LARPing.org | Save Larp Archery in North America! @LARPingdotOrg | Uploaded February 2016 | Updated October 2024, 8 hours ago.
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Transcript:

The End of Larp Arrows in North America?

I’m reaching out to you today with something that has the potential to ruin larp in North America as we know it, specifically in regards to larp archery.

Over the past few months I’ve become stuck in a legal battle with someone who claims to own the patent on foam tipped arrows, the kind we use in larp, and is attempting to stop me from selling the iDV Arrows I import from the creators in Germany.

Until now, I’ve attempted to do this on my own, however, the person who is taking me to court, Global Archery products, aka Archery Tag, has told my lawyer (through its lawyer) that they have a budget for this case of $150,000. This will ensure their victory unless I can raise funds to for my defense.

Why does this matter to you? If he succeeds he will have created a legal precedent to enforce his patent against other distributors and resellers of larp and foam tipped arrows in America. He has made it clear that he wishes for his foam tipped arrow to be used only for the purpose of Archery Tag which he claims to have invented along with the foam tipped arrow.

This would mean that if we lose this case, archery in larp, within North America, might end. I suspect, that the reason he is currently only taking me to court, as a small distributor of these arrows, is because he knows that we will struggle through a lengthy legal battle compared to some of the larger distributors of the arrows. And if he wins his first court case it will be significantly easier for him to win subsequent cases against the larger distributors and resellers.

This is where I need your help. Financially, I know I don’t have the means to contest this alone. And, even though legally he doesn’t appear to have a case, if he can drag it out long enough so that I can’t afford to continue contesting the case, he will win.

This is why I’m asking the larp community, specifically, you watching this video for help. Very few people in the larp community have a substantial income. I, myself, have a day job and sell these arrows (and other larp equipment) as a part time hobby which doesn’t generate a great deal of income. However, right now, the state of the entire larp hobby is at risk.

On this page you will find an easy way to donate towards helping me fight this in court. Median litigation costs (including attorney's fees and expenses) to defend a case for patent infringement worth $1,000,000 or less through a trial, were $700,000 in 2013 according to a survey conducted by the American Intellectual Property Law Association. I’m hoping to raise $100,000 so my total resources can be at least equal to those of my opponent’s. I don’t want to generate any money for myself from this campaign and, so, any additional funds raised beyond what is needed to defend this case in court will be donated to the charity with the most votes that I am asking for people to submit along with their donation.

I was hoping to deal with this myself and asked for the case to be dropped at the very beginning, however, it appears clear that he has no intention of doing that. We are seeking some relief from the court to expedite the case in order to save money, but it is unclear whether the court will grant our request. Please donate whatever you can.

I genuinely believe that this is one of the biggest threats to our hobby in recent times and I cannot defend this threat without your help.

Simply, click the link to donate and just as importantly, share this. Put it on forums, on blogs, share with your local larp groups, on social media and think about it every time you fire a larp bow or any time you think about how much you enjoy your hobby.

Thank you in advance. I will be adding more details to this page about the case as things develop.

Thank you from the volunteer team and staff at Larping.org.