Roughnecks Battle

For those of you who live in southern California and are interested in woodland, or outdoor, airsoft milsim combat, I invite you to an open game with the Roughnecks. My son and I have been playing military simulation-style airsoft with the Roughnecks since January 2007 and we have had nothing but a safe, fun (if often physically demanding) experience.

The Roughnecks compete in local and national events, practicing their tactics in private settings, but they also open things up to the airsofting public in a series of "open" battles which are generally held on the first and last Saturday of each month. Every battle is different, made so by the varying number and identity of participants, as well as the varied terrain of different battlefields, and the scenarios we play. No two events are the same and very few are even similar.

We maintain a series of open forums on the Roughnecks Web site at www.radairsoft.com. I use the call sign "Thunderbird" while my son uses "Reaver." Drop by and introduce yourself.

This weekend, we'll be playing at one of the Roughnecks' largest fields, known as Coppermine, and the event should be well attended. If you're interested, simply send me an e-mail at dbaker@hkclaw.com or dcbakeresq@gmail.com and I'll give you the particulars.

David Baker
The Airsoft Lawyer

Action Sports Retail Conference

Many, if not all, of the most important issues facing the airsoft industry in the United States involve the attempt to enforce trademarks and trade dress rights held by "real steel" gun manufacturers. With heavy weights like H&K, Colt, and Armalite flexing their muscle of their respective intellectual property, this will become an even more important issue in the years to come. Of course, intellectual property rights are not reserved to the airsoft industry and many of the same challenges facing airsoft manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have been vetted by other industries such as the action sports retail industry (or "ASR" in common parlance).

For those who are interested in learning more about intellectual property, I will be presenting a seminar at the upcoming ASR Show in San Diego on Thursday, September 10, 2009. More information is available at my law firm's Web site located at www.hkclaw.com and at the ASR Web site located at www.asrbiz.com.

Of course, you can also contact me by e-mail at dbaker@hkclaw.com or by telephone at (714) 432-8700.

David Baker
The Airsoft Lawyer

Introductions

Introductions are always important and none so important as the introduction to someone you've never met before who accepts the mantle of blogger. Why listen to me and my thoughts , or, better yet, why read them? Excellent question.

I am an avid airsofter and an intellectual property lawyer who has successfully combined my hobby with my profession over the last several years. I don't kid myself that I am the best in either field or, necessarily, the only one in both, but I can say that I bring passion, perseverance, and an annoying sense of humor to everything I do.

The law, as we were taught in school, is a harsh, spiteful mistress whose whims are ever changing, especially as they relate to a hobby and a sport so unusual as airsoft. Just keeping up with developments in airsoft gun design, secondary weapons, field availability, specialty stores, and the relative pettiness of team formation and organization is hard enough without the added concerns of trademark licensing (and possible infringement), the vagaries of trade dress, international paranoia over the very existence of the hobby, local ordinances regarding the discharge of weapons (and toys), and the pressures of competition between specialty stores and bog box outlets as well as the competition between well-known legacy manufacturers and clone knock-off artists. It keeps me on my toes.

And, of course, when I'm sitting at my desk dealing with weighty legal issues or arguing a case in the nearby District Court, where would I rather be? On the field, lining up my next shot.

I hope this Blog can shed a little light on the issues that airsofters face, whether they be players, collectors, retailers, distributors, manufacturers, or a combination thereof. And, I hope to bring a little levity to boot.