Whats up with electos and WDP/SP?

aqua_scummm · 03-02-2007, 09:21 PM

Out of curiosity, do modern manufacturers have to SP or WDP any licensing fee for electronic markers? Did some sign a contract to SP before WDP halted the lawsuits and stuff?

edit:
Nobody's responding, not sure if they don't know, or are worried, so to suppress any worries, I am not looking for a flame war, or even a dispute, I am just simply curiousif money is switching hands here.

SpinDoctor15 · 03-03-2007, 04:58 PM

If I recall correctly, several manufacturers signed deals with Smart Parts, (like Bob Long through National Paintball Supply), in order to continue selling electros. Several were forced to stop producing them (AKA, may the Viking and Excalibur rest in superior-performance peace...). And several fought them, like WDP. Over time, the court eventually threw out SP's claims and WDP continued on like normal. However, some folks like AKA were out of luck since they were forced to sign agreements binding them to stop production of electronic markers, even though the court didn't rule the patents to be exclusive to SP.

So, we're left in a world where many of the big manufacturers still produce their markers, some paying royalties, some not. SP is still getting more money than they deserve, and a bunch of the small, really quality manufacturers are now out of business.

Some this is probably wrong, but I think I got the generic situation right. This has been argued SO MANY TIMES between people though, I'm not sure what is right. I did some research myself so that I didn't post out of complete ignorance, and in fact I read the legal opinion of the lawsuit where SP got smacked down by WDP... It's all business nowadays, the true paintball innovators are far and few between in this day and age.

03-02-2007, 09:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
aqua_scummm MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles	Whats up with electos and WDP/SP? Out of curiosity, do modern manufacturers have to SP or WDP any licensing fee for electronic markers? Did some sign a contract to SP before WDP halted the lawsuits and stuff? edit: Nobody's responding, not sure if they don't know, or are worried, so to suppress any worries, I am not looking for a flame war, or even a dispute, I am just simply curiousif money is switching hands here. __________________ My choice is what I chose to do, and if I'm causin' no harm, it shouldn't bother you. Your choice is who you chose to be, and if you're causin' no harm, then you're alright with me. Last edited by aqua_scummm; 03-03-2007 at 12:35 AM..

03-03-2007, 04:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
SpinDoctor15 a.k.a. FullSpinPaintball Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA	If I recall correctly, several manufacturers signed deals with Smart Parts, (like Bob Long through National Paintball Supply), in order to continue selling electros. Several were forced to stop producing them (AKA, may the Viking and Excalibur rest in superior-performance peace...). And several fought them, like WDP. Over time, the court eventually threw out SP's claims and WDP continued on like normal. However, some folks like AKA were out of luck since they were forced to sign agreements binding them to stop production of electronic markers, even though the court didn't rule the patents to be exclusive to SP. So, we're left in a world where many of the big manufacturers still produce their markers, some paying royalties, some not. SP is still getting more money than they deserve, and a bunch of the small, really quality manufacturers are now out of business. Some this is probably wrong, but I think I got the generic situation right. This has been argued SO MANY TIMES between people though, I'm not sure what is right. I did some research myself so that I didn't post out of complete ignorance, and in fact I read the legal opinion of the lawsuit where SP got smacked down by WDP... It's all business nowadays, the true paintball innovators are far and few between in this day and age. __________________ Jason Spin Doc Spin Doctor's Paintball Page MCB Feedback PBN Feedback PBN Feedback (old) Agglet re: Frink: "Much like a newborn baby your collection is both beautiful and disgusting." russc: "PBN is a business, and that's why they prefer thousands of morons to hundreds of intelligent posters" drum: "Between the ammo shipments and all the long rectangular packages, not to mention regular mail from the Pa. Superior Court, my mailman is pretty sure that I am a freak."

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