Gunmaker FN Herstal Sues Rival Ruger for Infringing ‘SCAR’ Mark

Global firearms maker FN Herstal SA is accusing another gun manufacturer, Sturm Ruger & Co Inc., of infringing on FN Herstal’s “SCAR” trademark with Ruger’s “SFAR"-branded firearms.

FN Herstal, in 2004 began providing SCAR-branded firearms to the US Military’s special forces, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in the US District Court for North Carolina’s Middle District. A civilian SCAR-branded rifle was released in 2008, and since then FN’s “SCAR” mark has “been in continuous use in the United States,” the complaint says.

The company has invested in associating its products with “SCAR,” such as advertising slogans reading, “EVERY ...