Shooting Sports Retailer Website

Counterfeiters Take a Shot at the Replica Gun Market
Increased Awareness of Airsoft Sport Brings Legal Action Against 'Knock-Off' Gun Dealers

Minneapolis, MN, July 9, 2007: The owner of the internet retail shop Hobbytron was arrested Monday, June 27^th. Mr. Tim Gibson was arrested in Orem, Utah and arraigned in Jasper, Indiana on three counts of Forgery IC 35-43-5-2 and three counts of Theft IC 35-43-4-2(a). As part of an escalating crackdown on the overall import piracy market in the USA, replica Airsoft guns (air-powered guns shooting at a force less than 1 joule) are just the latest in a string of high profile counterfeit merchandise to be targeted for investigation. For the first time in the USA, an Airsoft retailer has been charged with selling products that infringe on brand trademarks licensed by major gun manufacturers including Colt, Desert Eagle, and Sig Sauer. Gun manufacturers from around the world are beginning to notice the impact of non-licensed replicas in the airsoft gun market. Airsoft guns, primarily imported from China and Taiwan, are high profile targets for the world's top firearms manufacturers including H&K, Glock, Colt and Beretta. John Steele, Senior Vice President of Licensing for Soft Air USA states "Companies like ours pay thousands of dollars each year for the rights to create Airsoft gun replicas and promote them under the trade names of the licensors. The companies that think they can simply ignore intellectual property rights are sadly mistaken. Mr. Gibson's arrest is just the beginning of a larger industry shift toward legitimate licensed products." Cybergun, the largest licensee of gun brands in the world, has built their business model around selling legitimate products. Jérôme Marsac, CEO of Cybergun had this to state about the meaning of brands in the licensed arena "For years, [mostly] Chinese factories have been knocking-off guns without permission. Licensed products represent not just a brand-they represent a commitment to consumers that the item purchased is what was promised in terms of safety, performance, and service after the sale. All of our Airsoft guns are clearly marked as adult (18+) purchase, while illegitimate products are often marketed to anyone willing to pay the price. The value of branded products goes beyond mere dollars and cents-the true value is in the commitment to the consumer. Just like purchasing a fake purse or pirated software-what happens when it falls apart or causes collateral damage? Legitimate companies selling products under license give consumers confidence that a course of action is available should they need it." Pirated trademark protected items in the USA represent significant dollars in lost revenue in industries that range from Handbags to Software and even Pharmaceuticals. Manufacturers that legally distribute licensed products feel the revenue burden, but consumers and retailers who sell pirated products risk the impact of unregulated potentially dangerous products, stiff fines, and even imprisonment. The World Customs Organization estimates counterfeiting (also known as pirated. knock-offs, or fake goods) accounts for five to seven percent of global merchandise trade which equates to over US$500 billion (est.) per year. The sporting goods industry is no stranger to illegal representation of fake branded products. While most consumers envision counterfeiters to be street vendors selling out of the trunk of a car, terrorist organizations have long known that the enormous profits to be had from selling pirated unlicensed products. One of the more notable instances occurred in 1996 when the FBI seized 100,000 unlicensed t-shirts bearing the Nike "Swoosh" and/or Olympic logos, and the revenue generated by the sale of these goods were directly linked to terrorist activity. Airsoft is a sport enjoyed by millions of players around the world. The sport is played similar to paintball without mess of paint. Low-mass plastic projectiles are shot via the force of air; hence the name "Airsoft". Airsoft guns are designed to shoot with an impact force of less than one (1) joule so as to not pierce the skin. Non-branded, factory direct products are unregulated by American manufacturing standards leaving consumers no recourse for faulty product. Licensed, branded airsoft guns are manufactured to higher quality control standards and offer consumer focused features like working safeties, warranties, and customer service support.

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