Posted on 10/03/2009 4:42:03 PM PDT by sonofstrangelove
The Russian firm Izhmash (Izhevsk Mechanical Works) holds the patents for the AK-47, and it is going broke because of all the illegal copies of its weapons being produced worldwide. Izhmash is having little success in trying to force companies in Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Israel, China and the United States to pay licensing fees for the AK-47s they produce. The typical defense is that it is a much improved rifle, with only a superficial similarity to the Izhmash AK-47. Some claim that Russia abandoned the AK-47 design in the 1970s, when they switched to the 5.45mm AK-74. Actually, the original AK-47 design was replaced in 1963, at least in Russia, by the similar (in appearance) AKM.
Izhmash is 201 years old, and was originally founded by the Czarist government as a state arsenal, for the production of military weapons. In the 1920s, the firm began to produce motorcycles as well, and later, automobiles, and eventually machine tools. It has long been a major manufacturer of Russian military rifles, machine-guns and pistols.
During the Soviet period (1923-91), there were patent laws on the books, but these were generally not observed, especially when it came to foreign technology. The Soviets would respect patents when it suited their purposes (that is, it was cheaper to get help from the patent holder to implement a technology, than it was to just steal it and figure it out), but generally the concept of intellectual property was ignored. Having allowed that kind of thinking to gain some traction, the Russians have had a hard time enforcing rights to Soviet era Russian inventions in a post-Soviet world.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
Patent law is specific to each country. In the USA it would have long fallen into the public domain.
I guess what goes around comes around!
if there were no patents we’d have fewer inventions. Then again we have so many bogus patent lawsuits its ridiculous.
Imagine someone suing all the computer and internet companies saying they had an early patent for “putting text on a monitor”. I didn’t know you could patent so absurdly vague ideas, but apparently people and companies have.
Isn’t Izhmash the company that manufactures Saiga firearms?
Great guns. Very reliable... at least my Saiga 12 is. I’ve heard it can be a hit or miss with those guns. I read that in recent years they are much improved from what they used to be. I’ve never had as much as a ‘jam’ with my Saiga 12, with various mags, and even the 20 round drum.
I would ask how much they paid Kalashnikov for his intellectual contribution....
Anyone know why the Russians didn’t go with the AN-94? Was it budget reasons? Izhmash makes them and it’s a vastly superior and modern system to the AK series. Seems like they blew it real bad on that one.

Now, they want some Capitalist payback.
Karma is a "MichelleObama" (read: Beyotch).
The "47" in "AK47" stands for 1947.
If the heirs of John Moses Browning received a nickel for every 1911 copy that's been produced... but they don't. The patents expired in 1927.
Some have noticed the similarities between the German Sturmgewehr 44 and the AK47. I doubt the Germans got around to filing patents in 1944.
200 Rubles, a bottle of vodka, and a really, really nice plastic shower curtain made in Murmansk.
It’s so ironic. Soviet Communists railed against the patent system itself as evil capitalism, and here these guys are dying from not using it properly.
I like my Bulgarian. it’s the Cadillac of AK’s. Looks wicked with a drum on it! Kind of heavy though!!
#6 on the list ( I have a #9)
“10 manliest guns”
http://www.arthurshall.com/x_2007_manly_firearms.shtml
Beautiful rifle...
Well, that should make Mayor Bloomberg of New York wet his panties!
i got one of the first NORINCO's off the boat and it's had ~5k put through it and it still runs like new...
I believe that patent expired before the Internet reached the public, but a long time ago an employer of mine had to pay the absurdly low license fee (pennies/unit) -- I'm sure it was of much more value to know companies' sales volume than for the monies collected.
Its amazing what they allow to be patented. Did someone have a patent on copying and pasting?
Me too... long barreled NHM91. Very accurate for open sights.
I know squat about guns, but that was a fun read. Thanks!
took almost a year till it quit smokin as the cosmoline burned out of the gas system i cleaned like hell but never got it all so it burned itself out.
The “patent” aspect is horse hockey.
No nation has patents that last beyond 20 years. The AK was invented decades earlier than that.
“Journalists” are morons and liars,
if the loss on the AKs was that bad, they mustve really got reamed on the cars, motorcycles, machine equip etc...lolololol...
That’s a beauty!
Mine’s an ancient, cheaply made, butt ugly Egyptian thing that shoots great - and a century from now I believe it will be an ancient, cheaply made, butt ugly Egyptian thing that STILL shoots great.
Along with the 1911, the best pieces of armament ever devised.
Hmm. Never knew Mikhail played the piano.
How does on post a new thread to the banglist? I would like a vanity thread of posting pictures of your clone firearms like my largo 1911 clone of the colt 1911. thanks
And aren't those Star weapons NICE????? I really like mine!

Someone needs to rein in the US Pattent Office, or more likely the US Patent laws need updating.
There are way too many patents issued for vague computer ideas, and your example isn't so absurd.
I think Amazon.com patented the one click purchase concept, then successfully sued other websites for immitating it.
C'mon, one click purchase is patentable? There are scores of other examples like that in the computer world.
They were preoccupied...
Out of the box it jammed about every fifth round. I cleaned and lubed. Now need some time at the range to see if this piece is any good. It is not as accurate as my M-16 or AR -15 were by any means. I do appreciate my Russian SKS but would take an M-16 into combat first.
I like the AK better. You can drag the AK through the mud and it would still fire.A AR-15 you have to keep the rifle clean.
I understand, but will hold my rifle out of the mud because the M16 shoots more accurately. I want to kill my enemy before he kills me.
Another big drawback with an M16 is that you have to constantly clean the receiver. In a AK you dont.I saw a lot of American soldiers carrying AKs in Iraq .
took almost a year till it quit smokin as the cosmoline burned out of the gas system
~~~
Smellz better than Roses to me!,,,
Girlz should put a dab behind each ear!,,,
OOOOBABY OOOOBABY!!!...LOL...;0)...
roger that...
A few years ago, a guy was walking by my table at a gun show and wanted to sell it and 100 rounds of ammo. I bought it from him and before the next show, I decided to try it before I put it on the table to sell.
Took it out to my range and capped off all 100 rounds on a Sunday afternoon. On Monday, I was in the gun store ordering up 1,000 rounds for it. I alternate between it and my 1911 Gold Cup as my carry gun.
I bought 1000 rounds of Largo ammo and went to put it into my hipoint magazine and it did not fit I thought what the hey? Looked into the difference and instead of selling the ammo I bought the pistol. Glad I did.
And the ammo is cheap and available .... I checked this morning at one of my sites and they have it for $170/1000 plus about $52 for shipping. That works out to just over .18 per round ..... :)
That's what I was thinking too. Look at all the companies that make 1911's.

Get your finger off the trigger, moronski.
"This is the AK-47 assault rifle, the preferred weapon of your enemy, and it makes a very distinctive sound when fired at you, so remember it."
Whoaaaaaaaa.
Here. Take it. It's all I got.
Honest. LOL
I have the other patent: "taking text off a monitor again".
I believe in patent rights and all that but this is absurd stuff.
You mentioned absurd stuff.
I have a patent on absurd stuff.
You owe me a quarter.
too bad I couldn’t copyright the word “unexpectedly” in news reports.
Izzat .223?
I am trying to find out what is a good gun that shoots .223 to have as a backup for my Mini-14
Bolt action would be OK.
I was at the gun show last weekend and it seemed just about everything was .308
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