In a fast changing legal environment for the airsoft industry in Russia, Kalashnikov Concern has been working on protecting its intellectual property rights. It has agreed with the local airsoft and tactical gaming industry represented by the Federation of the Military-Tactical Games (FMTG or ФВТИ in Russian), allowing a grace period for its members to sign an agreement with the company and dropping any charges of trademark infringement.

It also went after Cybergun in Russia last 3 March 2017, demanding that the airsoft company recognize its rights to the labels "Калашников" and "Kalashnikov" as part of trademarks and brand names and right to use the name of M. T. Kalashnikov in economic activity as well as declare that Cybergun’s use of the Kalashnikov trademarks is illegal.

RAPSI, the Russian Legal Information Agency posted an update last 24 April that the Arbitration Court of the Udmurt Republic has postponed consideration of action on 30 May after the parties have agreed to to settle the dispute under mutually acceptable terms. Both Kalashnikov Concern and Cybergun requested the court more time to discuss the term of agreement, leading to the postponement of action by the Arbitration Court.

It looks like that if the both companies come to an agreement by the 30th of May 2017 Kalashnikov Concern will have generally put its house into order in Russia in terms of consolidating its grip on its rights to use the “Kalashnikov” brand in trademarks and products that it produces. This frees up the company to focus on protecting its intellectual properties outside of Russia, as it actually intends to do.

In an interview with TASS, as reported here on Popular Airsoft last month, Kalashnikov’s CEO Aleksey Krivoruchko said that they are taking actions to protect their brand and trademarks in China, Europe and the U.S.A. This should put other airsoft companies that are producing products to the likeness of Kalashikov products as well as even using the trademark that they might want to strike deals with the company rather than being hauled off to court.

Top Photo: Kalashnikov Concern at Arms & Hunting - 2015 (Photo Credit: Kalashnikov Concern)