Here we go again another lawsuit.

[d4m4don3]

SP Sues KEE

For those of you who aren't click happy.

Smart Parts today announced that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against AJ Intermediate Holdings LLC and AJ Acquisition I, LLC, doing business as Kee Action Sports. The suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in the Tyler Division. The suit alleges infringement of seven patents that Smart Parts believes are being infringed by Kee. The seven patents are generally directed to electropneumatically operated paintball markers and barrels for paintball markers.

"Smart Parts has invested considerable resources in the development of advanced paintball markers and accessories," said William Gardner, Jr., Smart Parts' President and co-founder. "We value our intellectual property highly, and have filed this case to protect our products, our market, and our many licensees," Gardner said.

Smart Parts is an industry leader in the innovation of paintball equipment and is dedicated to the technological advancement of the sport. To learn more about Smart Parts and its innovative technologies, visit their website at www.smartparts.com."

[SummaryJudgement]

"The seven patents are generally directed to electropneumatically operated paintball markers and barrels for paintball markers."

Ok, I can understand if you developed something really specific for the "electropneumatic operation" arguement that someone could infringe on a patent, but what the heck kind of patents could they have for barrels?! I mean, it's a metal tube.........

[Blazestorm]

Obviously inserts and barrel tip porting because those factor in so much in how well a barrel will shoot

[Pneumagger]

the barrel porting one was filed in 1991... was smart parts even around then?

[Blazestorm]

LOL I was just joking about the porting, I didn't know that's what they were sueing about...

Yea SP was back in the 80's... they took stock barrels and drilled holes in them and sold them as "all american" barrels...

Porting did absolutely jack **** but oh well...

[punkncat]

KEE is no small player in the paintball world. I hope that they stand up to SP and take this tactic back to them. It would be nice to see both of them bog each other down in BS lawsuits and hopefully come to the realization that this is killing the sport.


I love the quote about SP being dedicated to the tech. advancement of the sport. We can all see that, right?

[RogueFactor]

LMAO

I read this last night on 68cal.

It was bound to happen. The Invert Mini = Ion killer. Im sure SP wanted to be the only single-tubed 9V electro on the market. Hopefully Kee/NPS can take some of their bucketloads of money and invalidate SP's patents.

Boo-hoo, Im crying a river for SP

[Chronobreak]

the mini is hardly an ion "killer"

atleast at this point....sure they may have take a few sales away but from whta i hear sp still cant make ions fast enough

as for this lawsuit...dont bite the hand that feeds you..is all i can say

[BigEvil]

All this will result in, is a new agreement between the two parties.

[Rudz]

industry leader in the innovation



lmao..they invented what? they bought, thats about it..and stole..

[CKY_Alliance]

I don't know..I think I'd rather SP win..NPS or KEE are just as shady if not shadier then SP...atleast SP makes decent guns... (not saying KEE doesn't)...oh well screw it..Im just gonna play the sport.

[paintballfiend]

It is the beginning of the end for Ep markers.
Oh well, I guess we could all go back to pump and semi play. Batteries FTL!!!

[Rudz]

no more ep guns!!! mech mags ftw!!! lol

[for2nato]

well seems to me that the patent is a U.S. Patent. manufacture your products in another country and SP can kiss your !@#.
its no different than if you base your corporation in another country like the caymans. you can still operate in the U.S. but since your not based in the U.S. you have aleviated your tax responsabilities to the U.S. no more income tax... YIPPPPEEEEEEE!!!!!

[Paint-Fool]

My hope is they both expend all of their resources in court and both go out of business.