AI UK back in the day (early 2000s), signed a contract with the Norwegian company and designer Hausken to be the "official" suppressor supplier for AI. He supplied them for some time until the orders slowed down and finally stopped...
Later in 2014 Hausken got a contract with RUAG. What he didnt know was that a copy of his suppressor was sold by another distributor.
Then at IWA 2017 he found what was with a few exceptions a faithfull copy of his suppressor
Nobody at the stand knew who Hausken was. He took the opportunity to ask and inquire about the suppressor they were selling.
" They where standing cocky behind the counter and presented the suppressor as their own"
The manufacturers suppressor was virtually identical to Hauskens own. But his name was gone. The logo belonged to English manufacturer.
(quote translated from the original news article in NRK, which is the norwegian equivalent to the BBC)
https://www.nrk.no/rogaland/xl/lyddempere-fra-norge-selges-til-hele-verden-1.14723158
use browser to translate all if interested
NRK contacted AI and mr Tom Irwin who of course passed the buck to the previous owners since they accquired AI after the bankruptcy. He said he knew nothing about Hausken.
And of course one cant blame Irwin and the current owners for the actions of the previous board. But you can blame them for continuing to use and profit of the stolen design without any acknowledgement or credit given to the originator.
IMHo, what I would have liked to see was, when AI was informed about it, they should have researched and checked it. If it was found to be accurate, they should come to an arrangement or settled with Hausken, instead of pretending it never happened. That would have been the honerable thing to do.
But I guess its "buisness is buisness" or something.
I wonder if say a AI distributor in Elbonia after selling AX stocks for a while, simply decides to copy it there. Then went bankrupt and party B bought it. Do AI then think B is entiteled to keep making the ripoffed stocks?
