Rare Breed Triggers is well known for its industry-breaking FRT-15 Forced Reset Trigger. While virtually all of these types of triggers have faced a lot of legal challenges with the ATF, Rare Breed was one of the first to take the ATF head on, starting back in 2021, and since then has worked out a deal of sorts with the ATF.
That, however, has often put them at odds with other manufacturers of similar styles of trigger in the industry. Following those disputes, Rare Breed, holding exclusive licenses to multiple U.S. patents, including No. 10,514,223 for its firing mechanism technology, has pursued patent infringement claims against competitors and related parties on a grand scale that has understandably angered many others within the industry.
This includes actions against other established companies, like Big Daddy Enterprises (linked to Atrius Development Group) late in 2025, as well as Hoffman Tactical over 3D-printable “Super Safety” designs alleged to infringe Rare Breed’s patents. Atrius, producer of the 3-position Super Selector Safety, has obtained legal opinions asserting non-infringement, and recently responded publicly to Rare Breed’s claims against its dealer network.
We’ve posted the full press release below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — STATEMENT ON RARE BREED PATENT ALLEGATIONS January 30, 2026
Atrius Development Group issues the following statement to its distributors and retail partners regarding the frivolous patent assertions made by Rare Breed against the Second Amendment community.
Prior to bringing the Atrius products to market, Atrius has opinions from numerous large patent law firms that Atrius products do not infringe on any existing patents.
“Atrius Development Group stands behind its products and will support our distribution and retail partners whose Second Amendment rights are being violated via patent litigation by Rare Breed” said Ryan Spadafore, CEO of Atrius Development Group.
“The false and frivolous Rare Breed claims have been evaluated and will be addressed directly in the appropriate forum. We believe the bullying tactics of Rare Breed are dishonorable and an insult to the Second Amendment community.”
Rare Breed has made allegations concerning our Atrius products and has chosen the cowardly action of opening/threatening litigation against those in our dealer network in an attempt to destabilize what the Super Safety Community has built in the wake of Rare Breed bending the knee to the ATF. They prefer to feed their greed and use unethical lawfare against individuals like Tim Hoffman, of Hoffman Tactical, all while claiming benevolence and altruism.
Atrius Development Group is the backstop to these actions.
Atrius Development Group encourages any distributor or retailer in receipt of frivolous claims from Rare Breed relating to Atrius products to promptly notify Atrius leadership so the company can coordinate an appropriate response and provide immediate support. Atrius remains confident in its legal position and in the continued supply and availability of its products. We will continue to fight for the expanded access of parts and accessories that advance the Second Amendment, no matter what forces stand in our way.
More power to the Dealers. Together we win.
Stay Blessed,
TEAM ATRIUS
Rare Breed Triggers, with Lawrence Demonico at the helm, has maintained an active patent enforcement strategy since its 2025 DOJ settlement, which ended ATF machinegun classification battles and returned seized FRT-15 units to owners, while requiring the company to pursue injunctions against alleged infringers.
As of late January, it filed suits like ABC IP LLC v. OpticsPlanet (six FRT patents asserted) and actions against Hoffman Tactical (with a TRO granted and preliminary injunction hearings ongoing), alongside threats to Atrius-linked dealers, which, if you’ve read the press release above, Atrius is trying to do their best to back and support.
Where that leaves us now is that Rare Breed is positioned to seek injunctions against competitors — including Atrius — if courts find their designs infringe Rare Breed patents. Under its settlement with the DOJ, Rare Breed is encouraged to enforce those patents, which could give it a significant competitive edge in the forced‑reset trigger market, though how far that advantage extends will ultimately depend on future court rulings and how other designs differ from Rare Breed’s technology.
On the defending side of the aisle, Atrius may counter-sue for invalidity or defenses, rally 2A support, or seek a settlement. If they succeed, that could potentially validate alternatives to Rare Breed tech amid ongoing dealer cases. As of now, it’s anyone’s guess as to how this will all pan out, but you can be sure we’ll be following this closely here at Shooting News Weekly.
“…the frivolous patent assertions made by Rare Breed against the Second Amendment community. ”
?
Rare Breed didn’t make any “assertions” against the “Second Amendment community”.
Rare Breed made “assertions” against specific ‘corporate/company’ entities that claim to be or are part of or function within or market products to the “Second Amendment community”.
For example, I am part of the “Second Amendment community” and Rare Breed didn’t make any “assertions” against me, but Rare Breed made “assertions” against Atrius Development Group ‘corporate/company’ entities.
Atrius, its kinda wrong to use the “Second Amendment community” as a prop in your ‘corporate/company’ entities legal issues/battles.
Kinda makes you wonder why multiple companies don’t just make an agreement to mass manufacture the products under license to flood the zone while others work on improved versions. Oh well minimal progress it is.