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SHOT SHOW, UNMASKED

Why Mandates Don’t Matter, and Why You Definitely Should Attend This newsletter about mask mandates at the SHOT Show was all written, and then something changed.  The firearms industry just had a trade show under a mask mandate, and guess what?  Nobody wore a mask. Not a mask in sight at NASGW. Greater Columbus Convention Center, October 28, 2021 In that picture are at least 24 faces, all unmasked. Never mind that the venue required masks for all, and signs reminded attendees of the requirement.  It warms my heart to be part of an industry dominated by  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | November 2, 2021 | Firearms | 0 Comments Read More »

SHOT? MASK? OR BOTH? NEITHER?

Industry Mask-Preference Survey Link Inside Warning:  I occasionally get complaints from readers when I get into politics and industry gossip, and stray from valuable legal information.  I’m straying this month, so stop reading here if you’re looking for information to help you make better legal choices in your business.  See y’all next month... So, everyone’s asking me about the SHOT Show.  But I do talk to dozens or hundreds of clients, and I’ve been polling informally and confidentially about COVID and trade show cancellations since the beginning.   [...]

By Ben Langlotz | October 8, 2021 | Firearms | 0 Comments Read More »

REMEMBERING THE REMINGTON ROYALTY LESSON

Too Big to Fail? Remington’s bizarre “Brother, can you spare a dime?” Campaign It was ten years ago that I wrote about one of our industry friends playing an interesting voicemail at the SHOT Show. Consider all that has changed since then. These friends are innovators, with some valuable patents in their portfolio. Because Remington liked one of their inventions, they worked out a licensing deal. Remington paid royalties, and got to use the invention. Often, it’s the big guys paying the innovative upstarts. Pretty cool. Hoping for Handouts from the Little  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | September 2, 2021 | Firearms, Trademark | 0 Comments Read More »

MICROMANAGING THE “MICRO-ENTITY” PATENT FEE DISCOUNT

More than five years after Congress threw a little bone to start-up inventors, we’ve learned a few things. The good news is that you might qualify for reduced patent fees under the patent laws, thanks to a “gift” from Congress to small inventors. I didn’t follow the battle, but I expect it was a way for them to look like they are being generous in some small way when they’re raising fees in a big way. Half-price patent fees sounds like a good deal. I used to be nervous that it might be too risky to enjoy the benefit. I’ve mellowed out, and will explain  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | August 5, 2021 | Firearms, Intellectual Property Advice, Patent | 0 Comments Read More »

HOW “KEEP-ALIVE” PATENT STRATEGY KEEPS THE “INFRINGEMENT WEASELS” AWAY

Mustela frenata AKA the Common Weasel. AKA the lawyer for the guy who’s infringing your patent. Imagine being a general going into battle, and all the unanticipated intelligence about your enemy is gained as the battle is engaged.  Now imagine having a magic “pause” button that halts the battle, and enables you to resupply, re-arm, and redeploy your troops in the optimum way to reengage the enemy forces.  The battle is then restarted on your terms.  The strategy this newsletter reveals is just that powerful when it comes to battling patent infringers. This  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | July 9, 2021 | Firearms, Firearms Industry Advice, How To, Patent | 0 Comments Read More »

FREE* TOOL!

Lessons from my Adventures in the Amazon Jungle Free, but not cheap? I’ve been writing about my adventure trying to launch not just a new product, but a new concept. My InchMetric® Hybrid® hex key tool has been moving forward since I last reported. The patentable concept is hopefully conveyed clearly in the picture above, which is worth a thousand words in a patent application talking about “intermixed according to size regardless of standard”. There are plenty of ups and downs to report. When a Patent Attorney Hires a Patent AttorneyOn the patent front,  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | June 3, 2021 | Firearms | 0 Comments Read More »