The whole smart parts thing...

[ottomobile]

The problem is point of view. Smart Parts changed. When they started paintball was in its infancy. Every shared technology with everyone else because it was good for the sport and everyone was in it for the love of paintball (and no one had the money for lawyers). Since then it has become a lucrative industry. SP emerged as a heavy hitter. They now have money and fame. They belive that should give them power over the shape of the industry. They and other large companies stopped letting things slide and have become more protective of their technology. More money is at stake. They got greedy and rightly or wrongly, took legal action to protect their investment. Like its been stated, it was a good business move. At least in the short term. The problem is that SP is betting on only one future of pb. Their future is one where PB is the largest extreme sport and XBall is its crown jewel. This, however may not be the case. Paintball has slowed in growth this past year and according several columnisits in FullFace the business side is on a precipice. The market for high end markers is at a saturation point. There hasn't been a new paradigm in 3 years. The XLeague is failing and the NPPL and PSP are talking merger becasause participation is down. Basically paintball is heading into a recession. If SP isn't carefull they will be a victim of their own success. Trying to grow too quickly it a market that can't sustain them. For most people paintball is still a couple times a year thing. They own cheap markers and don't know the difference from an ION to Model 98 and aren't about to drop $300+ on marker or tank.

Smart Parts is an aggresively ambitious company trying to carve an empire out of a sport dominated by garage machine shops and weekend warriors. Maybe they'll win, maybe they won't. But ultimatly it hinges on us and what we end up spending our paychecks on.

[Lohman446]

I think that when you start crossing boundries into differeent aspects of IP, things start to get muddy pretty quickly. Toss Trademark in there too. Using the same logic anyone who has a "Level 10 Inside" sticker must not care about IP as well.

The Copyright side of IP, and how it relates to normal consumers is a big complex issue. Patent law is also a big complex issue. Neither one can be simply summed up as Pro-IP or Con-IP.

Perfect example, and when the holders of that IP expressed there concern wtih those level ten stickers TK asked that there use be discontinued :) Though I agree, this situation is likely far far more complex than you, I, or anyone else summing it up so simply on these boards are going to bother to understand.

[garto]

Alright I'm doing a project on paintball and I was wondering if there is any more information about the smart parts thing out there? I have found most other aspects of paintball I need but this was/is a major controversy still so I need to find out as much as possible and I need the sources to back it up. Any and all info is appreciated.

-Chris

P.S. Are any paintball companies publically traded? Are there any numbers for profits/expenses from companies, I know they are annual reports and things for companies that are publically traded which would yield the information I need but I have no idea where to get them.

[Lohman446]

Alright I'm doing a project on paintball and I was wondering if there is any more information about the smart parts thing out there? I have found most other aspects of paintball I need but this was/is a major controversy still so I need to find out as much as possible and I need the sources to back it up. Any and all info is appreciated.

-Chris

P.S. Are any paintball companies publically traded? Are there any numbers for profits/expenses from companies, I know they are annual reports and things for companies that are publically traded which would yield the information I need but I have no idea where to get them.

K2 purchased WGP over a year go, there should be some numbers there. If I recall Summit? purchased Tippman and there should be some numbers there. Granted these are both large companies and you may have some trouble ferretting the info out of the annual reports

[doc_Zox]

interesting market analysis:

http://www.wooster.edu/magazine/spring2005/paintball.php

>

Features : E-Money's Show
E-Money Action Sports Show: April 17, 2005
Evan and Chris talk about Avalanche, the Dye/Smartparts lawsuit, and interview former NPPL head ref Phil Dominguez and our very own Dale Ford.
Apr 17, 2005, 20:08

http://www.iisports.com/page.asp?content_id=7433

>>>>

AKALMP, INC.
PO BOX 441167
INDIANAPOLIS IN 46244-1167
PH: 317-631-7200 FAX: 317-631-0325

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greetings from AKA-low pressure experts. We want to wish all of our paintball family
and the paintball community a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We look forward to meeting each and every one of you this coming year.

This is new news but probably not unexpected. Smart Parts has filed a patent
infringement lawsuit against AKA relating to electronic control of paintball guns.

AKA believes that Smart Parts claims have no merit and intends to vigorously defend itself.
Best wishes for the new year.
Aaron, Larry, & Eileen
12/21/03

>>>>>>>>>>>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!!

March 1st, 2004

AKALMP, Inc., Low Pressure Experts, has reached an agreement in the lawsuit
with Smart Parts, Inc. AKA is not a licensee of Smart Parts and the terms of
the agreement are strictly confidential.
Within the terms of the agreement the current production run will be
the last of the Vikings and Excaliburs. Contact your local dealer or AKA
for availability and price.
AKA will still repair, service and upgrade Excaliburs and Vikings
and will honor all applicable warranties. AKA will also continue to
manufacture and sell their line of marker upgrades and accessories
as well as develop new products. There are several exciting and
new products debuting in 2004. AKA looks forward to the 2004
Tournament season and meeting all of you at the
tournaments.

>>>>>>>>>>>

http://fat.comic-relief.org/smartparts.html

[garto]

Thank you so Much!

[Dark Frost17]

alot

Alot of reading....... i need a bigger screan......

[garto]

Haha thats why I went big and got the Dell fpw2005, 20.1 inches of goodness.

[RavishingEddie]

I just think the people of Smart Parts are all very bad and mean and they just want to hurt people. They want to take over everything and make everyone suffer. They kill alot of kittens too.

[thefool]

wow....
the problem that i see with smartparts is that they went the way of corporate america and steped on the little guy. Now protecting your patents is all well and good but when it means desentizing the market to your products its not.

Its also the little things that they do that make me mad. For instance, instead of selling a great marker for as much as the other ones on the market, hey sell something that can be great if you invest some money into it (blackheart, he bolt). I mean its a smart buissness venture but its not the sign of a great company.

But then again makeing high end markers mainsteam might put some life back into this sport.

THe other problem isnt really smartpart's its americas. These ID lawsuits oftentimes come down to who has the better lawyers rather than who is right. AKA is a prime example. But then agian you never really know what happened in court becasue it s confidential.

Ahh im rambling