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December 23, 2015, 10:43 AM | #1 |
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S&W Legal Reps Letter to Aftermarket Vendors
Not sure if this is the right forum, if not please move or close as appropriate.
Does S&W have a legal leg to stand on here? http://bearingarms.com/sith-wesson-loses-minds/ |
December 23, 2015, 11:31 AM | #2 |
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Link not working for me.
Is this about Apex and others?
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December 23, 2015, 11:52 AM | #3 |
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The link works when I click on it.
bearingarms.com/sith-wesson-loses-minds/ yes, "sith", not smith
Yes, the letter is addressed to: Apex Brownells DP Custom Blowndeadline SSVI Paul |
December 23, 2015, 12:25 PM | #4 |
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The letter is dated December 22, 2015 and they want a response to the letter by January 5, 2015.
When did time travel become possible? Anyway, S&W backed off: http://bearingarms.com/smith-wesson-...ct-apologizes/ |
December 23, 2015, 01:01 PM | #5 |
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Next, Ford & GM will be sending out similar notices to hot rod shops for basically the same thing??
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December 23, 2015, 01:30 PM | #6 |
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Smith & Wesson must protect its trade mark or lose its rights to protect it. I have no idea how those companies might of might not be infringing on the S&W trade mark, but trade mark law is very arcane and highly technical.
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December 23, 2015, 01:33 PM | #7 |
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Just to update: S&W has rescinded that cease & desist. Sounds like an overzealous legal counsel + a misunderstanding = embarrassment.
Looks like the original link was updated with that information as well. |
December 23, 2015, 02:13 PM | #8 |
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Glad to hear S&W did the right thing. I didn't figure they would pursue once public opinion kicked in. I was really interested in what kind of a legal case S&W had against the aftermarket vendors, which Frank mostly answered.
Paul |
December 23, 2015, 08:54 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
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"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper |
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December 24, 2015, 06:08 PM | #10 |
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I have a feeling this was some over zealous lawyer who saw the add and went nuclear without understanding the business aspects or concepts. Either that or some new guy at S&W who hasn't learned the business.
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December 25, 2015, 10:42 AM | #11 |
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The Dream Gun project was a group effort of Brownells and several parts manufacturers to showcase both aftermarket parts and custom gunsmithing. The pistol that happened to be chosen was a S&W M&P. Apparently, some lower or mid-level legal beagle at S&W got wind of the project and thought Brownells and/or the other companies involved were going to be selling these pistols as a model, with the S&W name still on it.
Once the CEO of S&W got involved and figured out what was really going on, he made the necessary apologies and rescinded the cease-and-desist order. Overall, it was not S&W's finest hour, but perhaps not as bad as signing up with Clinton's Marauders a number of years ago. |
December 25, 2015, 02:15 PM | #12 |
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December 27, 2015, 08:01 PM | #13 |
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Big corporation and you can't expect all of the employees and contractors to have a complete understanding of every aspect of the business.
Of curse, I'm sure those companies would feel much better if SW commissioned a "Dream Gun" edition of the M&P. A limited 1000 gun run with a little cobranding would probably smooth things over. Probably wouldn't have trouble selling them either. |
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