Masada AEG?

[eV.Viper]

ACR nifle ?
Look carefully at the picture lol

[pusangani]

i'd buy one if it was cheeep

[panda86]

I think it's funny that this is becoming a "legal" issue and hasn't happened sooner. What about all the other replica stuff going on like replica Aimpoints / Eotechs, knockoff real steel parts, etc..

Haven't those lawsuits also happened? Yet the chinese companies are still knocking them off?

I'm sure some items are licensed (eg: King Arms bodies, etc..) but there's a lot of knockoff stuff. This isn't the first nor will it be the last.

[Drake]

The truth is you can protect copyrighted works, trademarks, or mechanical concepts (patents), but it's really hard to protect looks alone; generally look-alike/work-alike stuff is legal, as long as you didn't actually rip anything off and aren't trying to pass it off for the genuine item. (just look at the AI vs MadBull propane adapters)

The Masada's lower receiver is derived from the Colt AR, the hanguard is very G36, and the stock looks very FN SCAR -inspired. The AEG clearly does not mimic any of the real internal functionality. What you're left with is pretty thin ice.

The other bit, as Magpul hits upon in their statement, is "We are the owner of the copyright [...] protected in various countries of the World." So simply put, the manufacturer may be in one of the many countries where the copyright isn't worth the toner it was printed with. It could maybe get banned from import in the US or something (doubt Magpul has that sort of weight). But it'll still be out there, just like TAD knockoffs, iPOD knockoffs, SanDisk knockoffs, Nike knockoffs, Louis Vutton knockoffs, and pretty much everything else under the sun that anyone felt they could make a buck knocking off.

Plus I doubt Aimpont/EOTech really care; looking similar is where it ends. The clone EOTechs work nothing like the real ones, and I dunno how long a knockoff Aimpoint would survive on a real firearm, but I wouldn't guess very long. These companies' real market bases are just about unaffected by the look-alikes.

IMO Magpul's best option is to establish a good relationship with the airsoft community -- they already have Magpul PTS, this is clearly a target audience, but they really need to get a rep involved with and talking to the community -- and establish really good QC for their official products (reference to some of the early reports about the PMAGs not sitting right, etc). The knockoffs are going to be out there anyway; Magpul PTS needs to protect its market share by developing a loyal customer base.

The recording industry cartels have already proven without the shadow of a doubt that the heavy handed lawsuits/make enemies with everyone approach doesn't get the job done.