Borchardt-Luger Controversy

[Kyrie]

[quote]Originally posted by Big Norm:
<strong>What was the name of the gun before 1904? Was the name 'Luger' patented in Europe? If so, then how could the name also be patented in America by a separate company in relation to the same gun?
Big Norm</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hi Big Norm!

What we call the â??Lugerâ?� was known commercially as the â??Pistole Parabellumâ?� in Europe. With its adoption by the Imperial German Army in 1908 it also became known by the nomenclature under which the German Army adopted it; the â??Pistole 08â?� or â??P.08â?�.

Devices and processes are patented, names are not. Rather a name may be registered as a trademark, and this is what happened with Stoeger and the name â??Lugerâ?�. DWM didnâ??t care that Stoeger wanted to market the pistol as the â??Lugerâ?� - DWM already had their registered trademark for the pistol (Pistole Parabellum).

Hope this helps!

Warm regards,

Kyrie