anyone would dare question SP's actions. In that light, your references to the "AO zombies" have a distinct pot-kettle-black thing going for them.

Further, I can't fathom the logic behind you claim that this process hasn't harmed the target companies. I work for one of the largest law firms in the world, for the best IP practice out there. I know what a good IP attorney costs. SP's actions are forcing their prey to make very difficult decisions.

[WARPED1]

Please list to me how this SP business has affected you, like everyone seems to think it has...........

[spantol]

That's not the issue we were discussing, Warped. That type of misdirection might fly at PBNation, but you're in "AO Zombie" country now. You claimed SP's actions weren't harming any company. Are you retracting that claim?

As to how it's affected me personally, it has convinced me that Smart Parts products are not worth my money. I try to be an informed consumer, and I do not wish to hand my hard-earned money over to any entity whose actions I do not condone.

Further, I see no evidence that anyone is claiming that SP has harmed them personally. Most are claiming that SP is is harming the industry and the sport, or the institution of the sport, through unethical business practices. The consumer impact is a second-order effect of this, and its impact remains to be seen.

Originally posted by WARPED1
Please list to me how this SP business has affected you, like everyone seems to think it has...........