During today’s SIG SAUER Range Day, the Defense Firepower, it was announced that the Army is changing the nomenclature of the XM5 NFSW Carbine from the XM5 to the XM7.
Apparently, there’s intellectual property in existence for M5 and M6.
The Army selected SIG SAUER’s NGSW Carbine and Automatic Rifle in April 2022. They fire the new 6.8 x 51mm hybrid case cartridge.
Must be Colt M5 and LWRC M6?
Could be
Is it because Colt has the copyright for the M5 and LWRC for the M6?
Also, is there any more information on that new holo sight that’s on the table under the XM7’s buttstock?
All in due time
Does the X mean experament and not final released?
Yes
Wait the Army that issued M1 helmets, M1 SMGs, M1 carbines, M1 Rifles, M1 bayonets, M1 tanks, M1 trucks, M1 Howitzers, M1 armored cars, M1 flamethrowers, M1 Mortars, M1 Grenades and so many more cases like this is worried about a Overlap in designation?
Sig probably pushed for it to help their marketing dept.
The issue is that this is not within the Army’s control, like those historical examples were. Commercial companies already have copyright on the M5 and M6 designations.
Except that they do have full control. A commercial company can’t take a copyright on anything that the DOD puts out, and the DOD can retroactively tell them “No.”
No one tell BMW
Exhibit A