Back in 2017, not long after SIG SAUER won the Army’s modular handgun system competition, Steyr Arms sued SIG over their P250 and P320 modular designs. The lawsuit claimed that SIG infringed on Steyr’s 2001 “plastic housing and multifunction metal part removably mounted” design patent.
Basically, the Austrian gun maker claimed that an internal metal chassis surrounded by a polymer grip module — the basis for SIG’s pistol designs in the P250 and P320 — is protected under their patent.
Now, however, a court has disagreed. In a summary judgement dismissal, a US District Court judge has ruled that SIG’s pistols do not violate Steyr’s intellectual property. The case would have gone to trial on May 5.
Here’s a press release from SIG . . .
SIG SAUER, Inc., a leading provider of firearms, optics, ammunition, suppressors, and training is pleased to officially announce the company has prevailed in the patent infringement lawsuit from Steyr Arms in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire. Judge Joseph DiClerico, Jr. granted SIG SAUER’s motion for summary judgment, finding that SIG SAUER did not infringe Steyr’s patents, and dismissed all motions.
Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer, and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales made the following statement:“We are extremely pleased with this ruling in favor of the SIG SAUER P320, the world’s most innovative handgun, and the SIG SAUER P250, which introduced modularity to the firearms market. The state-of-the-art SIG SAUER P320 is one of the most sought after firearms on the market, with its unmatched modularity, unprecedented accuracy, and uncompromising reliability. It has been chosen by all branches of the U.S. Military, as well as other domestic and global law enforcement agencies, and military units around the world. The P320 has truly redefined the modern handgun, and we are proud to have the years of extensive research and engineering that went into its design reaffirmed through this judgement.”