Blue Force Gear, Inc. (“Blue Force”), brought two patent infringement actions in June 2014 against Raine, Inc. (“Raine”), an Indiana corporation, and Savvy Sniper , LLC (“Savvy Sniper”), an Ohio corporation, relating to United States Patent No. 8,733,601 B2 (the ‘601 Patent) entitled “Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Supporting a Firearm from a Person,” which issued on May 27, 2014 – a few weeks before the suits were filed. Figure 1 from the ‘601 Patent is depicted below:
Raine is accused of selling the following slings for firearms that infringe the ‘601 Patent through a dealer in Columbus (
Commando Military Supply / Maneuver Center) and one in the Ft. Benning PX (
Patriot Outfitters, LLC), as well as to the
Defense Logistics Agency (“DLA”), government purchaser for the U.S. Marines, in Albany: “the General Purpose Quick Adjust Sling; the Ambi Quick Adjust Sling; the COBRA Quick Adjust Sling; and the Heavy Weapon Quick Adjust Sling. The COBRA Quick Adjust Sling is pictured below:
Similarly, Savvy Sniper is accused of selling the same slings for firearms that infringe the ‘601 Patent through a dealer in Bogart (
Clyde Armory), as well as to the DLA. The Heavy Weapon Quick Adjust Sling is pictured below:
In addition to the patent infringement claims against both companies, Blue Force asserts Tortious Interference with Business Relations. Blue Force seeks a finding of infringement, damages, for which it requests trebled and punitive damages, a permanent injunction, delivery of all infringing products (or award of a compulsory royalty as an alternative), attorneys’ fees, pre- and post-judgment interest, and such other relief as the Court deems proper.
Note: A third case brought by Blue Force asserting infringement of the '601 Patent nd tortious interference with business relations was filed on June 16, 2014, and voluntarily dismissed without prejudice by a pleading dated July 24 and filed August 1, 2014. That case was Blue Force Gear, Inc. v. ATS Tactical Gear, LLC, No. 1:14-cv-93(WLS).
The cases are Blue Force Gear, Inc. v. Savvy Sniper, LLC, No. 1:14-cv-101(WLS), filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Albany Division, on June 23, 2014, and assigned to U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands; and Blue Force Gear, Inc. v. Raine, Inc., 1:14:CV-99(WLS), filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Albany Division, on June 19, 2014, and assigned to U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands.
