Court Sides With American Gun Manufacturer In Lawsuit Over AR-15’s Name

A federal judge ruled Friday that an American firearms manufacturer did not infringe on the trademark of a Belgian gunmaker in the designation of an AR-15 rifle.

FN Herstal and FN America sued Ruger in March 2024, accusing the American firearms manufacturer of giving its AR-15, the Small-Frame Autoloading Rifle (SFAR), a name that confused customers and misled them into thinking it was the same as FN’s SOF Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR). In a 22-page decision, United States District Judge David A. Bragdon of the Middle District of North Carolina, a Trump appointee, sided with Ruger, saying the marks had a “fundamental dissimilarity.” (RELATED: Gun Manufacturer Slaps Blue State With Suit Over Gun Ban)

“Both parties’ products are modern sporting rifles, but they differ significantly in appearance and design,” Bragdon wrote. “Likewise, while the parties use similar advertising media, their advertising differs in style and presentation. These differences also mean that the guns being sold in the same facilities carry less weight.”

A North Carolina federal judge has ruled against FN in the trademark infringement lawsuit it filed against Ruger over its SFAR rifle: https://t.co/X5BtaScn1t pic.twitter.com/JL3nWpcl1C

“The Court finds, based on the undisputed facts, that it is unlikely that Ruger’s actual practice is likely to produce confusion in the minds of consumers about the origin of the SFAR,” Bragdon added later in the opinion, “As such, the Court grants Ruger’s motion for summary judgment as to FN’s federal trademark infringement claim.”

FN and Ruger did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

FN began marketing civilian versions of the SCAR, which is used by multiple military and law enforcement agencies, in 2008. Versions of the SCAR range in cost from $3359 to $4499.

Ruger’s SFAR was rolled out to the public in a September 2022 release by the Arizona-based manufacturer. A search of Ruger’s website did not show any SFARs for sale, but photos included in FN’s complaint showed one model selling for roughly $1300.