S&W Legal Reps Letter to Aftermarket Vendors

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
 
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.
 
Just to update: S&W has rescinded that cease & desist.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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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Once the CEO of S&W got involved and figured out what was really going on, he made the necessary apologies and rescinded the cease-and-desist order.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.
 
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.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top