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Colt Sues Heckler & Koch, Bushmaster Over Copies of M4 Rifle
April 21 (Bloomberg) -- Colt Defense LLC, the exclusive supplier of the M4 rifle to the U.S. military, claimed in a lawsuit that Heckler & Koch Inc. and Bushmaster Firearms Inc. are selling ``copycat'' versions of the weapon.
Closely held Colt seeks a court order to block Bushmaster and Heckler & Koch from using the M4 name or design in any of their products. Colt claims Bushmaster's XM-15 E2S ``M4 Type'' and Heckler & Koch's planned ``HKM4'' are ``identical'' to Colt's, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia.
West Hartford, Connecticut-based Colt has sold more than 7 million M16 rifles and M4 carbines, which are lightweight rifles with short barrels. The M4, which is used by the U.S. military and armed forces in more than 80 countries, isn't available to the general public.
``Bushmaster has intentionally copied the names used by Colt and the look and feel of Colt's M4 carbine in order to mislead the consuming public into believing that Bushmaster's products are comparable to Colt's,'' according to the suit.
A message left with an answering service for Bushmaster in Windham, Maine, wasn't immediately returned. A message left with to Heckler & Koch's U.S. office in Sterling, Virginia, wasn't immediately returned.
Oberndorf, Germany-based Heckler & Koch last year expressed a ``serious interest'' in acquiring Colt and signed a confidentiality agreement to review Colt's financial and technical information, the suit said. After receiving the information, Heckler & Koch terminated discussions and introduced ``HKM4,'' which has ``the same look and feel'' as Colt's M4, at a trade show, the suit said.
BAE Systems Plc in 2002 announced it was selling Heckler & Koch, a key supplier of armed forces and police in the European Union and NATO countries, to a private group of German investors.
Colt Defense descends from the company founded by Samuel Colt in 1836. In 2002, the company split into Colt Defense to handle military weaponry and Colt Manufactory Company Inc. to sell commercial products.
Last Updated: April 21, 2004 18:48 EDT
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000100&sid=abXnyAwo5zX4&refer=germany
April 21 (Bloomberg) -- Colt Defense LLC, the exclusive supplier of the M4 rifle to the U.S. military, claimed in a lawsuit that Heckler & Koch Inc. and Bushmaster Firearms Inc. are selling ``copycat'' versions of the weapon.
Closely held Colt seeks a court order to block Bushmaster and Heckler & Koch from using the M4 name or design in any of their products. Colt claims Bushmaster's XM-15 E2S ``M4 Type'' and Heckler & Koch's planned ``HKM4'' are ``identical'' to Colt's, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia.
West Hartford, Connecticut-based Colt has sold more than 7 million M16 rifles and M4 carbines, which are lightweight rifles with short barrels. The M4, which is used by the U.S. military and armed forces in more than 80 countries, isn't available to the general public.
``Bushmaster has intentionally copied the names used by Colt and the look and feel of Colt's M4 carbine in order to mislead the consuming public into believing that Bushmaster's products are comparable to Colt's,'' according to the suit.
A message left with an answering service for Bushmaster in Windham, Maine, wasn't immediately returned. A message left with to Heckler & Koch's U.S. office in Sterling, Virginia, wasn't immediately returned.
Oberndorf, Germany-based Heckler & Koch last year expressed a ``serious interest'' in acquiring Colt and signed a confidentiality agreement to review Colt's financial and technical information, the suit said. After receiving the information, Heckler & Koch terminated discussions and introduced ``HKM4,'' which has ``the same look and feel'' as Colt's M4, at a trade show, the suit said.
BAE Systems Plc in 2002 announced it was selling Heckler & Koch, a key supplier of armed forces and police in the European Union and NATO countries, to a private group of German investors.
Colt Defense descends from the company founded by Samuel Colt in 1836. In 2002, the company split into Colt Defense to handle military weaponry and Colt Manufactory Company Inc. to sell commercial products.
Last Updated: April 21, 2004 18:48 EDT
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000100&sid=abXnyAwo5zX4&refer=germany
