Bestex was originally granted a license to '117, which was then cancelled on June 25, 2002. The very next day, '117 was assigned to Taser, but Taser claims that Bestex has continued to market a product that infringes '117, and failed to heed Taser's cease and desist letters.

Bestex stung back with a counterclaim against Taser for false advertising and unfair competition, stating the Taser M26 outputs more than five times the electricity approved as "non-lethal" by a federal consumer safety commission 30 years ago. Bestex also accuses Taser of negligence in calling its stun guns "non-lethal," since Taser doesn't include a safety circuit which cuts off voltage after 5 seconds, but instead continues to fry its victim, as well as "secondary causes, like uncontrolled falls and vertebral and other fractures from violent shock induced paroxysms, also risk death."

Here's Taser's description -

Extremely powerful weapon that drops assailants to the ground from a safe distance of 15 feet away. A CO2 cartidge fires two electrified projectiles into the subject with the same type of power as an air gun. These projectiles become imbedded in the attacker and are effective in penetrating up to 2 and 1/2 inches of heavy clothing including heavy leather jackets. The barbed projectiles remain attached to the assailant and are connected to the weapon by high voltage insulated wire.

50,000 Volts, 18 Watts and 133 MilliAmps of measured power is instantly discharged into the subject. The electrical discharge pulses in a revolutionary new method of advanced EMD power (Electro-Muscular Disruption) that no subject has ever been able to overcome. The EMD power surge instantly disrupts the central nervous system and results in the subject falling to the ground in spasms of involuntary muscular convulsions.

Law enforcement agencies love Taser's products; as Taser puts it: "widely used and recommended by law enforcement agencies. Not classified as a firearm, so it is legal to carry with you in almost all states and localities. (We do not ship to NJ.)" Hey kids, get yours today!

Bestex is seeking to invalidate '117, as well as damages for unfair competition & false advertising.