Why did AGD get rid of the Emag?

[JimmyBeam]

my opinion......

i dont know Tom like the rest of you do, but my impression of him was that money was not the driving force for him making markers as much as it is for other companies. and so instead of the hassle of dealing with patent issues, he probably just didnt want the headaches. im sure im way off here, but thats just what i gathered from lurking here.

besides, he has many other interests besides paintball correct?

[WARPED1]

In 2 words.... Smart Parts


Longer explanation... Smart Parts started suing all these companies for infringing on a patent they "own" and it was in AGD's best intrest to stop making the emag.

But SP offered to any company making e guns to pay a lisencing fee to continue production. AGD and AKA decided not to pay. Now, the SP paten has been dismissed, appearently, WDP had prior art or some such.

[AGD]

Guys,

To set the record straight:

We were contacted by SP about potential violations under their previous patent on the shocker. This was not the patent they ended up sueing everyone on. This told us we were not immune in the long run.

We were told by high level individuals in the company that they didn't see anyone that they believed was not in violation of their patents.

We were never contacted about violations under the latest patent that everyone else was sued for but we figured we were on the list.

When it came time to think about revamping the emag there were several considerations:
The investment in a new design
Once we commited to a new design and the money, if we were sued it would mean we would have to commit to a license.
We didnt have the money to do both the license and the revamp.
The odds of coming up with a succesful product that could cover the costs of the development and the license were low.
Overall money risk against likelyhood of success we determined was not worth the risk reward ratio.

Thats why we didn't go on to make another Emag. RIP.

AGD

[Lohman446]

But SP offered to any company making e guns to pay a lisencing fee to continue production. AGD and AKA decided not to pay. Now, the SP paten has been dismissed, appearently, WDP had prior art or some such.

It was not dismissed, it was found that WDP and SP jointly hold rights to the patent - but it still exists and can be enforced against anyone else. It has to do with SPs purchase of PVI and Dr. Hinschels (sp) rights to it do to failure to sign a work product agreement wtih PVI that left part of the rights with him. Its a solution only lawyers could come up with because it confuses everyone else

[WARPED1]

Guys,

To set the record straight:

We were contacted by SP about potential violations under their previous patent on the shocker. This was not the patent they ended up sueing everyone on. This told us we were not immune in the long run.

We were told by high level individuals in the company that they didn't see anyone that they believed was not in violation of their patents.

We were never contacted about violations under the latest patent that everyone else was sued for but we figured we were on the list.

When it came time to think about revamping the emag there were several considerations:
The investment in a new design
Once we commited to a new design and the money, if we were sued it would mean we would have to commit to a license.
We didnt have the money to do both the license and the revamp.
The odds of coming up with a succesful product that could cover the costs of the development and the license were low.
Overall money risk against likelyhood of success we determined was not worth the risk reward ratio.

Thats why we didn't go on to make another Emag. RIP.

AGD

Thanks TK, that clears up alot. It's too bad you had to drop the Emag, good gun, except that fugly battery.

[Dayspring]

Actually, it was at the Texas Throwdown, not this past December, but the year prior. We were sitting at the restaraunt with the crew from PaintballMaXX.

So that predates the Emag/Xmag discontinuation.

I'll take Daysprings word for it that TK was served papers - perhaps after the discontinuation of the E/X mag. SP may have done this just to assure that a sold AGD would have an issue.

From that post it would to me be more of one of the Gardners mentioning to TK that they beleived that all E-markers violated there patent - and a casual comment like that as others are being sued, would have definite weight.

I think both Sam and Dayspring may be right here, and it may just be an issue of timing from when Dayspring talked to TK and when the E/X was discontinued

[AGD-OfficeGal]

They still sell emags..

ULE EMAG SALE!!
http://store.airgun.com/index.cfm?fu...&categoryID=86

Glad somebody noticed!

Marcia

[BD_Paintball]

they still have emags on the AGD site but look at the price tag, ouch

[JimmyBeam]

they still have emags on the AGD site but look at the price tag, ouch

yea 850. and not many will keep it stock, so......wow thats a hefty pricetag

[dahoeb]

eek. if it was in the 700's i'm sure it would sell much better.

[JimmyBeam]

eek. if it was in the 700's i'm sure it would sell much better.

or go the way of the Ion, sell the stock marker cheap, and make a killing off ups


/runs and hides

[dahoeb]

or go the way of the Ion, sell the stock marker cheap, and make a killing off ups


/runs and hides

hahahaha i don't think it should go quite THAT cheap.

[JimmyBeam]

hahahaha i don't think it should go quite THAT cheap.

im not saying 284, but quite a bit cheaper than 800.

[MadPSIence]

I'm gettin all emotional seein tom and marcia postin in a thread.

i miss the old AGD.

Tom, tell us again why crown tip barrels kick ***?

[Teamslayer76]

I'm gettin all emotional seein tom and marcia postin in a thread.

i miss the old AGD.

Tom, tell us again why crown tip barrels kick ***?

Yes, tell us the way of the crown! Again.

I'm thinking of the video, the repair one. I remember way way way back I saw that minimag at the end of the video. I thought man I really need to get me one of those! And talking about the compressed air tanks...Whoa WHOA Takes me back....