Rare Breed Triggers has filed a patent-infringement lawsuit in Ohio against Mad River Firearms Co., a small, family-run retailer, marking a shift from targeting only manufacturers and importers to also pursuing retail outlets. The complaint, which spans 95 pages, alleges that the shop and its owner, Lane Bogs, infringed five U.S. patents—including claim 15 of the ’247 patent—by selling, promoting, and instructing customers on the use of competing forced-reset trigger products such as the Super Safety and Atrius selector.
Pros
- Legal strategy may pressure competitors at multiple points in the supply chain, potentially deterring further infringement.
- Could accelerate clarity on patent boundaries for forced-reset trigger designs.
Cons
- Small retailers lacking litigation budgets may simply stop carrying competing products, reducing consumer choice.
- Broad claims targeting advertising and customer instruction risk chilling industry speech and after-market support.
- Escalation of intra-industry litigation could invite greater regulatory scrutiny of the entire forced-reset trigger segment.
Specs of the Legal Action
- Filed in Ohio federal court under 35 U.S.C. § 271.
- Seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions, treble damages, and attorney fees.
- Names both direct infringement and inducement of infringement by customers and content creators.
Host commentary captured the moment: “Rare Breed has just declared total war on its competition.” The VSO Gun Channel also noted similar legal notices reportedly sent to larger retailers such as Optics Planet, suggesting the campaign now spans both ends of the distribution chain.
