WDP vs. Smart Parts

[wileyc143]

WDP wins lawsuit vs. Smart Parts in Wisconsin
By Dale Ford
Dec 10, 2004, 10:40


Word has it from resources on the net and unnamed sources that the 2004 case that WDP brought against Smart Parts in Wisconsin has gone to trial and a jury has ruled in favor of WDP. No word on any damages awarded yet, but the jury in the trial has ruled in favor of WDP. Judge John C. Shabaz presided over the trial, which started at 9 AM on December 6th.

Earlier this year Judge Garr M. King ruled in favor of WDP in a related case in the Federal Courts in Oregon. That particular case was brought by Smart Parts against WDP, and WDP was vindicated by Judge King's ruling.

As with the 2002 Oregon case, the ruling today on the 2004 Wisconsin case further weakens Smart Parts' claim to have invented the electronic paintball marker, and their patent on it. It's still not clear as to what effect today's ruling will have on the agreements that Smart Parts has secured with other marker manufacturers.

I have sent an email to Owen Ronayne of WDP and Spesh Robinson of Smart Parts asking for comment, and I'll post their responses here if and when I receive them.

Anyone read about this yet? This is so satisifing. hehe

[FEZ]

yeah this has been an everlasting battle for the past little bit.

[wileyc143]

Originally Posted by fez

yeah this has been an everlasting battle for the past little bit.

Yeah, I've been trying to stay up to date with whats been going on, and to be frank, it will be nice to see SP lose their butts IMO.

[Allen Turner]

Greg,
Unfortunately SP has secured agreements from many other companies and those agreements are in place any rulings on other law suit issues do not invalidate the agreements all ready in place.

Until someone directly challanges the patent, it remains in place. I dont understand why WDP does not challange the patent directly.

The scary part is that WDP are no Angels in this situation (pun intended)
WDP is enforcing thier patent on LCD screens just as vigiroiusly as SP has on switches.

For example on the new E2 the price jumped $100+ because of paying smart parts for the switch and paying WDP for the LCD screen.

It looks like we may be switching bad guys here SP for WDP, it appears that both intend to enforce the patent agressively whomever wins..

Thats my 0.02.....

[wileyc143]

Its just a shame then that those greedy little bastards get away with it at all. Of course it seems that any line of business uses this to increase their profits.
I wasn't aware that WDP was enforcing their LCD patents like they were. They are keeping it under wraps pretty well it seems, and I am glad that I now know that.

Maybe I will buy a "off name" marker and fight the power! hahaha ..................... theres just no end to the madness in PB it seems

Just do what I did....


I bought a Mag....

SP, and WDP, can go get stuffed.....

[franky]

Originally Posted by Moose

Just do what I did....


I bought a Mag....

SP, and WDP, can go get stuffed.....

stuffed with what?

(note to self: Don't use archaic terminology of PB forums. ie: anything over ten years old)


Since I dont use the various non-FCC sanctioned words of modern times to explain myself..

Let me try a few of these to see if they have any meaning here...
Please feel free to insert them into the phrase in question..

1) 'Get hosed'
2) 'suck rocks'
3) 'take a long walk of a short peer'
4) 'go swimming with cement boots"

or if you know any Aussies, they can explain 'get stuffed'....(I work with one, and its fun to watch them squirm)

SP, and WDP, can still go get stuffed.....
and any other company that seeks to destroy paintball by hurting real innovation and progress...😠

[FEZ]

Hm....stuffing....mmmm...

It's all good dude.

Having started to play in the sports early days, its saddening to see what the Few are doing to the Many....And the Many are bending over and grabbing their ankles and saying, "..Thank you, may I have another?"