September 16, 2014
Dear Valued Customers,
This message from the staff of American Tactical is to confirm that American Tactical and German Sport Guns are involved in an ongoing lawsuit with Heckler & Kock for infringement of rights and fraud. American Tactical, along with our partner and family at German Sport Guns has been involved in this ongoing lawsuit for some time and at considerable expense to both of our companies. We appreciate all thoughts and concerns from our customers regarding this current situation.
As this is a lawsuit that is still in process, American Tactical cannot provide any further details outside of the release from our friends at German Sport Guns. That message is provided below.
Thank you all for your continued support of American Tactical and German Sport Gun products!
MESSAGE FROM GERMAN SPORT GUNS
German Sport Guns sues Heckler & Koch for USD16,5m in damages in the US
Jury trial set to start early 2015
Ense, 5. September 2014 - German Sport Guns GmbH (GSG), a leading manufacturer of airsoft guns and small-caliber weapons and their US importer American Tactical Imports, Inc., have filed a lawsuit against the German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch for infringement of design rights and fraud. GSG is suing Heckler & Koch for a total sum of USD16,5m in damages. The lawsuit also includes the assertion of punitive damages and is directed against Heckler & Koch GmbH in Germany, its American subsidiary Heckler & Koch, Inc., as well as the German CEO Niels Ihlhoff and his US counterpart, Wayne Weber.
The case is the latest episode of a smoldering dispute that has been continuing for years over the industrial design rights for the HK MP5, a sub-machine gun from Heckler & Koch that is especially popular in the United States.
In 2007, GSG launched the GSG-5, a small-caliber weapon with a design similar to that of the MP5. As part of the launch, German Sport Guns denied that Heckler & Koch is the owner of the respective design rights.
Nevertheless, 2009 saw a settlement between German Sport Guns and the US subsidiary of Heckler & Koch, in which Heckler & Koch, Inc. accepted a payment of USD300,000 from GSG. In return, GSG had been allowed to use modified design elements of the MP5.
However, later it was revealed that Heckler & Koch, Inc. did in fact not own the rights for the MP5 and had therefore wrongfully forced GSG into a settlement. In the meantime, a comprehensive discovery process aimed at the collection of evidence had already been completed.
"We are very confident that despite the considerable legal costs, we will end this protracted litigation in our favor," said German Sport Guns CEO Michael Swoboda. "We have adhered to all agreements and will not accept a restriction of our business in this form."
The date for a possible jury trial is scheduled for early 2015.
Press contact:
Michael Swoboda
German Sport Guns GmbH
Tel.: +49 29 38 / 97837 – 331
[email protected]