Hasbro, Spin Master Get Trade Probe Into Nerf Gun Dupes (1)

The US International Trade Commission has voted to investigate whether soft projectile guns imported by companies in China, Hong Kong, and the US violate patents licensed by Hasbro Inc., the maker of Nerf toy guns.

The commission announced Monday that it will look into whether gel bead-shooting toy guns imported by companies including Gel Blaster Inc., Daisy Outdoor Products and Splat-R-Ball LLC infringe US Patent Nos. 8,640,683 and 8,371,282, which Hasbro licenses from Spin Master Inc.

Some of the allegedly infringing products include the Gel Blaster SURGE Water-Based Gellet Blaster and Gel Blaster STARFIRE Water-Based Gel Bead Blaster, ...