Leupold Files Federal Lawsuit Over Claimed Patent Violations
Editor: The following statement was released by Leupold & Stevens Inc. on August 3, 2016. We publish the statement as it was released, without modification.
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Leupold® Files Lawsuit Against Nightforce Over Patent Violations Leupold & Stevens, Inc., has filed a civil suit in the U.S. District Court of Oregon alleging patent violations by Lightforce U.S.A., doing business as Nightforce. In the suit, Leupold & Stevens, Inc., alleges that Nightforce is marketing and selling products that infringe on a variety of patents owned by Leupold & Stevens, Inc. and is seeking all available remedies. The lawsuit is based on six patents for riflescope adjustments, internal optical mechanisms, and flip covers. Leupold & Stevens, Inc., has been pioneering riflescope and sporting optics technology since 1947, when it developed a non-fogging riflescope charged with nitrogen. Today, Leupold® has been granted over 151 patents and design registrations in 18 countries, representing Leupold’s continued commitment to innovation and development of sports optics. For more information on Leupold products, please visit us at www.leupold.com. Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is committed to protecting its intellectual property and the innovations developed by its engineering and design teams. Join the discussion on Facebook, www.facebook.com/LeupoldOptics, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LeupoldOptics or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/LeupoldOptics. Founded in Oregon more than a century ago, Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is a fifth generation, family owned company that designs, machines and assembles its riflescopes, mounting systems and tactical/Gold Ring® spotting scopes in the USA. The product lines include rifle, handgun and spotting scopes; binoculars; rangefinders; mounting systems; and optical tools, accessories and Pro Gear. |
Initial Response from Nightforce Optics
We contacted Nightforce Optics regarding the legal action commenced by Leupold. A spokesman for Nightforce provided this response: “We have investigated [Leupold’s] claims and we are confident there is no infringement. We look forward to full and fair competition with Leupold in the future.”
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Tags: Civil Action, Infringement, Leupold, Leupold Stevens, Lightforce, Litigation, Nightforce Optics, Optics, Oregon, Patents, Riflescopes
No one wants to think that optics will be even more expensive because these two respected companies now fund backbreaking litigation. Its difficult to fathom what internal aspects of Nightforce scopes both 1) originated with Leopold and 2) are not found in many other available optics. I would think that the costs of litigating these patent infringement claims, notoriously the most expensive type of business litigation extant, are going stagger Leupold, if the claims end up being at best, marginal. I hope NightForce will post more on its defenses to this action.
I’m wondering if Nightforce scopes will get scarce, If a cease and desist claim was filed also.
I guess if they’d rather spend money than invest it in R&D, no one can stop them. Their new scopes have been disappointing the last half dozen years while Nightforce is becoming everyone’s go to scope . Sad.