Birchwood Laboratories, Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minnesota has filed suit against Battenfeld Technologies, Inc. of Columbia, Missouri over the recent issuance of a patent to Battenfeld for their reactive targets and method of target manufacturing.
“We feel the United States Patent Office was given insufficient information by Battenfeld during the application process, which resulted in the patent being awarded improperly,” said Mike Wenner, Vice President, Birchwood Casey, in a statement.
“Shoot-N-C targets have been in production since 1996 and have been the #1 name brand target on the market since their introduction. We intend to vigorously defend our marketing efforts and protect our business model.”
Birchwood Laboratories said Shoot-N-C and Dirty Bird targets feature a special coating that flakes off during impact, leaving a bright halo ring around each bullet hole on the target. This makes it easy to see where your gun is shooting and simplifies sight adjustments. The targets are self-adhesive or can be mounted easily on any proper backstop surface. They were awarded the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence Award under the Specialty Product category when they were introduced in 1996.
The company also said Shoot-N-C targets have also been recognized over the years as the #1 shooting target brand in the country by HunterSurvey.com and the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers.
