XC3 Weaponlight

Archive for the ‘Industry’ Category

The GAMA / M-Lok Battle Heats Up As Magpul Files Suit Against Gibbz Arms In Federal Court

Monday, March 7th, 2016

In late February Gibbz Arms released their patent pending GAMA system along with letters to brands that license other, similar weapon accessory attachment systems to adopt theirs, alleging that it pre-dated the other systems.

This was quickly followed by statements of reply from both Magpul and Gibbz Arms.

But now, the situation has taken a different direction. According to documents obtained by SSD, Magpul has filed suit in Federal District Court in Austin, Texas against Gibbz Arms.

Specifically, Magpul claims that Gibbz Arms has violated three of their patents (8,925,236 B1; 9,239,209 B2 and 9,239,210) and they are suing for treble damages, attorney fees, delivery of all infringing items produced by Gibbz Arms to Magpul for destruction, and a permanent injunction against producing, selling or offering products that infringe upon Magpul’s patents.


(Click cover to view pdf.)

Gibbz Arms Statement Clarifying Their Position Regarding The GAMA System Patent

Friday, March 4th, 2016

Earlier this week, Gibbz Arms released their GAMA attachment system along with their patent data as well as letters to potential licensees.  They sent us this statement to clarify that they have so far, not filed any legal actions regarding their IP.

Recent chatter within the firearms industry, related blogs and social media, has suggested that Gibbz Arms has filed a civil action against various manufacturers who produce and market accessory mounting systems which are covered by Gibbz Arms’ pending patent applications for its GAMA System. To date, Gibbz Arms has not initiated any legal action against any manufacturer. Nor has Gibbz Arms threatened litigation against any manufacturer for infringement.  

Although Gibbz Arms made its initial patent filings in January of 2013, the company had developed and began producing and selling its GAMA System products by late 2012. GAMA System Handgaurds and accessories were displayed at both Shot Show 2013 and Shot Show 2014. Since that time, Gibbz Arms has produced and sold thousands of GAMA System components, including hand guards and rails.

As a superior alternative MIL-STD-1913 and other rail accessory mounting systems, demand for the GAMA System has increased. In an effort to maintain continuity and to ensure quality production of its patent pending design, Gibbz Arms began offering a license agreement to manufacturers currently producing, and to those seeking to produce the GAMA System technology on March 1, 2016.

Best Regards,

Kevin Gibbens

Gibbz Arms

EOTech Sends Email To LE Agencies and Dealers Asking Them To Acknowledge Performance Issues Before Shipping Sights

Thursday, March 3rd, 2016

This is the contents of an email sent to LE agencies and dealers by EOTech requiring them to acknowledge the Holographic Weapons Sights performance issues.

Good evening,

Please be advised that any EOTech Holographic Weapon Sight orders that are to be shipped to an agency are currently ON HOLD at EOTech. In order to get those orders released you must follow the process outlined at the bottom of this email. Most all current orders on hold are available to be shipped as soon as this process is complete. This is a fairly simple process in which you identify the order number and agency POC, and then, copy and paste an email template to the agency that includes a workable link. Inside that link, the agency POC will be able to read and acknowledge EOTech’s current specifications. At that point, once acknowledged by the agency on the web link, the product will auto ship to the agency. Some of you have seen this process as you had agency orders in queue when it rolled out, and I notified you of the steps. It was my understanding early on that this was only for current orders in queue, so I notified only those customers. Currently the directive is to continue this process until further notice, so I am sending this out to everyone. If you have a law enforcement order waiting to ship, this process must be completed. If you have a non-LE direct order that needs to ship for stocking or consumer level sales, please send me that PO number and I will get the order released. Some of those orders may have been held up if you were flagged as an LE dealer/distributor in order to ensure no agency received sights without acknowledgement. Do NOT under any circumstances attempt to circumvent this process. If it is going to an agency, it must follow the procedures. If you are a commercial, non-LE account and you received this email, you may disregard. Please, if you have any questions at all, feel free to give me a call. The process is outlined below.
Below is the LE Acknowledgement instructions in regards to releasing orders. This is LIVE and ready to go.

THE PROCESS

Step 1: Identify agency, obtain Point of Contact information

Step 2: Email the agency the standard email language (Below) with Sales Order # referenced, including embedded link to HWS performance specs on EOTech’s website.

Step 3: Agency contact completes form and acknowledges review of HWS performance specs by clicking in the acceptance box. Note: Both acceptance boxes need to be checked.

Step 4: A copy of the agency POC acceptance is auto generated to EOTech’s order entry and to relevant sales personnel.

Step 5: The law enforcement order is released from ship hold and is shipped.

THE EMAIL

~~~~ START ~~~~

Dear <INSERT NAME>,

With respect to your backorder of EOTech sights, S.O. #<INSERT ORDER NO.>, we are ready to ship but need your acknowledgement of the HWS Performance Specifications. Click HERE to review that information and provide acknowledgement. Allow approximately 1-2 weeks for delivery.

Thank you for your attention and assistance.

Direct Link: http://www.eotechinc.com/le-perf-ack

~~~~ END ~~~~

Solace’s Cutting Edge Technology Recognized By Sikorsky

Thursday, March 3rd, 2016

Solace Power, a wireless power technology company has been announced as top cutting edge technology for 2015 by Sikorsky Innovations. You can read the full release below:

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (PRWEB) March 01, 2016

Solace Power, developer of leading edge wireless power technology announces that it has been recognized as a top innovative technology company by Sikorsky Innovations, a Lockheed Martin Company. As the winner of the Sikorsky Entrepreneurship Challenge, Solace Power has been awarded a monetary prize, and the opportunity to jointly explore the impact of RC2 technology on Sikorsky’s product line.

“The Sikorsky Entrepreneurial Challenge was a fantastic opportunity for Solace Power to showcase its unique wireless power technology, and earn validation from one of the world’s most innovative companies.” said Neil Chaulk, Vice President of Business Development. “We are looking forward to working with Sikorsky to develop leading edge technology in the aerospace and defense market.”

Solace’s technology allows companies in the aerospace/defense, automotive, industrial and consumer electronics markets to eliminate the need for cables and connectors in many applications. Companies can take advantage of Solace’s spatial freedom and flexible integration capabilities to reduce manufacturing/maintenance costs, reduce cabling weight, and improve overall application design for the next generation of products.

“The Entrepreneurial Challenge, from an industry perspective, is truly a one-of-kind gateway, where disruptive ideas can quickly gain exposure and a customer base within one of the most exciting transportation verticals globally,” said Chris Van Buiten, Vice President of Sikorsky Innovations. “We look forward to exploring the applications of the exciting Solace Power technology.”

The Sikorsky Entrepreneurial Challenge has been designed to accelerate innovators and disruptive technology concepts with applications in the vertical flight market.

www.solace.ca

Magpul Responds to Gibbz Arms GAMA Letters To M-LOK Licensees

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016

Yesterday, we published a story about Gibbz Arms’ new GAMA attachmemt system and their contact with licensees of Magpul’s M-Lok attachment, soliciting them to license their product.  This is Magpul’s response.

It has come to our attention that Gibbz Arms claims to have a utility patent application pending for an accessory attachment system for firearms, which they refer to as the “GAMA” system, and that they have recently issued a press release implying that companies that use the M-LOK system will need to pay for a license. However, we also note that this patent application wasn’t filed until September of 2015, which was long after Magpul filed for and obtained its own utility patents for the M-LOK system, and long after Magpul released its own M-LOK products to the market. Gibbz Arms appears be trying to impermissibly backdate its untimely utility patent application based on a prior design patent application that Gibbz filed in early 2013 for an ornamental design directed to a left-handed T-Nut. This 2013 design patent application was not publicly available until earlier this year.

Magpul expects that this attempted back-dating will be unsuccessful over the long run, and that Gibbz Arms will not be able to establish that its utility patent application was timely filed. The Gibbz utility patent filing includes broad proposed claims directed towards functions that are outside the scope of what is disclosed in its prior application for an ornamental design. Regardless, the pending claims in this utility application should not be assumed to be granted—the merits of the patent still need to be determined by the U.S. Patent &Trademark Office. Magpul fully expects that Gibbz Arms will not be successful in obtaining and maintaining a valid utility patent that will pose a concern for users of the M-LOK system. Magpul is also committed to taking whatever action is necessary, including challenges before the Patent & Trademark Office and in Federal District Court, to ensure that users of the M-LOK system continue to have complete freedom to operate without interference from, or the need to obtain a license demanded by, Gibbz Arms.

GIBBZ Arms Modular Attachment (GAMA) Goes After Magpul’s M-Lok Patent

Tuesday, March 1st, 2016

During SHOT Show there were murmurs about a looming patent confrontation between Gibbz Arms and Magpul. It seems that Gibbz Arms had developed an accessory attachment system for firearms that they were about to release under the name of GAMA, for GIBBZ Arms Modular Attachment. Below are the components of GAMA.

 

Granted, Gibbz hasn’t publicly used the word ‘Magpul’ but the primary similar design to what we see here is M-Lok. There is also the Manticore Arms ARC LOK system so perhaps Gibbz Arms is going after them as well.  But regardless, Magpul M-LOK has been mentioned to me more than once in connection with this move by Gibbz Arms.

Yesterday, Gibbz not only formally announced the product, but we are told they also started sending out notices to licensees of Magpul’s M-Lok attachment system. Below is an example. No word yet on whether they’ve contacted Magpul or Manticore Arms directly as well.

Gibbz is looking for its own licensees and at this point, we don’t know what the terms of that license looks like. However, we do know that licensees of M-Lok don’t pay any fees and that they entered into their agreements with Magpul in good faith. It will be interesting to see how recipients of these letters react.


(Click to download PDF)

This is the Gibbz patent application.  Don’t let the dates lull you into just dismissing this off hand.  Although you notice a filing date of 21 September, 2015 and a publication date of 14 January, 2016, it’s a continuation of an application filed 26 January, 2013. And therein lies the rub. Who did what, when, and what are the claims? It sounds like Gibbz Arms and the companies with similar systems already on the street are going to have to work this one out.

 

(Click to download PDF)

Update: Below are PDFs of the original patent drawings for the GAMA System from 2013, as well as the revised drawings from 2015. Click the images to view the full document.

Original – 2013

Original

Revised – 2015

Revised

Blue Ridge Mountain Sports Closes Its Doors

Tuesday, March 1st, 2016

Blue Ridge Mountain Sports has been our go-to outdoor store for years. It’s sad to see them go. Mission Ready Equipment has closed as well.

We’ll miss you!

Team Safariland’s Robert Vogel Wins The 2016 IDPA Indoor National Championship

Tuesday, March 1st, 2016

Robert_Vogel_Safariland_2015

Vogel dominates for the ninth year in a row

ONTARIO Calif. – Safariland® congratulates team member Robert Vogel for winning the Stock Service Pistol (SSP) Division at the 2016 Smith & Wesson IDPA Indoor Nationals held in Springfield, Mass., February 18 – 20. Vogel dominated the entire match coming in with the fastest overall time of 207.87, and defending his title for the ninth year in a row.

Competitors gathered from all over the world to compete at the Smith & Wesson indoor shooting range in Springfield. The IDPA Nationals offered 14 stages with a round count of 260+ and each stage was designed to challenge competitors of all skill levels. Known for its challenging low-light and no-light stage scenarios, the championship required competitors to shoot while on the move and reload with a flashlight in hand.

“My Safariland gear allowed me to focus on the game and not the equipment,” said Robert Vogel. “My 5199 holster has proven that it is the best IDPA holster made as I use this holster for everything from USPSA matches to the classes I teach.”

“We are very proud of Vogel’s performance at this year’s nationals, and, more importantly, his valued feedback to our Research and Development team,” said Team Captain and Vice President, Equipment Category, Scott Carnahan. “This is a great start for Team Safariland and we look forward to a great year!”

Vogel participates in IDPA competitions with the Safariland holster Model 5199, Open Top Concealment Belt Clip Holster with Detent, the Model 773, Single Magazine Holder that is mounted to a 744BL Belt Clip, and model 032 Range Belt. For more information, visit www.safariland.com/dutygear.